I just got my fuel oil bill.

[Raven]

It was more than twice what I paid last month for the same amount of oil. I am on a fixed income so this kind of an increase, if it continues, will blow a huge hole in my budget for the year. the coming warm weather months will make it somewhat easier, but I will begin to feel the hit again just in time for the mid-term elections. I am a loyal democrat, always have been, always will be, but there are many folks out there who are not and they will vote with their pocketbooks. Please don't give me a lecture about being a good American and supporting Ukraine. When folks have to chose between eating decently and keeping warm or filling their prescriptions, they will vote with that in mind.

[Emile]

1. Predatory Capitalists are wanting Republicans back in power and

if their inflation continues much longer the voters will grant them their wish.

[Scrivener7]

2. The thing is that the price of a barrel is not particularly high.

This is all gouging.

I felt it too in my bills this month. Pisses me right off.

[leftyladyfrommo]

3. KCMO. My gas bill doubled this winter.my utilities

are running $300 a month. And I am on fixed income and I use only the energy that I really need. And I have a 750 sq ft house. As soon as it gets warm enough I will stop using gas completely but then my electric bill goes up because I need my air conditioner.

This is hitting fixed income seniors really hard.

[llmart]

4. +1

Anyone else remember the slogan during Bush Sr.'s reelection campaign of the 90's? "It's the economy, stupid."

As you said, it doesn't matter how voters feel about supporting Ukraine if their pocketbook is hurting. It also doesn't matter how irrational their thinking might be about who or what is to blame for the increases. They will vote for someone other than the incumbent.

I'm worried about the mid-terms.

[yardwork]

5. What might the Democrats do about this?

I'm confused about how "support for Ukraine" is causing this. Fuel prices will go up whether or not we support Ukraine.

[Emile]

7. The Democratic politicians need to be more vocal about the free market capitalists

causing the inflation!

[bigtree]

33. always interesting when folks come on here with access to what Dems are doing

...warning that Dems should do something, without bothering to find out what they're actually doing and promote that.

80 Percent of Voters Support Taxing Big Oil’s Windfall Profits, Poll Finds

Democrats have pinned high prices directly on oil and gas companies looking to profit off of international conflict and pandemic-related economic uncertainty. Progressive lawmakers like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) have called for accountability for the industry. “[T]here should be consequences” for oil company “profiteering,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted last week.

Earlier this month, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-California) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) introduced a bill that would tax barrels imported or produced by large oil companies based on the difference between current prices and average pre-pandemic prices. Revenue collected from the tax would be redistributed directly to the public, with checks totalling about $240 a year for individuals making less than $75,000 in income.

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon) introduced similar legislation last week, which would directly target taxable income from this year that exceeds pre-pandemic profits. The bill would also give consumers a a tax credit based on that tax.

https://truthout.org/articles/80-percent-of-voters-support-taxing-big-oils-windfall-profits-poll-finds/

[Emile]

35. The keyword was VOCAL, never mind. . .

[bigtree]

36. we just saw Pres. Biden call out oil and gas companies for price gouging

...just one of several Democrats shouting from the rooftops about oil prices.

Biden demands faster drop in gas prices as oil tumbles
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/biden-demands-faster-drop-in-gas-prices-as-oil-tumbles/ar-AAV8jy9

I don't think we highlight what Dems are actually doing here, as much as we demand they act.

[Emile]

40. Why are you being so condescending? All I said is they need to be more vocal!

[bigtree]

46. why are you taking it so personally and negatively?

...you want Dems to be 'vocal,' and they are.

I think we should promote those instances, at least as much as we ask for more.

This was just today, fcs:

Link to tweet

[dem4decades]

6. We're fucked, the Republicans are unfairly but effectively blaming Biden.

We're watching the end of democracy, it's the perfect storm, Pandemic, supply and demand, high prices and a well funded opposition party.

