Capitalism wins again.

[DBCowboy]

The real facts:

"Corporate bankruptcies in the U.S. have surged to a 15-year high in 2025, driven by persistent economic challenges such as inflation, high interest rates, and shifting tariff policies.Key Statistics

• As of October 2025, 655 large U.S. companies have filed for bankruptcy, marking the highest number of filings since 2010. This figure is already close to surpassing the total for the entire year of 2024, which saw 687 filings"
  

"Contributing Factors

1. Economic Strain: The increase in bankruptcies is attributed to a combination of factors, including persistent inflation, a tight labor market, and the cumulative impact of the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes initiated in 2022. These economic pressures have significantly increased debt service costs for many companies. 
   
   
2. Tariff Policies: Uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariff policies has also played a role, particularly affecting sectors reliant on global supply chains. The shifting tariffs have disrupted operations and raised costs for many businesses, contributing to their financial distress. 
   
   
3. Sector Impact: The Industrials and Consumer Discretionary sectors have been particularly hard hit, with the Industrials sector leading in bankruptcy claims. This reflects its vulnerability to supply chain disruptions and rising costs, while the Consumer Discretionary sector is facing challenges due to diminished purchasing power among consumers. 
   
   
   
4. 4 Sources"
   

Business Insider, The Independent etc.

Thanks Biden!

[quintessentone]

Bzzt, wrong. Look at the actual source data methodology for the poll you cited: https://maristpoll.marist.edu/wp-content...1052-1.pdf

...rather than relying on summaries. Yes, there were questions in that poll about people's personal finances and household experience. But the summary you cited claims: "70% of Americans feel their cost of living is not very affordable or not affordable at all."

That's an inaccurate representation. The actual poll question was: "Overall, would you describe the cost of living in the area where you live for the average family as:" = Very affordable/Affordable:30% Not very affordable/Not affordable at all: 70%

That's asking for perception of affordability for people beyond the scope of whom they know personally. A perception that is, as all things political, biased by what the news is pushing as the narrative and what people are being led to believe. It's not personal first-hand experience based on actual numbers. It's what they've been told the "average family" is experiencing.

I'm no paid expert but the methodology itself looks fairly decent (although they did oversample under-45-age and under-50k-income by 4% vs the national average, which I'm not sure they normalized for; that may affect the trendlines they're trying to show).

As I've said, I don't really disagree with the poll: I do think things are more expensive for people now that 10 years ago. But I also think that this issue is being used as a political football and skewed by summary and agenda that improperly make conclusions based on a (possibly deliberate) misinterpretation of data.

I loved that owl from Clash of the Titans! Saw a functioning replica of it at a scifi con once. It was cool!

I think we all fell in love with that owl. Who would not want a robotic owl whose language of clicks and clacks is something only you two share. 

I'm watching Americans on podcasts, videos, reels etc. and they are complaining that they are using the credit cards to live on, so ... bad...

"Americans using credit to live on

The prevalence of credit usage among Americans is a significant concern, with many relying on credit cards to cover essential purchases. Here are some key points regarding this trend:

• 43% of American households living paycheck to paycheck cannot afford essentials without credit. 
  
  
• Younger Americans are particularly reliant on credit cards for emergency expenses, with half of those aged 35 to 54 using them for such purposes. 
  
  
• Older Americans are also using credit cards to cover basic living expenses, with 52% of adults aged 50 to 64 and 42% of those aged 65 to 74 carrying credit card debt. "
  

[UltraBudgie]

I think we all fell in love with that owl. Who would not want a robotic owl whose language of clicks and clacks is something only you two share. 

I'm watching Americans on podcasts, videos, reels etc. and they are complaining that they are using the credit cards to live on, so ... bad...

"Americans using credit to live on

The prevalence of credit usage among Americans is a significant concern, with many relying on credit cards to cover essential purchases. Here are some key points regarding this trend:

• 43% of American households living paycheck to paycheck cannot afford essentials without credit. 
  
  
• Younger Americans are particularly reliant on credit cards for emergency expenses, with half of those aged 35 to 54 using them for such purposes. 
  
  
• Older Americans are also using credit cards to cover basic living expenses, with 52% of adults aged 50 to 64 and 42% of those aged 65 to 74 carrying credit card debt. "
  

One of the most egregious failures of the American educational system is not teaching basic finance. It is such a horrible idea to carry credit card debt. I wouldn't be surprised if the vast majority of those who do don't know their APR, or possibly even what that acronym stands for. Consolidating debt and paying off multiple credit lines, from high-APR to lowest, using balance transfer grace periods, could probably save these people hundreds of dollars a month, but it's simply not taught, and the debt-consolidating industry is so full of grifters and con artists that most people shy away from the whole idea. Just the way the credit card companies like it, grr.

[quintessentone]

One of the most egregious failures of the American educational system is not teaching basic finance. It is such a horrible idea to carry credit card debt. I wouldn't be surprised if the vast majority of those who do don't know their APR, or possibly even what that acronym stands for. Consolidating debt and paying off multiple credit lines, from high-APR to lowest, using balance transfer grace periods, could probably save these people hundreds of dollars a month, but it's simply not taught, and the debt-consolidating industry is so full of grifters and con artists that most people shy away from the whole idea. Just the way the credit card companies like it, grr.

I agree, credit cards are a trap which catches the middle class into a never-ending debt burden. But, my post was pointing out even elderly people, who have a life-time of experience with credit and debt, have to turn to credit to keep going...for how long? not long.

[SomeStupidName]

I'll listen to every day people any day, all day instead of the lies coming from your government.

"Americans are increasingly expressing their inability to afford various aspects of life due to rising prices and economic challenges. Here are some key points highlighting the affordability crisis:

• 70% of Americans feel their cost of living is not very affordable or not affordable at all. 
  
  Coffee prices have risen nearly 19% from the previous year, and beef prices have increased around 15%. 
  
• Housing costs have risen over 14% between September 2023 and September 2025, and medical costs are up nearly 7% over the same period. 
  
  
• Consumer sentiment has dropped 29% from 2024, with nearly half of Americans saying their financial situation is worse than a year ago. 
  
  
• Health care costs are a significant concern, with about 44% of adults saying it is difficult to afford their health care costs. 
  
  These sentiments reflect a broader economic struggle, where many Americans are facing increased costs for essential goods and services, leading to financial strain and a desire for change."
  

----

"The majority — 70% — of Americans surveyed in a Marist poll of over 1,400 adults taken in December, say that the cost of living in their area is not very affordable, or not affordable at all, for the average family."

How Americans are responding to the 'affordability crisis'

Is the Marist poll accurate? (AI)

"MaristPolls are generally considered reliable and accurate, with a strong historical performance and adherence to rigorous polling methodologies."

I'm an everyday person who actually lives in the country you can imagine about and you don't listen.

[SomeStupidName]

I agree, credit cards are a trap which catches the middle class into a never-ending debt burden. But, my post was pointing out even elderly people, who have a life-time of experience with credit and debt, have to turn to credit to keep going...for how long? not long.

Credit cards are only traps for dumb and lazy people, used correctly they open great opportunities.