My eyes are being opened to how shitty things are getting out there. In 2019, I made $40 an hour. I work the same job today, but with way more responsibilities. Even though my company is making record profits, I still make the same amount.
The thing is, it really isn’t the same amount. Inflation is out of control and my purchasing power has drastically declined. I guess I lived in my own little bubble and didn’t see how bad it was getting until I finally looked at my monthly expenses, then I looked at my company's profits…
You don’t notice the prices creeping upwards each day, but when you actually look at the big picture… holy fuck have things gotten expensive. Between property taxes, insurance, electricity, heat, gas, diesel, food, and basic necessities, I estimate my cost of living has increased 30% in only a few years. I sure as hell am not bringing in an extra 30% additional income. Funny enough, my company has increased revenue by 30% since the pandemic started.
What really triggered me was construction and DIY costs. Last week my river washed away the bank and took out a couple hundred feet of fence. I went to the lumber yard and 2x4s are $15 a piece, 6x6s are $65! What the actual fuck! It’s going to cost me over 15k to replace a fucking fence? I noticed sheets of plywood are now over $100 a sheet for fuck sake. What is going on?
My boss is building a new summer house, and he bought a new yacht. Meanwhile, I'm spending my savings just to maintain my property and house. What happens when I need to re-side my barn… what happens when I need to re-shingle the roof… what happens when I need to buy a new truck, or tractor… When does it stop? When do my expenses overtake my income?
This cannot continue, these companies are sucking us dry, and they know it. Profits are surging at our expense. We put in the time and work to build a decent quality of life, and they seem hellbent on taking it away from us now. Something needs to be done before it is too late and they literally own the fucking world.
I’ve worked for big corporations my whole life, and I’ve put in the Mon-Fri 9-5 grind expecting to move up in the world, not down. Never thought I’d say this, but fuck corporations and fuck the system we’ve let them create.