Economy is going great. My neighbors just had

[leftyladyfrommo]

their gas shut off.

They have a baby.

[philf99]

1. So they weren't part of

The one percent who had a large beautiful tax cut.

[leftyladyfrommo]

2. It is getting so hard for lower income people.

Just a small apartment us ,$800 a month.

Food has really gone up. Utilities are really high. They keep adding on special fees.

My water bill is $40 before you add on the cost if the water.

Gas is $2.35 a gallon in KCMO .

Just very basic expenses take a lot of moneym

[KentuckyWoman]

4. We pay about the same for our apt in Ohio

Heat and air both... unit built into the wall in the LR, and the BR. We pay our own power and water. We gave up the car. Neither one of us should be driving. I did when we lived in Kentucky but that's why we moved... now a whole host of "kin" step up when we need it. The local grocery is one that delivers. A pharmacy delivers. I don't use that all the time but if I have need.. it works out.

I don't know how we'd ever support a car.

Food as a percentage of income is less than it was in the 1970's / 80's but that's not saying much.

[KentuckyWoman]

3. Didn't you hear

incomes are back up to their 1999 levels.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/sep/12/census-household-income-us-pre-recession-levels

[maxsolomon]

5. Can you tell us more?

Where is this? City? Country?

The economy IS going great - but working/middle class wages are lagging, and have been for decades.

[virgogal]

6. Your neighbors' difficulties do not reflect the economy as a whole.

[essme]

10. Oh, just wait. Revisit this comment

at this same time next year.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

11. I think the OP reflects the street view, not Wall Street's view.

Not being critical of you but it is quite a different perspective.

All low income people I know are having it harder as time passes, as inflation nibbles at their fixed income and government is cutting benefits. These folks have no voice to announce their view of our economy and many die needlessly early due to poor diet and lack of healthcare.

The plutocrats know that in order to continue gaining more of the economic pie, they must do it in slow, tiny chunks with fees and things like smaller packages at the grocery, and with slow cuts to job-related and government benefits.

We will one day reach a breaking point......

[cwydro]

18. It's going quite well where I live too.

I see old fashioned help-wanted or hiring signs everywhere.

Both the county and the city are hiring at all levels and have been for months.

[democratisphere]

7. Between drumpf tariffs and corrupt greedy corporate screwings

no one has a chance.

[leftyladyfrommo]

14. I just don't see a rip roaring economy.

I live in a poor neighborhood. Tiny rental houses. 760 sq feet built after the war. No basement. No garage.

KCMO.

Our public transportation is practically nonexistent. You pretty much have to have some kind of vehicle just to be able to get to work and the store. Nothing is within walking distance.

I don't know the people next door. The only reason I know the gas was turned off us because I was standing in my driveway when the gas man showed up to turn it off.

No one here has very much. I live on SS. I allow myself 5 gallons of water a day. I do run AC during the hot months. We all have to be very frugal or we wouldn't make it. You just learn how much of what you can afford.

I think those people do have family. They can go over to a relative's house to shower and do laundry.

I was talking to another woman who only has SS and she has to buy insulin. Every extra cent she has goes for her meds. Insulin used to be affordable. It's not any more.

I am lucky. I can make it. There are a whole lot if people that can't. But they pretty much have no voice.

Most if the older people I know live on social security plus a part time job of some sort. That works until your health goes. Everybody got wiped out by the recession and two stock market crashes. We were too old to build our savings back up.

[democratisphere]

20. The wonderful economy is another drumpf lie.

Anything drumpf claims is actually the exact opposite!

[essme]

9. I don't know very many folks in a position to do that

If you are, perhaps you could privately message the author of the thread and find out how you can help.

[Blue_true]

12. Are you serious?

The couple was likely hundreds of dollars behind on the bill. Sounds like they have larger problems financially than a neighbor of close to their financial condition can fix.

Do you pay attention when you are in neighborhoods? It is easy to tell a place where everyone is one step ahead of struggling from a place where people have lots of money in the bank and other assets.

[obamanut2012]

13. Why don't you?

Why did you create an account just to post this and attack the OP? Why don;t YOU ask the OP for his neighbors' info and pay their arrears your own damned self?

And, again, why did you craete an account just to attack teh OP personally?

[leftyladyfrommo]

17. That was a really odd post, wasn't it?

It didn't sound like a Democrat.

[NickB79]

15. You're in MO?

Fuck, cold weather utility laws preventing disconnect don't kick in until November 1.

Winters get cold there

[leftyladyfrommo]

16. They will have to do something when cold

weather sets in. They can't have a baby with no heat. I bet they move before too long.

It is just so hard to try to make it with kids when there isn't enough money for just basic stuff.

[NickB79]

19. Or set up a bunch of electric space heaters

And risk dying in a house fire