justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Someone should ask Alito (an "originalist") if he knows how elections were run at and shortly after the founding. 020
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 29/07/2026Deeply discounted doesn't necessarily mean below cost. It could be but I don't think this would be the approach - for the reasons above. It would instead be essentially a government subsidy. The issue IMO is this could conflict with other means tested programs. 110
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 27/05/2026And this one digs into what the effect is. This is a huge driver and you can see it into sentiment data over and over. People are struggling to deal with household costs and that is why we are seeing auto and credit delinquency data generally moving in the wrong way. www.nber.org/digest/20251...nber.orgUnderstanding the Lag Between CPI Shelter Inflation and Market Rents 100
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 27/05/2026First there is this interesting piece which talks about the issue with how CPI mishandles rent costs which is a significant burden on the lower half of the income spectrum. ideas.repec.org/a/aea/aerins...ideas.repec.orgDisentangling Rent Index Differences: Data, Methods, and ScoRent measurement determines 32 percent of the CPI. Accurate rent measurement is therefore essential for accurate inflation measurement, but the CPI rent index often differs from alternative rent infla 100
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 27/05/2026There is also reason to believe the methodology has been distorted over long-periods of time. This paper argues it hits the middle-class hardest by focusing on differential CPI amongst vehicle prices but there is plenty of evidence showing that rents are similar. events.berkeley.edu/live/files/2...events.berkeley.edu 200
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 27/05/2026FWIW +4.5% through a period of high inflation is statistically pretty flat. This is IMO cherry picking of the stats to ignore the signal. While their income may have increased in aggregate according to, the report also finds that their finances continue to *decline*. 200
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 27/05/2026"However, elevated inflation rates eroded these nominal wage gains, such that the financial well-being of low- and moderate-income (LMI) people continues to decline, according to a regular survey of Fourth District community-based organizations." www.clevelandfed.org/publications...clevelandfed.orgDollars and Cents: Real Hourly Wage Growth across the Lower Half of the Wage DistributionThis report analyzes real dollar differences across the lower half of the US wage distribution to shed light on the financial health of low- and moderate-income people and their households. 100
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 27/05/2026Real wages are against a normalized basket. Actually dig in and what they buy ran much hotter than headline inflation. It's misleading. 100
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 26/05/202650% of the spending by the top 10% does not create a healthy democracy. The bottom 40% exposed to goods with much higher run rates of inflation with little capacity to absorb the hit also isn't healthy. There are a lot of people struggling. Yes the headline numbers are good but that's all surface. 110
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 25/05/2026The worst kept secret - the US has clearly been allowing this to stop the world from imploding. The real question is whether Trump knew this - I personally doubt it. 040
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 24/05/2026I agree on decadence but the economic part portion has a bit of a misdiagnosis in the OP. Yes some economic indicators are good but many people are struggling. Inflation on the goods the bottom 40% consume - rent, groceries, used autos, prescription drugs...have run hotter than the general economy. 031
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 16/05/2026I have no doubt that Xi said something like that knowing Trump would brag about it. Xi used Trump as everyone does to amplify what actually happened. The Chinese were trolling him the entire time. Not in a trashy way but simply treating him like the buffoon he is. 1132
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 15/05/2026Not my governor but I don't understand this other than watching law and order breaking down and many pols outing themselves as opportunists who care more about way more about their own personnel interests than society or the people they pretend to serve but ultimately fail. 010
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 15/05/2026This is true but also it is true that this is all rigged. The leadership are orchestrating these votes. It's always exactly tied in both houses? Implausible. It's a stage show. 0140
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 15/05/2026This is literally how this is rigged. It's all kabuki theater. These votes keep ending up exactly tied because that is what the vast majority want. Congress is a complete farce. It's a stage show. 1140
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 14/05/2026I wonder how they will be in the room - an old netbook? A mysterious child? Glowing orb? I need to know. 060
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 13/05/2026It's amazing that the next question is not 'How do you not know the context of the statement of the President of the United States?'. I mean it's obvious to us closely watch what he is doing. I don't understand how he doesn't get challenged on this after months of this 'covering his ears' routine. 010
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 13/05/2026I read only a few paragraphs before coming to the conclusion that Mr. Stephen's is beaming these in from a parallel dimension. 000
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 12/05/2026Always judge people on what they do - not what they say. 011
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 12/05/2026Hey to be fair they can vote - it just doesn't matter. 130
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 11/05/2026It's almost like we live in a dystopian billionaire controlled information sphere. 000
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 11/05/2026It's times to recognize that our democracy is on life support. This is nakedly a power grab by a racist white supremacist order. Those of us watching can't believe how nakedly obvious it is and how little it is being explained as it plainly is. 060
