So, Cost of Living increases

[wetanz]

The free market is A methodology. Capitalism is A tool. Moving towards totalitarianism as a society is what's happening using a free market methodology, meritocratised by Capitalism. That's not the predominant perspective though, hence the wheel keeps turning as it has and does. I guess that disqualifies me for the bridge. Darn, and I've got plenty of use for it given the number of people who need to get over one.

free markets are not regulated, debt is not capital ... methodology is a printing press (whether it be real or digital) and has no meritocracy

[pete376403]

Seems appropriate to this thread, the news that the capital markets are in freefall around the world, spooked by the fear that the Federal Reserve "might" raise interest rates.

[mashman]

free markets are not regulated, debt is not capital ... methodology is a printing press (whether it be real or digital) and has no meritocracy

Free markets can be regulated by choice. Debt is capital in some circumstances (capitalism requires credit after all). To the owners of production go the spoils and the means to be seen as the best to direct humanity (puppets or not). Meritocracy by any other name... and the same ending no matter how you classify the components.

[wetanz]

Free markets can be regulated by choice. Debt is capital in some circumstances (capitalism requires credit after all). To the owners of production go the spoils and the means to be seen as the best to direct humanity (puppets or not). Meritocracy by any other name... and the same ending no matter how you classify the components.

regulation by definition is not free ... credit is not capital (wrong side of the balance sheet), its a loan or in simpler terms a liability, unless you belong to a certain ((class)) of person it needs to be paid back with a cost, interest ... this is simply a construct to obfuscate theft on a grand scale ... these are tools of a governing system that is losing it and have been used to subjugate non-ruling people for millenia

[Viking01]

US Interest Rates and Inflation

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/unit...gtype=homepage

https://www.globalresearch.ca/fed-is...ing-it/5783353

[Berries]

free markets are not regulated, debt is not capital ... methodology is a printing press (whether it be real or digital) and has no meritocracy

Ever thought about getting into the billboard making business?

[mashman]

regulation by definition is not free ... credit is not capital (wrong side of the balance sheet), its a loan or in simpler terms a liability, unless you belong to a certain ((class)) of person it needs to be paid back with a cost, interest ... this is simply a construct to obfuscate theft on a grand scale ... these are tools of a governing system that is losing it and have been used to subjugate non-ruling people for millenia

It has been going on for an exceptionally long time hasn't it.

[MD]

Back on topic. Threads always turn into politicking and people reaching for their Thesaurus to impress others with BIG WORDS.
I saw $5.99 for a small lettuce yesterday.

Roll on spring and I might just dig up the back lawn and plant veges. My Dad was a keen gardener and we had an excellent supply of all sorts of fresh vegetables. I doubt my parents hardly ever paid for potatoes in their life. For years I was in charge of feeding our chickens and I sold the surplus eggs to the local Dairy over the road for pocket money. Many families were quite self sufficient in the 60s and 70s when it came to growing their own food in the backyard. I guess my generation just got spoilt by the convenience of supermarkets. Now backyards are for spa pools and trampolines [guilty!]

Pleased I didn't upgrade the car a couple of years ago when I had the pipe dream of buying a Mustang. Happy to be still chugging along in the little fuel efficient hatchback. I notice more gas guzzler cars seem to be frequenting those road side places where people park up to sell their cars. I laugh at one everyday when I pass it that has been there more months. One of those early 90s Mitsubishi V6 saloons (Magna/Diamante?). A neighbour got one new in the 90s and often complained how greedy it was on fuel and said he regretted buying it.

I do think we are heading for tougher times financially but that's the cycle. I remember being worried about my staff Super fund plummeting after 1987 and again in 2008. That last one bounced back really well though after a few years. The recovery was even better than the fall so the long term trend was a bonus windfall.

[Viking01]

Back on topic. Threads always turn into politicking and people reaching for their Thesaurus to impress others with BIG WORDS. ....

I do think we are heading for tougher times financially but that's the cycle. I remember being worried about my staff Super fund plummeting after 1987 and again in 2008. That last one bounced back really well though after a few years. The recovery was even better than the fall so the long term trend was a bonus windfall.

Afternoon.
I was intrigued by your last few sentences. I'm not sure what cycle you had in mind, other than the almost regular cycle of "bank crashes" approx every 10 years since the late 1990's (i.e. 1998 recession, 2008 GFC, 2019-20 financial crisis (starting in 2019 just prior to Covid).

I hope you don't think that these events are caused by the "hand of God" (the only "hand of God" I'm familiar with was to do with Maradona in the 1986 Soccer World Cup ). I think the "hand of bankers" (central and major private banker) might be more responsible.

Cheers, Viking

[george formby]

Afternoon.
I was intrigued by your last few sentences. I'm not sure what cycle you had in mind, other than the almost regular cycle of "bank crashes" approx every 10 years since the late 1990's (i.e. 1998 recession, 2008 GFC, 2019-20 financial crisis (starting in 2019 just prior to Covid).

