No Stupid Questions

One thing I've noticed is that people I know have 2 problems.

1. they might not know what things should cost. If the prices rises, I notices it right away. I shop at the same grocer and know the standard price of everything I buy. I notice a price increase when I pull it off the shelf. Most my friends don't notice a price increase until they check out.

2. My friends that do notice a price increase never substitute or change their meals. They will still buy the same meals. Even if the stuff they need go on sale every other week. I've found that usually most my stuff I can still buy on sale at least 1 or 2 times per month.

These two problems mean that our generation doesn't really put much pressure on stores to keep prices low.

Rent: Housing costs in America are entire caused by a supply shortage due to limitations on supply. We can literally build as much housing as we want and set the market rate at anything, but since the 60s America hasn't built much and the little we have built has been expensive single family homes. This is a choice voters have made for 60 years, but voters can also make other choices.

Shoplift

Demand that our politicians to stop allowing corporations from buying up all single family housing.

Thats where I would start.

Not sure of your means, but we can boycott. Organizations like Trader Joe's and Aldi are a bit cheaper than their competitors while offering also using different sources. Likewise organizations like H Mart or your local farmers market source locally, giving the middle finger to Tyson (who claims inflation and profits) and Kellogs (who uses shrinkflation to claim profits). Obviously this doesn't work for everyone, but I think the majority of city dwellers can make these moves. This also is a fuck you to any local grocery stores trying to do the same bullshit (Walmart).

In the same vein, and what I've done, alternative meal companies have come A LONG way. The company Huel has a instant noodles, pasta, and candy bars that are macro balanced with vitamins and nutrients all for about $5/meal. I know most people will skip this, but they're actually really good. Mac N Cheese, pasta Bolognese and Cajun pasta have actually gotten me to go mostly vegan. There's another one called Outstanding Foods that has cheese puffs, cookies and pork rinds that are macro balanced and delicious as well. My daily meals are often some pasta like Mac N Cheese, one of the Huel shakes (I have a ninja creami so this is ice cream in the summer), and coffee mocha cookies, and another shake. That's 1800 calories with balanced macros and vegan that I didn't have the really cook or think about. If I'm working out, I swap the last shake for a protein shake.

Not American, but I try to buy most of my daily stuff from independent places instead of supermarkets. The social contacts at my local butcher, bakery, vegetable shop, fish shop, ... is also much more enjoyable than stressing in the Colruyt or whatever. And the produce is way better.

Once they get to know you, they often give freebies too, like offcuts to make bouillon. And you get free cooking tips as well!

The ultra rich know that there's tough times ahead. They're amassing even more resources to try to survive the coming fall off civilization.

And we're all paying for their parachute.

Join a more radical organisation than the democrats. Participate in rallies, protests and put up flyers. Its not easy.

Organize locally and stop being so dependent on corporations. Try to start a garden if you can, live more sustainably, and reject as many "fees" as you can. Cut cords, go for FOSS software if you can, try to use publicly funded entertainment like parks, and try to cook for yourself, rather than eating out.

If you're already doing all of that, I'm afraid there isn't much more you can do.

General strikes, shut shit down.

When the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich.

Ask for a raise.

you are suppose to live with it or die according to the law.

Move to another country

What we should do is collectively stop paying what the corporations are asking and start negotiating the price of absolutely everything.

For example when we're at the car dealership instead of saying "oh my God I want that car so bad I'll pay anything you want" you say " I'll give you $10,000 less than you're asking for or I'm not going to buy anything from you"

Somehow the corporate elite of not just America but of all other major countries in the world have convinced the populace that you must pay what they're asking when you actually don't have to.

As the consumer you hold all the power you are not required to buy anything you are doing a favor by purchasing products from these corporations.

Riot.

Move to another country?

I’m trying to figure out the same question.

Iniquity will hit a critical mass, we'll start a 3rd world war, if we survive the war we'll have another post war economy boomer world.