[Johnny2X2X]

8. Dems need to talk about wage growth more

The last year saw the best wage growth in decades, and it was more pronounced in the lowest income brackets, as a matter of fact, real inflation was negative for the lowest wage workers, they saw on average a bigger raise in 2021 than prices rose. 8% to 6.8%, so "real inflation" went down for them, but you haven't hear that anywhere.

And even the rest of the working class saw great wage growth, so if prices went up 6.8% in 2021, they were mitigated for all workers by an average 5.1% growth in wages. We're not that out of whack. I'd take 5% inflation forever if wage growth were 6%, so lower inflation by a couple points and raise wage growth just a bit and everyone will be getting ahead and we'll rebuild the middle class.

Some of these commodities like heating oil is just flat out price gouging though, there has been nothing in the last year that has happened that warrants a doubling of heating oil prices, nothing.

[MichMan]

9. Wage growth is meaningless for those who are retired, on fixed incomes, or didn't see a pay increase

[Johnny2X2X]

10. Social Security COLA increase was 6%

So it filtered up to retired and fixed income people too. Cost of living social security increase was 5.9%, that ate up most of the inflation right there.

[jimfields33]

14. Medicare took some of that increase

[inthewind21]

42. There it is again

That "fixed income" as if those still working have fluctuating paychecks.

[MichMan]

52. Many people working have the option to work more hours or pick up some overtime in any given week.

My 87 year old retired mother does not.

[Ace Rothstein]

53. Right, my yearly COL increase at my job isn't going to cover inflation.

[forthemiddle]

18. Starting pay may be increasing

The labor shortage has made offering a higher starting pay a necessity. While this is a great thing, it is also slowing long term employees raises. The money that used to be available for raises is now being spent on the new hires.

I have heard many people that are finding that the people that are being hired today end up making as much as someone with many years seniority.

[Johnny2X2X]

19. The numbers do not support that

All workers levels and experiences are seeing their wages increase on average. Retaining workers is just as important as new hiring, it's taking more money to keep workers.

https://www.atlantafed.org/chcs/wage-growth-tracker

[MichMan]

55. Neither wage growth or inflation are standard amounts that apply equally to everyone

One size doesn't fit all.

The percentage increase in wages varies from person to person. Some people undoubtably saw more gains than the average 5.1 % while others may not have seen any increase at all. The fact my neighbor got an 8 % raise doesn't do anything towards helping me pay my higher costs to heat my home.

Same with prices. The CPI inflation number of 6.8 % may or may not be relevant for any individual person. Someone with four children who rides public transportation or works from home has totally different expenditures than a single person living in a rural area with a long commute. Heating costs for a condominium are much different than someone living in a 100 year old house.

[Johnny2X2X]

59. And?

Yeah, if the CPI was 0.0% and wages were increasing by 10% annually, there would still be individuals falling behind. We deal in averages to try to find good policy based on the conditions in the country. The average person is doing a little worse because the average wage growth is slightly lower than inflation. But if inflation does ease this year and wage growth stays about the same as it is, the average person will be doing a little better.

Inflation at 7% is not in and of itself a crisis of any kind. If wage growth were 0% with 7% inflation, we'd be in a real crisis, but wage growth and inflation are usually within a point or two of each other, as it is now.

[doc03]

12. Some of the financial gurus say a recession is on the way too because of the Fed raising

interest rates.

[Emile]

13. I learned a long time ago those financial gurus blow smoke up our ass to

cover up Predatory Capitalism!

[Johnny2X2X]

15. Yeah, we just saw 7% GDP growth

This type of Recession cheering is transparent, Biden just guided the economy to the quickest recovery in US history and we just had the best GDP growth in 40 years with the best job growth in history, and they're talking recession, it's laughable.

Recession? Who the hell talks about a recession when we're in the middle of 7% growth? That's crazy talk. You raise interest rates in a good economy and lower them when a recession looks on the horizon. Now it will cool the economy off some, but that's what it takes to fight inflation sometimes.

READ THIS! If Republicans were in charge right now, you'd see daily headlines like this, "AMERICA HAS THE GREATEST ECONOMY IN ITS HISTORY RIGHT NOW!!!!" AND "GREATEST ECONOMY IN US HISTORY CONTINUES TO BREAK RECORDS!"

