General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTo me, high inflation really only HURTS the poor and lower middle class. It CURTAILS the wealthy's
privilege and play. I do not know one person whose earned or unearned income is over 300,000/ year (and I know five of them with kids in college) who complain about high food prices or even high gas prices except for two who claim Biden is the cause of high gas prices. Not one of them since 2021 has canceled their global cruising, their seats at the super bowls, or stopped their uber high streaming services. Not one has had to deny their middle school child a class field trip or deny their graduating senior a new car. Yet to a man and woman in that circle that I know personally, they complain about immigrants taking jobs (that they themselves do not or would not ever work). They complain about crime that they never have to worry about experiencing thanks to living in red-lined districts and over-priced homes. They complain about taxpayers supporting Medicare, Medicaid and food subsidies. All but one has a live-in or hired nanny. The women despise anyone whom they believe to be the least bit "liberal" so you know they hate Dems, anything HRC, Obama, and now Biden.
How do I know them...because I have three grands with special needs who are heavily subsidized to attend either special needs schools or classes. They have children in those schools and one attends classes that one of my grands. I substitute for my daughter for some meetings and got to meet the women she tells me about. One other of these families is my own extended family who live on the west coast and has little or nothing to do with the rest of us.
It's sad that high prices yield greater dividends for those having unearned income and greater pain for those working for a living or retirees living off of their EARNED Social Security benefits.
Diamond_Dog
(31,887 posts)wendyb-NC
(3,300 posts)They have no inkling about what it's like to live on 18,000.00 per year retirement.
Paper Roses
(7,471 posts)As a (very)Senior, widow for 15 years and living on SS alone, I agree with all you say and associate with your last sentence. I'm living on a pittance, my savings are gone. I cannot get any help because I own my house. Of each S.S.. check I receive, I have to save part for my house taxes to be paid quarterly. I'm in a town that has changed so much that I hardly recognize it. It costs me most of my check for bills and taxes. There is not much left for food, let alone something like a new pair of jeans.
My town has changed so much. Now we see houses sell for over a million, torn down and then build a monstrosity. Those of us who are hanging on are in a tough spot. There seems nothing is too expensive for the town to override any prop. 2 1/2 ceilings and build some other thing that will raise out taxes again.
The wealthy are screaming for more of this and more of that without concern for anyone else who lives in my town. There is a large group of seniors and lower income families here who want to get out but the rents are so high that it impossible. $3500.00 a month to rent a 2 BR house or apartment, 2500.00 for a 1 BR ? It is cheaper to stay where you are and try and survive. We were notified that town light bills would go up 60%, water bills up 50% this year. Of course, we are expecting and have been notified that taxes will go up again. The cost of heating oil..crippling.
I need some medical attention. I have Medicare and a supplement for part B and D. I cannot afford dental insurance...You guessed it, I need 2 root canals. $1500.00 each. I will tough this out. No way can I find the $$ to pay this. My kids cannot help nor would I ask them.
Sometimes I just want to throw in the towel. When I watch the news, all I see is a greater downhill for those without funds. The rich? Not so much, they might have to buy less expensive wine.
Another raise in Prime rate. Good god, who does this help? Only those wealthy individuals with stock in big corporations and companies that are raking in the profits.. Not the little guy who is trying to survive.
FemDemERA
(222 posts)It's scary and exhausting enough trying to figure out how to live with limited funds, but with the constantly rising costs of the most basic necessities, the future is downright bleak and terrifying for millions of people. I'm sorry for what you are going through. That category of "have little disposable income but too much to qualify" hurts far too many people and it really sucks. I wish our country would consider vision/dental/mental health as a part of medical health insurance - and that every person was covered.
I'm guessing you've checked within your community, so I don't know if this is any help at all as you may have already exhausted these options, but I found a couple of sites that list a few different ideas for dental care. Not sure if they might be available to you, but thought it was worth passing on the info. A dental school helped me when I needed some dental care many years ago and I know someone else who was helped through a church member's donation.
https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/retirement/free-dental-for-seniors-on-medicare/
https://grantsforseniors.org/dental-assistance-for-seniors/
Also, I would add that your local community action and/or senior services office might have some ideas, if you haven't already checked with them. I hope you are able to get some assistance with this.
GoodRaisin
(8,905 posts)They keep the same standard of living they are accustomed to. What you say they complain about (immigration, crime, not wanting to pay taxes for other peoples Medicare, etc.) mirrors a typical hour of Fox News reporting to a T.