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 11/05/2026As usual the Dems show us the Republicans will go to any limits and the Democrats won't even use the legal tools available to them. This is what they want - it's all noise as they pretend to try to stop it but they ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM. 000
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 08/05/2026I'm beginning to think this is not going to be settled the way people think it will be. The masks are off. Our democracy is being dismantled. It's time to start the sustained protests. Weekends in the park are not going to do it. 151
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 07/05/2026Real villain energy here. You just aren't smart enough to understand our very principled abuses of power. It's just too bad that this guy is seeing his legacy crumble but he chose to unmask his white supremacy and support for soulless oligarchy while revoking rights and destroying democracy. 081
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 05/05/2026It won't even follow explicit rules much less not do the thing it doesn't know it is doing. 000
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 04/05/2026Wait wut? I don't believe it just because there is no way it can succeed and the all the people involved aside from Trump know it. 031
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 04/05/2026For example, the Dollar stores and Walmart? They maintained enough supply and can cut new orders, defend their profit margin, and push the pain down to their suppliers who aren't big corporations and might bust out or even outside the country. They have deep moats. 000
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 04/05/2026It's fundamentally broken. I'm getting real data showing businesses are starting to cut orders and demand destruction is happening. BUT - big BUT corporate profits are at some level becoming disconnected from these economic pressures too. They've built a heads we win-tail you lose architecture. 100
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 04/05/2026He has a point but it sort of ignores that this is a party which is fairly unpopular with big parts of its base. This is essentially advice to continue to alienate the base. There is a narrower path available where they yes move away from extreme litmus tests but also engage on some issues. 020
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 02/05/2026We chose to decline in 2016. This is more like freefall at this point. 000
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 02/05/2026Trump's wounded ego is of course the only thing that matters. 000
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 01/05/202686 47! This is not going to go the way they think - in the courts or in the public. 010
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 01/05/2026Alex Jones is clearly who he is. I know you can't or more accurately shouldn't say it but the party that needs a lot of directed and hopefully widespread criticism is the court that just enabled this. Jones recognized the impunity and he was emboldened to do this by the court. 000
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 30/04/2026Good move - this was the finest nostalgia play in a while. 020
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 30/04/2026No many of us haven't. We do now know that other people will move on if it's convenient to overlook massive character flaws. That was the path to Trump. 020
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 30/04/2026Practically yes but also what does this say about the electorate? As long as you say things I like in the moment I'll overlook the character flaws, the inconsistency, and oh a little nazi tattoo. 000
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 30/04/2026100%. But you have to wonder is this is even a question now. 000
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 30/04/2026Too bad he HAS A NAZI TATTOO. Apparently what you say is more important than WHO YOU ARE. Just a complete degradation of a society happening in real time. 090
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 30/04/2026So much for rule of law. Supposedly bankrupt grifters seemingly have special rights to trample on the rights of victims as long as the judges like their views. Quality basis for a system of governance. 0261
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 30/04/2026The playbook was 'right to exist' and every criticism is antisemitism. The current Israeli leadership don't know what to do when people stop buying that premise. 040
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 30/04/2026Exactly. The donor class controls this country. 050
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 28/04/2026Don't love this line in the article: "But in the Trump era, the FCC is wielding its power in new ways." It is abusing power. And they need to stop pretending this is a neutral statement. It is weirdly out of step with the article. Sort of like wondering why the patient with cancer is dying. 010
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 28/04/2026This makes some sense - the cover up does seem proportional to these sort of allegations. 060
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 28/04/2026This is beyond logic. It's just the thuggery of it. The people at the top spending all this time trying to get a talk show host fired? While the nation is struggling? These people are just trash. The Trumps obviously but all these stooges, the media nodding heads, this nation needs an enema. 010
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 27/04/2026The Republicans went insane on multiple Presidents and set a north star for impeachment/removal for nothing. Actual substantive abuse? Somehow a distraction. This isn't hard folks - set a north star amongst several issues. Message a core 2 or 3. The economy and Trump's abuses are highly linked! 030
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 27/04/2026But we are being told that the Iranians are mere moments from complete economic collapse...or is that Europe. Hard to tell what is real anymore. 000
justchrisg.bsky.social @justchrisg.bsky.social · 27/04/2026I mean this is nuts but at least it's mostly about some superficial thing and not - let's round up <some unwanted group> - oh damn it... 010
