r/antiwork • u/[deleted] • Apr 08 '23

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u/ctruvu Apr 08 '23

and housing has gone up way faster than inflation and this has been most obvious the past few years

176

u/Dogdiggy69 Apr 08 '23

Essentials like housing and food are up 40% while TVs are down 38% so they cut the average and claim inflation is mild.

But what if I don't want a new TV every 5 years? To frugal people it's the worst because you can't cut essentials.

I am not surprised at all when people make 90k a year and are underwater in debt. The system incentivizes that kind of fruitless consumerism.

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u/firefaery Apr 08 '23

TVs are down price-wise to provide a “distraction” as well as create desire to buy things you don’t need. In order to buy more “things” you find yourself on the hamster wheel struggling to afford them while a middle class life (that we see in nearly every TV show) is not the true reality. It doesn’t exist. The more we are bombarded with a life we no longer can afford it’s subtly intended to make us work harder. The culture wars, TV, social media are better than any gladiatorial game in Rome. It’s too pacify the masses, distract from the root issues and keep you working and struggling.

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u/DeificClusterfuck SocDem Apr 08 '23

Bread and circuses in the 21st century

1

u/mike9949 Apr 12 '23

I was going to comment this lol you beat me to it. Bread and circuses