I mean, my god, we have the best jobs market in US history, the best GDP growth in 40 years, the best jobs growth ever, and the best wage growth in a generation, every one of those data points should get equal coverage to inflation. There would be headlines proclaiming that inflation doesn't matter because of GDP and wage growth. Dems suck at messaging, they should be bragging non stop about their economy right now.

[doc03]

20. Tell someone with a fixed income inflation doesn't matter. I am retired it doesn't matter to me if

the unemployment rate is low and people are getting paid more. Yes I got a 5.9% increase in SS but inflation is
at 7%. The majority of my income comes from a company pension I am getting the same now as
12 years ago when I retired. If you have some savings you are losing 7% a year from inflation since savings no longer
pay any interest to speak of. Inflation is the greatest enemy we are facing in this years election. It also takes several
years for inflation to work it course. So it will most likely be the number one issue for 2024.

[treestar]

22. Why are they on a fixed income?

Doesn't social security have cost of living raises?

And aren't there tons of other breaks for seniors? On taxes, restaurants, everywhere you go, there are many discounts to help overcome this.

[doc03]

25. Didn't I just say SS got a 5.9% raise and inflation is 7%? My company pension which

is the majority of my income is fixed I receive the same amount today as 12 years ago. Some restaurants give you a 10 or 15 % discount they have for years but I don't know of any that have increased their discounts. My real estate tax went
up around $200 this year. My savings pays .30% interest so if you have a bank account you are losing 7%
a year. What costs $1.00 in 2010 when I retired now costs $1.30 and we have had very low inflation over the last 12 years.

[treestar]

50. I suppose the solution to that is to vote for Republicans?

I assume you won't, but why do we accept the idiots who think Republicans give a shit about any of those issues?

[Johnny2X2X]

24. Savings and inflation aren't related that way

Interest rates are being raised actually, that will filter up to savings accounts, if you have a Credit Union account you can make interest. So if anything, inflation helps savings earn interest.

Sorry your pension doesn't have a COLA, 3 in 4 do. And the social security COLA ate up much of inflation for many people on fixed incomes.

And inflation is rarely a multi year deal, there are special circumstances around this bout of inflation related solely to the pandemic. Inflation is not going to be an issue in 2024, but it will be a huge issue this Fall. "Real inflation" is 2%, that's not sustainable long term, but it's not going to stay at that long term.

[doc03]

27. Tell me where you can get even 1% interest in on any CD, savings account, MM account or

MM Mutual Fund. I don't know of anyone getting a COLA on their pension. The UMW did bargain for a slight increase
in their pension a couple years ago but as far as I know they don't get a yearly COLA. I actually have three pensions one from
the PBGC from a pension terminated in 1985, one from the company terminated in 2003 and one from the union
for the last 7 years I worked, none of them has a COLA. Inflation hit us for nearly a decade in the 70s.

[Johnny2X2X]

30. You serious?

It's easy to find a credit union right now that pays 3% interest on even checking accounts. My credit union pays 3% on checking and 3% on savings right now. But that's still less than I could get in the markets so that's where most of my money is.

If you've got savings to invest, go see a financial advisor, there are tons of low risk opportunities for retirees that return more than a CD would.

Someone with 3 pensions that equal greater than their SS benefit and has enough savings to invest seems to be doing pretty well.

And this isn't the 70s, inflation is still going to ease this year according to most experts. The fundamentals of the economy are incredibly strong, inflation is not going to last.

[doc03]

62. The only way to break inflation is recession. That is

what stopped it in the early 80s. In my opinion that was the worst recession we had in my lifetime. They tried the WIN button, wages and price controls and what broke it was raising interest rates.
You could get 15% on a CD.

[doc03]

64. I am truly sorry I worked and saved some money in

44 years. I f--'g earned my pension and what cost $1.00 in 2010 now costs $1.30 today. How would you know what my SS is and how do you know what those 3 pensions are. They could $10 a month for all you know. I will check credit unions out but even 3% is half of inflation.

