On the Horizon

WHAT DOES INFLATION MEAN? 

Inflation is the decline of purchasing power of a given currency over time. A quantitative estimate of the rate at which the decline in purchasing power occurs can be reflected in the increase of an average price level of a basket of selected goods and services in an economy over some period of time.

WHAT CAUSES INFLATION?
Inflation is a measure of the rate of rising prices of goods and services in an economy. Inflation can occur when prices rise due to increases in production costs, such as raw materials and wages. A surge in demand for products and services can cause inflation as consumers are willing to pay more for the product.

IS INFLATION GOOD OR BAD?
Inflation erodes purchasing power or how much of something can be purchased with currency. Because inflation erodes the value of cash, it encourages consumers to spend and stock up on items that are slower to lose value. It lowers the cost of borrowing and reduces unemployment.

For the most part, inflation is not good unless wages increase proportionately...  but, if that happens, then economics say that there is no inflation...  just a steady economic growth which is a win/win situation for everyone.

But, if prices increase and wages do not, then people pay more for the goods and services they have to have and do not partake in the goods and services that they do not really need...  This causes the economy not to grow.

From my perspective as a retired individual, I don't give a rat's ass if the economy grows or not as long as prices do not increase...  And, yes that is a selfish point-of-view but I would suspect most people do not want prices to go up and if anyone wants their taxes to go up needs to take their head out of their ass or purchase an inflated price glass bellybutton so that they can see better.

Democrats on a Spending Binge

I am living on Social Security and my accumulated savings over my 45 year career where I made less than $50,000 annually for my entire career.  My salary was low but living in the rural Piedmont of NC and in the Tennessee Valley of east TN, the cost of living was so low that my annual salary still allowed me to do most anything I wanted, including vacations, owning a home, owning cars, and saving money.

The $6400 that we received in stimulus money was not spent but was put into our savings account to build up a nest egg in case we have to use that money later.  I know that doing this defeats the whole purpose of receiving stimulus money, but all I can say is that our situation is somewhat different than other people who might be laid off from work and do not have Social Security on which to rely to pay their bills.

So, the arrival of COVID and the systematic lockdown of the US including in part the State of TN came at an IDEAL TIME for my wife and I, especially now that I have received both COVID vaccine shots and all I need to do is wait until April 1, 2021 (3 days away) to be 96% protected.

HOWEVER...

it would be very much appreciated if the Democrats could find it in their hearts to send out another set of stimulus checks and/or increase the amount of Social Security that we both receive and/or reduce the amount of co-pays for which we are responsible as far as our Medicare bills are concerned even though we both have a supplemental policy as well...  there are still out-of-pocket expenses that we both must pay and those expenses can mount up.

The Democrats are on a SPENDING BINGE and retired people could use some extra money since we are not going to benefit from the potential of FREE EDUCATION and since we are not BLACK, we will be receiving NO SLAVERY REPARATIONS either...

The wealthy people in the United States have been allowed to earn wealth as if they are addicted to money and the Congress has done NOTHING to stop that from happening.  They shelter their money in offshore tax free bank accounts leaving the rest of us responsible for picking up the slack.

Perhaps the Democrats could put in a WAIVER for RETIREES on the increased taxes in the following areas:

• Capital Gains
• Gasoline 
• Inheritance
• Sales

Just like the Democrats are taking care of the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS these Democrats should also take better care of the RETIREES in the United States.

We need more money...

Give us more money and we will vote for you!!!

BACK TO WORK

The Holiday (Christmas or Seasonal) is over...   and now that most of us no longer refer to this holiday as Christmas, what the hell are we celebrating for?  Of course...  I forgot...   it was NEW YEARS EVE and then NEW YEARS DAY..  and, all those presents that we bought and wrapped and shared was just to celebrate the approach of the new year.  What a fickle group of people to spend so much time and money celebrating the new year as if it were our own private birthday...

WELL...  anyway, it is gone...  over...  say goodbye...   because it ain't coming back for another 12 months and in the meantime, it is time for us to return to work...  and make some damn money...

But, some of us are still out-of-work because of COVID and there are others who cannot go back to work because they ignored all the warnings and now they are home with COVID...  and if they are in relatively good health will live to WORK another day.

Then...  there are some of us...  who...  have decided we have earned enough money and need no more and now call themselves RETIRED...  however, many people simply NEED to work and earn money like it was some sort of COVID Disease where they can only get better if and when they earn another dollar, and then another, and then another.

In a way, I feel sorry for those who are addicted to money and greed like those addicted to drugs...  and, must live the rest of their lives with that as their only motivator other than spending the money they earn with is the other side and equally as harmful.

Some of retired folk understand that money is not happiness nor is money success no matter how the media and advertisers try to spin it.

Life is a GIFT and work is a necessary evil nowadays in order to enjoy that GIFT...  but, life did not always used to be that way and I doubt if it was ever that way for Native Americans before the rest of us arrived and stole everything from them because we out-numbered them and were stronger.

But, what we did to the Native American was not LIFE AS A GIFT either...

So, since progress ruined the concept of life as a GIFT, we must now work and pretend that we are working to enjoy LIFE AS A GIFT...  retirees see life as a gift and are thankful for that insight and feel rather sorry for all of those who cannot see it or can never see it because they do not know how to enjoy life unless they are earning money by convincing others to spend their money...  in other words, give it to them...

AMERICAN RETIREES: Go To Jail -- Live Large

FACTS:

The average Social Security check in 2020 was $1,503/month or $18,036/year

In 2020, 40% of all retirees received all their income from Social Security 

60% of all Americans above 60 years of age are living below the poverty line of $29,425/year

Seniors in financial trouble should commit a crime or multiple crimes so that they can be guaranteed jail time...

IN JAIL, INMATES HAVE

1. a place to sleep
2. a roof over their heads
3. clothes to wear
4. three meals a day
5. a craft to learn
6. warm showers
7. games to play
8. medical care
9. visitors
10. time outside
11. time alone
12. people to be with

It may not be the IDEAL place to die but it could be better than what they have, especially if they are living on the streets or cannot pay their bills...

In East TN, if a married couple received the average SOCIAL SECURITY check, then their combined income would be $3,006/month or $36, 0732/year which is above the poverty line and very doable to live...  but, only if you are married and/or living together...  living alone can be incredible problematic.

Without family or friends or help from the government, the ONLY LOGICAL COURSE OF ACTION is to GO TO JAIL for the REST OF ONE'S LIFE...

WELCOME TO AMERICA

HOME OF THE BRAVE

LAND OF OPPORTUNITY

DEATH FOR RETIREES