• HexesofVexes@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Hey now, that’s just not true (!)

    If you pull yourself up by your bootstraps, work an extra shift, maybe sell some things you don’t need, you can afford a McChicken Sandwich (!)

    • ThatFembyWho@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      9 months ago

      Have you seen the price of boots these days? More like pull yourself up by your dirty socks (cost probably $15 to wash) and then get kicked out of any building you walk into for being in your socks then go find a hole somewhere without anti-homeless spikes to crawl into and die then your next of kin get the outrageous bill for the ambulance that was called, the cycle repeats and basically everything will be fine haha!

  • Minotaur@lemm.ee
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    9 months ago

    Kind of hate posts like this. Yes! Inflation is happening and bad. And yes! The McChicken (and a lot of fast food value options) have soared in price in recent years. But trying to take that and frame it as “look at this… it’s so obvious the government is lying to us and overall inflation is actually over 100%” Is just ignorant nonsense and it tends to play into conspiratorial minds who don’t actually have any experience in economics or data collection.

    You can hate the federal government all you want. Really. I totally get it. But they are unfortunately really good at data collection.

    • Huschke@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      I get what you are saying, but think about it like this. If all you ate was McChickens then food inflation for you specifically was almost 300%. So even though “real” inflation was lower, you are still paying 3 times the amount you did before for your food.

      • Minotaur@lemm.ee
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        9 months ago

        See I get that, and that’s absolutely fine. There’s just a gigantic difference between saying “hmm, it seems like inflation for ‘budget’ items used by poorer individuals has gone up at a higher rate than other items, let me see if I can find some info on that” and “nope! The government is lying, actually! I can tell from the vibes.”

        One is very solution and truth oriented and the other is impatience that only sets them up to fall for further conspiracy theories and emotional arguement

    • mods_are_assholes@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Inflation for necessities like food and housing is ridiculous and exceeding 100% over three years.

      Inflation for rich luxuries have barely gone up comparatively.

      But all the reports are averaged.

      So since the rich are doing so fabulous that their numbers make it look like no one is struggling.

      Nevermind the fact that 60% of people live paycheck to paycheck.

      • Minotaur@lemm.ee
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        9 months ago

        Can you provide… anything to actually substantiate that? Maybe some food items like fast food value options have gone up 100%. Maybe some homes in particular, extremely high demand areas have gone up.

        When you make these gigantic sweeping claims with nothing but vibes and the McChicken to point to it just feels like bad faith

        • mods_are_assholes@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          Sorry Sealion, I’m not wasting my life to show you stats you can easily get off of the internet. There are literally 5 very high profile search results that will give you historical food inflation values.

          You just want to waste my time because no matter what source I give you, you will find an irrelevant detail that lets you shift the goalposts again and again, and I’ve been through that dance non-figurativley hundreds of times.

          The increase in food costs is obvious to literally anyone who does their own grocery shopping. The fact you don’t understand this either means you are being deliberately obstinate, or indeed, do not do your own grocery shopping.

          In either case neither types of people deserve a moment more of my time.

    • Quik@infosec.pub
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      9 months ago

      Yeah that 24% may very well be true for the average of “the price of everything”, but food is definitely closer to a 100% increase, so especially people with lower income will be closer to experiencing inflation of up to a hundred percent and not “just” 24.

    • Hootz@lemmy.ca
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      9 months ago

      In 2018 I’m pretty sure junior chickens were 1.89… they are 3.89 now, that’s double the price.

      • OldWoodFrame@lemm.ee
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        9 months ago

        One fast food chain might have increased the price of one sandwich, that doesn’t mean “the price of everything” has “at least” doubled. The price of everything weighed together has increased 24%. We monitor these things scientifically and consistently across time to get as accurate a number as is possible.

        You can’t refute that by extrapolating the price of one sandwich from one chain in one cherry picked time frame.

        • Hootz@lemmy.ca
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          9 months ago

          Personally I charge people double for me to give a fuck these days so I’d say there’s two sandwiches to worry about.

    • Minotaur@lemm.ee
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      9 months ago

      Definitely. I really don’t like posts like this, as they really just feed into a false, conspiratorial narrative wherein somehow every single federal agency and employee, no matter how bureaucratic, monitored, and independent - is under the direct control of whoever happens to be the sitting president at the time.

      It’s just fundamentally really not how government (or data collection) works, and it reeks of that dangerous “midwit” territory wherein people feel like they can cite one or two examples of the data seeming off or the government being a bit opaque and they think they’re experts on the subject.

      You end up creating a society in which people can’t trust/believe basic facts because everyone keeps convincing eachother that only the vibes of a situation matter

      • Minotaur@lemm.ee
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        9 months ago

        Do you understand what the overall inflation figure means though? You can’t just say “no, that figure about overall inflation in the economy isn’t true, my double whopper supreme is way more than that!!”