[Johnny2X2X]

66. You literally posted your pensions are the majority of your income

Now the average SSI benefit is about $1700 a month, so if your pensions are more than that, or even more than $1200 you're getting by.

Inflation averaged 1.7% a year from 2010 to 2020, even if you add in 2021 you're talking about an average rate of inflation of 2.2% a year. And the year before that, 2009, actually saw deflation. 1 year of 6.7% inflation doesn't wipe out 11 years of inflation under 2% a year. The Fed wants inflation around 2%, we were below or around that since Bush 2 left office, we've had 1 bad year of inflation and people are acting like it's been going on for a decade. And that inflation is 90% due to a global pandemic that through the global supply chain out of whack.

You're sorry you worked and saved? Why? You think you'd be better off with no pension or savings?

[doc03]

67. The inflation calculator has $1.00 in Feb 2010

equal to $1.30 in Feb 2022. If I had no pension I would be eligible for VA health benefits, I wouldn't have to pay for Medicare or a supplement and would pay zero taxes on my SS. The thing of it is inflation hits everyone. People don't really care if Joe next door has a job or took a pay cut or what Wall Street is doing.
My father retired in 1974 and moved to Florida by 1980 they had to move back to Ohio because inflation ate up their income. HOA $80 in 1974 HoA $240 in 1980 for one thing.

[doc03]

69. The inflation calculator has $1.00 in Feb 2010

equal to $1.30 in Feb 2022. If I had no pension I would be eligible for VA health benefits, I wouldn't have to pay for Medicare or a supplement and would pay zero taxes on my SS. The thing of it is inflation hits everyone. People don't really care if Joe next door has a job or took a pay cut or what Wall Street is doing.
My father retired in 1974 and moved to Florida by 1980 they had to move back to Ohio because inflation ate up their income. HOA $80 in 1974 HoA $240 in 1980 for one thing.
I guess you think if you worked 44 years you should live in poverty. You shouldn't have a pension that you went on strike for an entire year. A person should be able to live with dignity and have the lifestyle they worked for in retirement.

[Johnny2X2X]

70. You live in poverty?

Sorry for your situation, I think the pension system is better than the 401K system by a mile, I'll work my whole life and if the markets crash before I retire, I'll be pining for the days of pensions. You've got a guaranteed income for life, the generations after you are getting none of those guarantees and might not even have Social Security if the Republicans have their way.

Inflation at 2% a year is what the country plans on, and we were below that for a long time. One year of bad inflation shouldn't be a game changer. If inflation lasts all this year, then we've got problems, but 1 year after such small price increases for a decade shouldn't be causing this uproar IMO.

[inthewind21]

43. Capital one

A quick google search will tell you that.

[doc03]

65. I did .60%

[BannonsLiver]

39. I'd say that is a fair point

They’ve sure convinced the OP Democrats are to blame.

[doc03]

11. I know it is a big expense but I switched from fuel oil to an electric heat pump 20 years ago.

The electric heat pump paid for itself in 7 or 8 years. The electric bill I received on the 23rd of March for the last month was
was $131. That is in Ohio.

[IA8IT]

16. Propane to ground loops heat pump here in Iowa Yearly average electric/mo $112-$129

2000 sq.ft. 1 1/2 story wood frame.

Big rebates and tax deductions then 2009

[doc03]

23. If I was younger I would definitely be going for geothermal. That is a

big expense.

[IA8IT]

28. Yes, gave me wobbly knees.

Cost was 2x of a high efficiency furnace after rebates.

Heating and AC savings covered extra cost in 4-5 yrs and faster than I expected.

[panader0]

17. It'd be worse if Repubs were in power. So vote with that in mind.

[treestar]

21. So why will Republicans be the solution?

Why does anyone think Republicans care about this at all? The answer is to vote in Republicans? How is that voting your pocketbook?

Right wingers don't vote their pocketbook. They see their interests as abortion, guns, and God.

