Politics, politics, politics (so long and thanks for all the fish)

[thfcsteff]

We are in for it mate, I mentioned it months ago on here at the start of Iran. Working in hospitality I heard about it near every meeting I have had in the last 12 months. Supply chain costs for anything is now utterly fcuked, fuel costs on top of increasing productions costs on top of anything impacted by sending supply over a distance is absolutely killing business.

Agreed and felt the same, albeit it is still hard to predict just how bad it is going to get but you do feel a lot of small businesses are teetering and will fall fast. I am interested to see if the US midterms can signal some revival of fortunes IF the dems can make the waves they certainly would under normal circumstances...but yes, it feels like there are going to be a LOT of service industry jobs and businesses just disappearing.

 

[thfcsteff]

There's ways around it. Leisure doesn't have to equate to consumers. People don't need to become hermits or zombies.

Sport participation is largely free (I pay about £10 a week for 3x football combined, and nothing for my running clubs). Live music can also be free or very cheap (I never pay more than about £8 a ticket) if you hunt out things in backrooms of the right type of pubs or old warehouse venues.

I know that.
I also manage to do that sort of thing too.
It was not the point I was making.

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

Are there any circumstances the MPC/Chancellor would target deflation? If not why not? ( I am a complete economic know nothing).

There's demand side deflation and supply side deflation.
Demand side is probably what we are seeing right now, whether prices react downwards to pick up demand is still to be seen. The problem with this type of deflation is its accompanied by recession or at worst depression.

Supply side can come with growth as lower input costs or improved productivity (one would think AI would be the silver bullet here) can be passed on to consumers in reduced costs, so stimulate purchasing and increase consumer spending power.

Very hard for the government to get ahead of this from where we are. Just 'helping out' with bits and pieces appears to be the only line of attack at the moment, but it barely touches the sides.

 

[thfcsteff]

The 'value' could be there from the sellers pov (obviously we are not privvy to their input costs), it's just mismatched with our earnings input.
One does indeed have to think about opening your wallet on ALL occasions these days. And that situation has been rising up thru the middle classes for nearly a decade.

The big question is, is the cause generally natural fluctuations of financial parameters or is it more by 'design'?

It's both for sure, and I'd say design's role in it cannot be minimalised...

 

[thfcsteff]

@Gutter Boy I think we are amidst a perfectly manufactured series of dependencies. Started decades ago. People weaned away from all manner of healthier choices (whether food or social engagement or nature, etc) and instead fed the addictive dopamine-based 'pleasures' of instant gratification, being constantly served, packing more 'things' into out days and thus absorbing less, 'convenience' over quality, lack of education, divide and conquer leading to electronic isolation and therefore digitally-driven short attention spans...I could go on, and I suspect you'd agree.

We can but do the best we can to live lives with some depth and richness, which in itself these days requires a huge committment, but one which keeps us on the right side of darkness - just about!

 

[MartyFunkhouser]

Course they support two foot Tommy

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I wonder if people still think Reform are unfairly targeted and labelled???

 

[Gutter Boy]

@Gutter Boy I think we are amidst a perfectly manufactured series of dependencies. Started decades ago. People weaned away from all manner of healthier choices (whether food or social engagement or nature, etc) and instead fed the addictive dopamine-based 'pleasures' of instant gratification, being constantly served, packing more 'things' into out days and thus absorbing less, 'convenience' over quality, lack of education, divide and conquer leading to electronic isolation and therefore digitally-driven short attention spans...I could go on, and I suspect you'd agree.

We can but do the best we can to live lives with some depth and richness, which in itself these days requires a huge committment, but one which keeps us on the right side of darkness - just about!

I completely agree. It shouldn't be so difficult to wean people though.

It's fairly simple principles - consume less, be present, people not things, less tech, patronise human art/craft and local things. Its just an addiction people need to break, not a bind of sustance

 

[glasgowspur]

We're already there, I go out far less because the value just isn't there or it doesn't like it is. In some ways I feel bad because a lot of these places are doing what they can to keep costs down but even going to a cafe for a family of 4 with 2 kids who don't each much is easily £60-70.

We go out less not just because of the cost but also because there's very little aimed at us.
A quiet drink and a meal, pleasant surroundings, not rushed and decent service.
Just about everywhere you go you have to talk over music (wtaf is that all about), your food comes almost on a conveyor belt and it's order by QR code.

There's very little around where we stay where you can eat.
Maybe twice a year we will walk over to the "mall" for a pizza express. Over £90 the last time, for two of us. One starter, four beers, two pizzas and two coffees.
In the summer we sat in view of the eiffel tour in Paris, had a lovely meal, wine and beers, 120 euros. Hard to believe we aren't not only getting ripped off but getting fobbed off with a brick life.

 

[glasgowspur]

We are witnessing end-stage capitalism, but of course there are numerous other system shocks like COVID and various pointless wars, exacerbating things. Even when these factors ease off for whatever reason, others will take their place. We are in the age of polycrisis.

We're addicted to crisis now, everything has to be the very worst thing that has ever happened, ever.
Can't help but think they're hiding the real crisis.

 

[thfcsteff]

I completely agree. It shouldn't be so difficult to wean people though.

It's fairly simple principles - consume less, be present, people not things, less tech, patronise human art/craft and local things. Its just an addiction people need to break, not a bind of sustance

It's what makes the last 40 years or so -from Thatcher on- so insidious. It should be an easy thing to do, yet the social programming has been immense.
It all sort of starts with being present, however that has become the hardest thing for many people to do. Being present is a true pathway, and it is my opinion that the 'paymasters' are not interested in encouraging such emancipation and clarity for the regular person. So you're right, it is down to the individual to fight the galeforce winds and prevail in such tasks...