        Wasn’t Lemmy supposed to be the somewhat “smarter” Reddit where people had taken a basic stats class at some point in their life? I just really don’t get this thinking.

        • darthfabulous42069@lemm.ee
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          9 months ago

          🤔 Oh, I get it. You’re one of “those types.” The type that’ll find any way to dispute anything that tells us something is wrong.

          As if the overall inflation figure and other obscure, arcane bullshit changes the fact that a McChicken tripled in price, which is something that deeply and demonstrably affects ALL of our lives whether we eat fast food or not.

      • OldWoodFrame@lemm.ee
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        9 months ago

        I am currently telling you that, and your response is to shift from a claim of a 100% increase to a 200% increase which just about proves my point.

        • pinkdrunkenelephants@lemmy.cafeOP
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          9 months ago

          Then I’ll spell it out for you: your complaint is moot because what actually matters to people is the price listed in this meme, not blatant attempts at distorting what we can clearly see happening in front of our eyes.

          We’re suffering hyperinflation and no amount of dishonesty and manipulation from you is going to change that. You want it to not be true? Petition McDonald’s to lower their prices.

          • Minotaur@lemm.ee
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            9 months ago

            Are McDonalds dollar menu items so absolutely pivotal to your life that it completely breaks down when they raise in price?

            • pinkdrunkenelephants@lemmy.cafeOP
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              9 months ago

              Am I so much of a threat to the status quo you benefit from that you completely break down over a picture of the price of a McChicken at McDonald’s?

              Does it truly matter so much to you?

    • mods_are_assholes@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Since ‘everything’ is an average of all purchases, it pays to point out that necessities like food and housing has gone up significantly higher than upper class luxuries.

      Because it is, and always has been, class warfare.

    • PiJiNWiNg@sh.itjust.works
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      9 months ago

      I’m not sure the original post was referring specifically to the inflation of the dollar but it does highlight a real phenomenon in which large corporations are shrinking their product and their workforce, yet prices increase exponentially. I’m not arguing that McDonald’s sandwich price changes are reflective of the economy either, but as one of the worst offenders on the planet in regards to corporate greed, there’s no question “inflation” only accounts for a small portion of the increase,

      • ChexMax@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Actually McDonald’s sandwich prices are literally an economic measure. The big Mac has specifically been used by economists to measure purchase power over time

  • LinkOpensChest.wav@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    9 months ago

    I buy those dollar store packages of refried beans and rice, and cans of mixed vegetables. I put them in individual containers and freeze them to take to work for lunch. It’s pretty cheap, and it makes me feel a lot fuller than anything I could buy at a convenience store or restaurant.

    It’s also vegan and gluten free (I have celiac and severe lactose intolerance)

    • droans@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      It would be even cheaper if you bought them nearly anywhere else but the dollar store.

      Unit for unit, dollar stores are almost always more expensive than grocery stores or warehouse clubs.

      • LinkOpensChest.wav@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        9 months ago

        In this case, they are cheaper at the dollar store. I’ve compared prices at Walmart and grocery stores.

        Same with the packages of pre-cooked microwaveable rice.

        While I agree that dollar store prices can be higher, with the foods I buy they’re pretty consistently cheaper per ounce at the dollar store. Believe me, I compare!

    • pinkdrunkenelephants@lemmy.cafeOP
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      9 months ago

      A thing I have thought of trying is to take a bean and rice mixture and make stuffed peppers with it. I am certain it will be delicious. Certainly better than a ShitChicken.

      • frickineh@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        I do that with poblanos (and vegan chorizo if I’m feeling fancy), and I can confirm that it’s so good, and not terribly expensive. The last time I did it, it was probably about $10 for the ingredients, but it made enough peppers for 2 meals each for me and my mom, plus enough leftover filling for at least couple more.

      • LinkOpensChest.wav@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        9 months ago

        This sounds really good too!

        Also, whenever I cook something like soup or even pasta, I always cook extra so I can freeze it in portions. It’s so much better than paying like $15 for fast food or junk food that’s not even satisfying

    • gandalf_der_12te@feddit.de
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      9 months ago

      I can also very much recommend lentins.

      They are good. There’s even pasta made out of lentins. It is gluten free. You use it like ordinary pasta. It’s good.

  • kismattic@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    I used to love getting the dollar menu stuff from McDonald’s and idk if it’s that I turned 30 and suddenly started feeling grumpy about everything but I refuse to go there now that their prices are like this for a “value menu”.

    • doctorcrimson@lemmy.today
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      9 months ago

      I was gonna say, this post seems pretty disingenuous to blame “every public figurehead” for corporate greed. Maybe if we better taxed and regulated those companies this wouldn’t be happening.

      • Coreidan@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Considering greedy corporations are lobbying (bribing) public figure heads, it’s not far off.

            • doctorcrimson@lemmy.today
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              9 months ago

              I don’t know what country you even live in, mate. If it’s the USA then look up “HR 1 For The People Act”.