I hope you don't think that these events are caused by the "hand of God" (the only "hand of God" I'm familiar with was to do with Maradona in the 1986 Soccer World Cup ). I think the "hand of bankers" (central and major private banker) might be more responsible.

Cheers, Viking

Dunno if responsible is the word to use, but I get the gist.

[F5 Dave]

Read his long post before. Its quite clear what cycle he is talking about.

[pete376403]

Back on topic. Threads always turn into politicking and people reaching for their Thesaurus to impress others with BIG WORDS.
I saw $5.99 for a small lettuce yesterday.

Roll on spring and I might just dig up the back lawn and plant veges. My Dad was a keen gardener and we had an excellent supply of all sorts of fresh vegetables. I doubt my parents hardly ever paid for potatoes in their life. For years I was in charge of feeding our chickens and I sold the surplus eggs to the local Dairy over the road for pocket money. Many families were quite self sufficient in the 60s and 70s when it came to growing their own food in the backyard. I guess my generation just got spoilt by the convenience of supermarkets. Now backyards are for spa pools and trampolines [guilty!].

Your parents and mine had the benefit of a 1/4 acre or more section and it was expected that it would be used in this way. I now have the parents place and sometimes (usually at lawn mowing time) wish it was a bit smaller, however recently I bought an old Morrison rotary hoe, repowered it with a chinese OHV motor and closer to spring time will be ploughing in preparation for some major planting.

[TheDemonLord]

Back on topic. Threads always turn into politicking and people reaching for their Thesaurus to impress others with BIG WORDS.
I saw $5.99 for a small lettuce yesterday.

Roll on spring and I might just dig up the back lawn and plant veges. My Dad was a keen gardener and we had an excellent supply of all sorts of fresh vegetables. I doubt my parents hardly ever paid for potatoes in their life. For years I was in charge of feeding our chickens and I sold the surplus eggs to the local Dairy over the road for pocket money. Many families were quite self sufficient in the 60s and 70s when it came to growing their own food in the backyard. I guess my generation just got spoilt by the convenience of supermarkets. Now backyards are for spa pools and trampolines [guilty!]

I personally hate Gardening, however My Wife quite likes it, we have a Vegepod in the Garden and a Herb Garden - not sure what's growing in it currently - but we've had Tomatoes, Parsley, Strawberries, Pumpkins out of it.

Maybe it is time to do a bit more in the Garden...

I do think we are heading for tougher times financially but that's the cycle. I remember being worried about my staff Super fund plummeting after 1987 and again in 2008. That last one bounced back really well though after a few years. The recovery was even better than the fall so the long term trend was a bonus windfall.

That's my general consensus, that for those who are able to weather the storm, on the other side will be fine.

I'm seeing a lot of struggle though - ironically from the dyed-in-the-wool Labour types especially - and what gives me a sliver of hope is that some of them are saying things like:

"I don't want an extra Winter Energy Payment, I want things to cost less"

Also in the Hospital sector - the Mandates, despite what the media says - caused a number of trained staff to loose their jobs - one Hospital worker reckoned it was about 15-20 workers where they worked, for a Hospital system already under load, that is now chronically understaffed, which means the Staff that are left are overworked, stressed and looking elsewhere. Even if they get new nurses out of Uni or from overseas - you are still looking at a bedding period of at least 3-6 months to truly get into the groove.

[TheDemonLord]

Your parents and mine had the benefit of a 1/4 acre or more section and it was expected that it would be used in this way. I now have the parents place and sometimes (usually at lawn mowing time) wish it was a bit smaller, however recently I bought an old Morrison rotary hoe, repowered it with a chinese OHV motor and closer to spring time will be ploughing in preparation for some major planting.

Very interesting points - See, in the UK, it was the Allotment - but very much the same concept - that the family would grow, non-commercially, a number of fruit/veg to supplement their dietary needs. Indeed, my Grandparents who were part of the WW2 generation religiously kept their Allotments - My Dad still maintains a sizeable herb/vege garden.

There's something to be said about an attitude of self-sufficiency as it pertains to the practical things such as Food and also as it relates to the Political - those that are more self-reliant tend to vote for Smaller Government, whereas those who are more dependent on others vote for larger government (suffice to say, which I prefer)/

Perhaps I should force myself to have an interest in Gardening...

[nerrrd]

Also in the Hospital sector - the Mandates, despite what the media says - caused a number of trained staff to loose their jobs - one Hospital worker reckoned it was about 15-20 workers where they worked, for a Hospital system already under load, that is now chronically understaffed, which means the Staff that are left are overworked, stressed and looking elsewhere. Even if they get new nurses out of Uni or from overseas - you are still looking at a bedding period of at least 3-6 months to truly get into the groove.

It was already chronically understaffed before Covid, as this pre-Covid article suggests (apologies for the 'socialist' source material but they quote a lot of front line sources as well.)

https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE19...is-worsens.htm