Remember when shopping–the opportunity to spend one’s hard-earned money for goods freely chosen for their value–was enjoyable? Those days are long gone. From Quoth the Raven at quoththeraven.substack.com:
What’s the ratio between “triple rolls” and “super mega” rolls of paper towels? And did you know you were on the schedule to work the checkout line today?
I’ve often written about how inflation is nefarious because it cripples people’s purchasing power 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether it is dark out or light out, whether people are paying attention or not, inflation is, in essence, a piece of machinery that eats away at your purchasing power at all times—whether you know about it and expect it or not.
I discussed the effects of inflation in a video I made a long time ago, called “The Weighted Blanket Theory.” In it, I explained that rising prices are like a weighted blanket falling on the consumer. At first, they feel okay and even comforting, but then you realize the blanket weighs far too much—before you know it, you’re trapped under a blanket that has completely incapacitated and smothered you.
Something else that has slipped away—largely unnoticed—is the standard of quality of service offered to consumers around the country. As the United States has transitioned from treating spending on discretionary items as a luxury to considering it a right—and even an obligation for all consumers, even if it means taking on debt—companies have had to fight less and less to provide good service. Now, service is basically bordering on sub-human, both literally and figuratively.
