As for the issue of "America's reality distortion machine," it reminds me of a quote from a former Facebook engineer. It's included in a book I'm currently reading by former NY Times reporter Max Fisher ("The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World"):
"One reason I think it is particularly important for us to talk about [the impact of social media] now is that we may be the last generation that can remember life before."
Seems like people of a certain age (you know, like you and me, Terry!) can still provide essential perspective to the current information (and misinformation) deluge!
I read that RFK (I like your assigned pen name!!) was being subsidized by big Trump money donors in the hopes of pulling votes away from Biden, appealing to Haley voters, etc. I wish he were not running.
Interesting article, Terry, but I disagree with the premise that I think the economy is bad because I've: 1) heard about it on newscasts, 2) heard others complaining on social media, or 3) heard politicians complaining about the economy. Depending upon which politician you hear, the economy is lousy or great. I don't have a TikTok account and have stopped looking at X. I do hear people of all political stripes on newscasts, offering various opinions on the economy.
My personal feelings about the economy are founded in my shopping experiences. Just today my husband and I went to a store to purchase a large quantity of sugar for his bees. Two years ago, a 25 pound bag was $7.14. About a year ago, it jumped to $11.00. Today it was $19.84. Nothing fancy--just sugar. Quite frankly, that's nuts.
Our younger daughter would love to buy a house instead of paying rent, but even though she has a decent-paying job in education, with mortgage rates so high it's just a dream. She can't afford the down payment banks are demanding, let alone monthly payments. She's better off renting.
I don't believe the spin on Bidenomics, or talk that the economy is roaring. I don't know anyone who has benefitted from upwardly trending salaries. It's not that that kind of talk is a "lie", but I'd like to know who and where these jobs are.
As for the issue of "America's reality distortion machine," it reminds me of a quote from a former Facebook engineer. It's included in a book I'm currently reading by former NY Times reporter Max Fisher ("The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World"):
"One reason I think it is particularly important for us to talk about [the impact of social media] now is that we may be the last generation that can remember life before."
Seems like people of a certain age (you know, like you and me, Terry!) can still provide essential perspective to the current information (and misinformation) deluge!
Oh good!!!!
I read that RFK (I like your assigned pen name!!) was being subsidized by big Trump money donors in the hopes of pulling votes away from Biden, appealing to Haley voters, etc. I wish he were not running.
Interesting article, Terry, but I disagree with the premise that I think the economy is bad because I've: 1) heard about it on newscasts, 2) heard others complaining on social media, or 3) heard politicians complaining about the economy. Depending upon which politician you hear, the economy is lousy or great. I don't have a TikTok account and have stopped looking at X. I do hear people of all political stripes on newscasts, offering various opinions on the economy.
My personal feelings about the economy are founded in my shopping experiences. Just today my husband and I went to a store to purchase a large quantity of sugar for his bees. Two years ago, a 25 pound bag was $7.14. About a year ago, it jumped to $11.00. Today it was $19.84. Nothing fancy--just sugar. Quite frankly, that's nuts.
Our younger daughter would love to buy a house instead of paying rent, but even though she has a decent-paying job in education, with mortgage rates so high it's just a dream. She can't afford the down payment banks are demanding, let alone monthly payments. She's better off renting.
I don't believe the spin on Bidenomics, or talk that the economy is roaring. I don't know anyone who has benefitted from upwardly trending salaries. It's not that that kind of talk is a "lie", but I'd like to know who and where these jobs are.
Thank you for an always thought-provoking read.