Or, aggregating the question: How much stress can America endure?
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Recently, I’ve noticed a couple of trends.
Practically everybody I know has gotten sick in the past couple of months … some Covid, but mostly prolonged colds and intestinal “issues”.
And, everybody seems stressed out.
Think those 2 “indications” are related?
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Stress factors
Inflation is gnawing at everybody and forcing hard choices.
Every trip to the grocery store is what a friend euphemistically calls “an unfulfilling experience” … with noticeably higher prices (every week), smaller packages and empty shelves.
The gas price spike may be the straw that will break the economic camel’s back … with neon signs every couple of miles reminding people that prices are are out of control
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Housing costs
Next up will be housing costs.
Last week, I chatted up the Amazon Prime driver who was handing me a package.
He said he loves his job, loves living in the area … but just had his rent bumped up to $3,800 a month.
That’s almost $50 grand a year, sports fans.
My bet: He’s not making much more than that driving the truck … if he’s even making that.
The driver frowned when I opined that the sky-rocketing real estate prices of the past few years still haven’t fully made their way thru the system … and higher interest rates will eventually be passed through to rental rates.
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Retirement nest eggs
For awhile, our retirement nest egg sheltered us a bit .. making all of the above inflation effects annoying, but not sleep shattering.
But, a 20% drop in the stock market has quickly deflated financial cushions and pushed a lot of retirees into the inflationary pool (cesspool?) with everybody else.
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Social pressures
Then there are the “social issues”.
Many people have residual Covid fears — still being stoked by Fauci & Friends — and have anxieties when going to sporting events, restaurants or even weddings & funerals.
Understandably, nobody seems eager to head into crime ridden urban centers for a night of entertainment.
The lockdowns took a toll.
Many (most? all?) companies are having a hard time coaxing employees back to the office (and getting productivity back on track).
Parents are legitimately concerned about their kids’ education.
As one soccer mom put it recently: “My daughter is dumber now than she was 2 years ago.”
Charge that to virtual schooling … and changed curricular emphases in the schools … less reading, writing and arithmetic … more “social awareness”.
A case on point…
From a trusted source: Girls at one local middle school try to avoid using the school’s (“girls”) restroom ever since a gender-fluid, biological male started using their facilities.
If they can’t “hold it”, they make restroom stops a group activity.
And on … and on … and on.
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My point: Escalating stress levels are evident … and spreading like wildfire across geographies, demographics, and age groups.
Where’s the breaking point — individually and collectively?
What will “the great break” look like?
Geez, it’s hard to be optimistic…
The Homa Files 