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What is an average person living in the US supposed to do about corporations raising prices?
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this post was submitted on 04 Jan 2024
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If you can't afford food, heat, rent, etc., apply for assistance from things like SNAP and other programs (local, state and federal). Call 211 for information on available resources in your area.
Start being an actual adult and start making your own shit.
The only way to free yourself from the slave racket is to stop being dependent on it to survive.
Easy mode: Learn how to cook, and cook clean whole foods. Stop buying processed junk garbage.
Hard mode: Get tools and equipment and learn how to build and fix your own shit. Difficult and will take time, but 100% worthwhile.
Both methods allow you to produce goods and offer services you can sell to other people, too. That way, those that actually can't make or do for themselves can turn to you and not shitty corporations for survival.
I actively enjoy cooking, but it's shocking and shameful how little a classic education does for one of the most fundamental aspects of living your life. Nearly every relationship I've been in I have the been the primary chef for, purely because I know the basics. Home Ecc should be a mandatory class because every single one of us needs to eat and should be able to provide a solid meal for ourselves (and it should also include finance education but that's a whole other thing). I don't put the fault on any individual person for not knowing, but it is a skill that EVERYONE should foster.
Check in to the American test kitchen YouTube for all sorts of advice, or go to the library and check out their extensive catalog. You'd be suprised how easily obtainable restaurant quality food is from your own kitchen.
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I agree with you, but you can't do it for everything.
I see so many people just throwing money away it's crazy.
Like you said, cooking for yourself and your family. Don't eat out. Bring packed lunches to work. My family might get fast food once or twice a month max, the rest is all from the grocery store. Eating out is stupid expensive now.
When it comes to your cars. Learn to change your own oil, battery, and air filter. Dealers and repair shops charge stupid prices for this stuff and it's easy enough to do that you can do it in 15-30 minutes yourself. Remember to properly dispose of your fluids.
Learn to fix your own tech, tech jobs pay a lot which means that you as the customer will pay a lot to get your shit fixed.
Learn how to fix simple plumbing in your house, repair drywall, install/repair simple electrical stuff. When I see people in my local area paying handymen $500 to install a ceiling fan (not the electrical part like running wires, just hanging the damn thing), I about lose it.
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Demand that our politicians to stop allowing corporations from buying up all single family housing.
Thats where I would start.
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The ultra rich know that there's tough times ahead. They're amassing even more resources to try to survive the coming fall off civilization.
And we're all paying for their parachute.
no, they don't "know" that there are tough times ahead, they are trying to create those tough times, purposefully
Join a more radical organisation than the democrats. Participate in rallies, protests and put up flyers. Its not easy.
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Not American, but I try to buy most of my daily stuff from independent places instead of supermarkets. The social contacts at my local butcher, bakery, vegetable shop, fish shop, ... is also much more enjoyable than stressing in the Colruyt or whatever. And the produce is way better.
Once they get to know you, they often give freebies too, like offcuts to make bouillon. And you get free cooking tips as well!
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When the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich.
Not sure of your means, but we can boycott. Organizations like Trader Joe's and Aldi are a bit cheaper than their competitors while offering also using different sources. Likewise organizations like H Mart or your local farmers market source locally, giving the middle finger to Tyson (who claims inflation and profits) and Kellogs (who uses shrinkflation to claim profits). Obviously this doesn't work for everyone, but I think the majority of city dwellers can make these moves. This also is a fuck you to any local grocery stores trying to do the same bullshit (Walmart).
In the same vein, and what I've done, alternative meal companies have come A LONG way. The company Huel has a instant noodles, pasta, and candy bars that are macro balanced with vitamins and nutrients all for about $5/meal. I know most people will skip this, but they're actually really good. Mac N Cheese, pasta Bolognese and Cajun pasta have actually gotten me to go mostly vegan. There's another one called Outstanding Foods that has cheese puffs, cookies and pork rinds that are macro balanced and delicious as well. My daily meals are often some pasta like Mac N Cheese, one of the Huel shakes (I have a ninja creami so this is ice cream in the summer), and coffee mocha cookies, and another shake. That's 1800 calories with balanced macros and vegan that I didn't have the really cook or think about. If I'm working out, I swap the last shake for a protein shake.
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Organize locally and stop being so dependent on corporations. Try to start a garden if you can, live more sustainably, and reject as many "fees" as you can. Cut cords, go for FOSS software if you can, try to use publicly funded entertainment like parks, and try to cook for yourself, rather than eating out.
If you're already doing all of that, I'm afraid there isn't much more you can do.
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General strikes, shut shit down.
you are suppose to live with it or die according to the law.
What we should do is collectively stop paying what the corporations are asking and start negotiating the price of absolutely everything.
For example when we're at the car dealership instead of saying "oh my God I want that car so bad I'll pay anything you want" you say " I'll give you $10,000 less than you're asking for or I'm not going to buy anything from you"
Somehow the corporate elite of not just America but of all other major countries in the world have convinced the populace that you must pay what they're asking when you actually don't have to.
As the consumer you hold all the power you are not required to buy anything you are doing a favor by purchasing products from these corporations.
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