FredHayek wrote: What choice do consumers have concerning high prices? We have to pay $5 for the ketchup or go without. Most will shrug and pay. The fact that 53% of inflationary prices are corporate greed should alarm you, since you are a consumer that's paying those prices.
I disagree with your statement that you have to pay $5 for ketchup or go without. You can try a different, cheaper brand. You can use less ketchup. Make different dishes that don't need ketchup. There are always alternatives in a healthy capitalist economy. At least five different brands at my local King Soopers.
You're absolutely right - there are other options. The bottom line is that corporation profit makes up 53% of inflation. It's amazing that you aren't more upset over what is, essentially, price gouging. You're paying more at the pump because of that.
Scott Sheffield, founder and longtime CEO of a leading American oil producer, attempted to collude with OPEC and its allies to inflate prices, federal regulators alleged on Thursday.
The Federal Trade Commission said Sheffield, then CEO of Pioneer Natural Resources, exchanged hundreds of text messages discussing pricing, production and oil market dynamics with officials at the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, the oil cartel led by Saudi Arabia.
Regulators say Sheffield used WhatsApp conversations, in-person meetings and public statements to try to “align oil production” in the Permian Basin in Texas with that of OPEC and OPEC+, the wider group that includes Russia.
“Mr. Sheffield’s communications were designed to pad Pioneer’s bottom line — as well as those of oil companies in OPEC and OPEC+ member states — at the expense of US households and businesses,” the FTC complaint said.
Unlike with OPEC nations, US oil production is supposed to be decided by the free market, not by coordination among the major players.
The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday accused the former head of a Texas oil company of seeking to collude with his OPEC competitors to sync U.S. oil production and inflate energy prices.
And that low unemployment rate? Partly achieved by spending the nation into ruin. Adding one trillion in debt every 100 days. Spending hundreds of billions bailing out those who paid too much for college. Reviving the military industrial complex by sending a trillion dollars of military munitions overseas to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan among others.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
How many new jobs were created that were not previously eliminated because of the government? How many new jobs are taxpayer funded government jobs? There's a lot to consider if you really want to dig into those numbers.
The problem Democrats have with this "the economy is great!" narrative is that the vast majority of Americans think that is bullshit. If the people were happy with the way things were going, Biden would be way ahead in the polls and the leftist media wouldn't be working overtime to focus on Trump instead of what Americans really care about.
Rick wrote: How many new jobs were created that were not previously eliminated because of the government? How many new jobs are taxpayer funded government jobs? There's a lot to consider if you really want to dig into those numbers.
Apparently, you know the answers to these questions. Why don't you enlighten me.