              • Coreidan@lemmy.world
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                9 months ago

                Ok and? This act has nothing to do with financial reform.

                If you think this changes anything then I have a bridge to sell you.

                • doctorcrimson@lemmy.today
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                  9 months ago

                  It literally does, though?

                  Passed House (03/03/2021)
                  For the People Act of 2021
                  
                  This bill addresses voter access, election integrity and security, campaign finance, and ethics for the three branches of government.
                  
                  Specifically, the bill expands voter registration (e.g., automatic and same-day registration) and voting access (e.g., vote-by-mail and early
                   voting). It also limits removing voters from voter rolls.
                  
                  The bill requires states to establish independent redistricting commissions to carry out congressional redistricting.
                  
                  Additionally, the bill sets forth provisions related to election security, including sharing intelligence information with state election officials,
                   supporting states in securing their election systems, developing a national strategy to protect U.S. democratic institutions, establishing in
                   the legislative branch the National Commission to Protect United States Democratic Institutions, and other provisions to improve the
                   cybersecurity of election systems.
                  
                  Further, the bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring
                   additional disclosure of campaign-related fundraising and spending, requiring additional disclaimers regarding certain political advertising,
                   and establishing an alternative campaign funding system for certain federal offices.
                  
                  The bill addresses ethics in all three branches of government, including by requiring a code of conduct for Supreme Court Justices,
                   prohibiting Members of the House from serving on the board of a for-profit entity, and establishing additional conflict-of-interest and
                   ethics provisions for federal employees and the White House.
                  
                  The bill requires the President, the Vice President, and certain candidates for those offices to disclose 10 years of tax returns.
                  

                  It was a partisan DNC bill that immediately passed the house upon them gaining a majority.

  • Pencilnoob@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Well say thanks to the government in 2020 that printed half of all dollars in existence today. Small government my ass

  • occhineri@feddit.de
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    9 months ago

    Of course, it’s cheaper to cook at home. But the McChicken is, like the whole industry that is to blame for it’s existance, a serious threat to our physical health and thus to be avoided at any cost.

      • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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        9 months ago

        Over a lifetime it’s more economical to not eat any fast food.

        The fast food you eat on a regular basis early on in life just degrades your health later on in life when you will spend money trying to remedy. You will pay for that fast food twice, once when you eat it and again later on life when you pay to treat your heart, weight, circulation, blood and inflammation.

        Eating fast food is investing in having some terrible last years of your life … you may live long but if you’re not healthy now, you’ll spend the last ten or 20 years of your life miserable.

        • JJROKCZ@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          If you’re eating it on a regular basis sure, McDonald’s once every two weeks or longer isn’t going to kill anyone more than the rest of the junk on the shelves

  • Stamets@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    I love burgers but I don’t get to have them anymore from anywhere because costs skyrocketed and my income didn’t. McDonald’s even stopped being affordable a while ago. In Canada the price of a McDouble, at least last time I checked near me, was $4. For a McDouble.

    I just eat ramen and dream of burgers.

    • DeadPand@midwest.social
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      9 months ago

      You can get a stack of burger patties from stores usually for like 10-12 bucks then cook one for a burger in your broiler if you got one, 15 min, flip once, throw some vegs as a side, yummay!!

    • citrusface@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Just FYI. If you use the app, you can get 2 mcdoubles and a medium fry for just over $4. It’s the only place I will still get fast food because they actually have prices similar to they used to in the app.

      • skulblaka@startrek.website
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        9 months ago

        Remember, if you are getting something for free (including a discount) in exchange for using an app, you’re paying for that in data.

        Some people don’t care about that, lots of people care an awful lot about that. Sure you’ll get a McDouble for cheaper but you’ll also be receiving scam phone calls every day for the rest of your life as McDonald’s sells your personal data to anyone who bids for it.

        • citrusface@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          Very true - I do use burner emails and remove trackers. Fortunately my spam filter for phone calls works well, but yeah, they gonna get dat data.

  • Baby Shoggoth [she/her]@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    9 months ago

    I wonder how much of this is the fault of food delivery apps. I’ve heard multiple people who run a small restaurant or food cart complaining that those apps as part of their terms/contract wouldn’t let you price up your menu items in-app to cover the % cut they take. during pandemic when app orders become the majority of your business, it makes sense to price up the items to include uber’s cut across the board and just incorporate it into your cost model.

    • damnfinecoffee@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      man i hate food delivery apps. theyre shitty to their employees and shitty to businesses; they just feel like a leech on society

  • Pipoca@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Inflation is calculated off of the cost of some particular basket of goods, and tends not to be even across those goods.

    Yeah, if you eat a lot of corporate fast food, prices have skyrocketed recently. At a rate that far outpaces the local pizzeria and Chinese restaurant down the street, or the cost of chicken and eggs from the grocery store.