These ideas paint the independents/middle of the roaders as shoot-themselves-in-the-foot stupid. So how can we manipulate these stupid people better than Republicans do?

[TwilightZone]

29. "Right wingers don't vote their pocketbook."

I'd have to disagree. Many cycles, they run on tax cuts, tax cuts, and more tax cuts, particularly in places like the Midwest. "Democrats are going to raise your taxes" has been a tried and true GOP tactic for decades.

"Read my lips" ring a bell? Bush built an entire campaign around it.

All roads lead to their pocketbooks. The GOP is all about greed and power, which leads to more greed. The rest of it is just window dressing targeting the bigoted and the gullible.

[treestar]

49. The rich ones, yes

the middle class or working class ones aren't going to benefit from tax cuts. Even when they don't benefit, they still parrot it.

But again why are Republicans going to help their pocketbooks? Republicans don't care if oil prices are high. That benefits the oil industry, which is fine with Republicans.

[betsuni]

76. Like in Al Franken's "The Waitress and the Lawyer."

The waitress believes G.W. Bush's 2001 tax cut will benefit her and she won't have to pay any taxes. The lawyer explains how the waitress's $365 income tax cut will actually cost her $4,695, lists one by one all the government programs the waitress uses that are being defunded and aren't going to be there anymore. The lawyer gets a $6,000 tax break, doesn't use any programs, and because of the repeal of the "death tax," a six million tax break when her mother dies -- says she loves Bush.

You'd think more people would notice what's actually going on in their pocketbooks. Meghan McCain used to constantly repeat that what voters care about are meat-and-potatoes kitchen table issues. They don't notice that when Republicans are in charge the meat disappears and the potatoes are old and shriveled when they're distracted by all the culture wars, I guess. It's mind boggling that there are still plenty of people who can't tell the difference between the parties.

[sarcasmo]

26. 1100 square foot apartment and one of my monthly energy bills was 385.

[Johnny2X2X]

31. Wow, where do you live?

I have a 2500 square foot home in MI and the biggest gas bill I paid this Winter was $169.

[sarcasmo]

45. Wisconsin. Alliant Energy upped the energy rate during prime use hours.

[bigtree]

32. but those prices aren't really due to 'Ukraine,' it's price gouging

...so the messaging better get out about republicans with oil interests looking the other way.

here, I'll start:

Democrats take aim at Big Oil in lead up to midterms
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/democrats-aim-big-oil-lead-224956976.html

[WhiteTara]

34. If you can, apply for LIHEAP

It will pay for your fuel oil when you get to 10% in your tank and maybe set u p a monthly payment for you.

[leftstreet]

37. DURec

[Treefrog]

38. Rec.

[inthewind21]

41. Why

Do people say I'm on a fixed income? My paychecks don't trend upward from week to week. So double fuel bills blow the hell out of my budget as well and make me shave off somewhere else. I'm not aware of any job where your paychecks trend up from week to week or even year to year. So it stands to reason most ALL of us are "on a fixed income."

[CTyankee]

60. When I was working full time I had to take a second gig telemarketing at Xmas time.

At a certain point my full time job became impossible to manage and the boss was slowly getting rid of the older staff since we were just "waiting for retirement" and not pulling their own weight in the organization. That was untrue. She was setting unrealistic goals and when you didn't reach them, even though you were working hard, that meant you needed to leave. That awful boss was fired soon after I left.

The shorthand of saying you are on a "fixed income" means your earning power is not what it used to be when you could just go out and find a job with better pay. You can't. You are old. You have health problems you didn't have when you were younger and stronger. And, of course, it won't get any better.

[MichMan]

73. There is this thing called overtime

Many employees( not all) that are paid hourly have the ability to work extra hours if they like.

[Mariana]

75. You're supposed to work more hours, or get a second job, I guess.

Give up even more of your personal life and time with your family. It's your own damn fault if you're struggling to pay higher bills. Just work more and more and more.

[inthewind21]

77. Right

And hey, we can all just work as much overtime as we require, that's how it works right? It's what a few here seem to think.

[MichMan]

81. I was replying to a post that stated people always earn the same amount every single week

I had a previous job with the opportunity to work overtime if I wanted to, so my hours varied from one week to the next. I guess I must have misunderstood the amounts of my own paychecks.

[Mariana]

82. I wasn't replying to you at all. nt.

[uponit7771]

44. So people will blame Biden for what the oil companies are doing? tia

[Emile]

48. That's what Republicans are good at!

What does tia mean?

[uponit7771]

54. thx in advance and yes they are GREAT at distraction seeing they have a media outlet that ...

... is parroting their bullshit.

Biden needs to sic the FCC on their asses !!!

[MichMan]

56. That goes with the territory of being in charge.

It's just how it is


If TFG was president and inflation was what it is now, everyone here would be blaming him for it 24/7.

[uponit7771]

57. Not so much for Reps, MAGA didn't blame Putins Whore for killing 100s of thousands of Americans with

... his lies about the lethality of covid.

This goes towards the conclusion the media is 100% bias against democrats and democrats need to call them out on it weekly.

[Vinca]

47. If you wanted to escape oil and build a solar home, that's out, too. Prices on building supplies

are out of this world. And don't get me started on real estate prices. This really isn't the fault of Biden and the Democrats. It's a combination of Covid run amok and bullies like Putin being enabled by the wannabe king and reluctance on a large chunk of the population to move to renewable energy sources. It's a bloody mess and I don't see how we get out of it. My husband told me this morning he heard something about earthworms being bad because they eat some insects. Does it ever end? I thought castings were good for the garden and worms made it friable. Sheesh.

[FakeNoose]

51. Find out if your oil supplier has a budget plan - many of them do

My furnace runs on natural gas, but I learned the benefits of the heating budget plan years ago.

You get billed for the same amount each month, even during the months that you don't heat your house. It hurts a little bit in the summer, however your bills for the winter months are exactly the same as the summer months. By the end of June they settle up and even it out for the year. It's definitely easier to do this on a fixed income. My budget cost is around $100 per month, winter and summer. (It went up about $8/mo. this year.)

I hope the oil companies are offering something similar.

[panader0]

58. There are many videos on Youtube about how to make cheap solar heating devices.

[Kaleva]

61. One winter I kept the thermostat at 55. I think it was 2013.

I was adjusting to living on SSDI and I was trying to cut costs down as much as possible to free up money to pay off debt.

My food budget back then was $116 a month. Many of my meals consisted of boiled potatoes and cabbage .

To save on the water bill, I took Navy showers and saved the water from the shower to flush the toilet with. I saved the water from the washing machine rinse cycle to be used as the wash water for the next load.

I didn't use the dryer at all and hung my clothes to dry in the basement using old electrical wire that I had salvaged as clothes line

The gas water heater was kept on pilot only and that provided me with enough hot water to take the occasional Navy shower and to wash dishes.

Having a car was not an option so I either walked or rode the local public transportation which I was able to ride at half fare because I was disabled and low income.

[Thtwudbeme]

71. I keep waiting for a poster to show up to tell you that everything is more expensive now-

everything thing!

Yeah.

Bills and real estate are effing ridiculous right now. It's horrible.

[Kaleva]

72. Back in 2013, meat, milk and having a car was unaffordable.

At least for me.

[XanaDUer2]

79. Lol you were awesome on that nt

[Thtwudbeme]

80. I am so sick and tired of being mansplained to

by men who have inherited- and brag about "how well they did."

Done.

[maxsolomon]

63. How would putting the GQP in power change the cost of fuel oil?

A percentage of Americans vote with their emotions, and their emotions are ruled by anger and resentment.

Unfortunately, that percentage is the deciding one.

[Elessar Zappa]

68. Democrats aren't to blame.

I’m surprised you fell for the Republican propaganda.

[MichMan]

74. The OP clearly was not blaming dems

They were stating however that some voters likely will.

[Raven]

78. Thank you. That is exactly right! :-)