You have to defeat the entire lineup first

867-5309

Inflation is also not what the guy with the sign is taking into account in his complaint. He’s at least 40 years older in that picture than he was when he bought his property if he’s getting social security. The real purchasing power of whatever he paid back then is much smaller than the same number of dollars is now.

$5000 in January 1985 would be the same as $15,055.50 now according to the inflation calculator on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website

Also, it’s only every three years that he’s paying that much. Honestly, he’s not making the point he thinks he is.

We need taxes to fund emergency services and local government in general. The problem isn’t that taxes go up in dollar amount. The problem is that the 1% take everything for themselves, leaving the rest of us to fight over crumbs. Our pay and public benefits (like social security) don’t rise with inflation because of the actions of the rich.

The solution is so obvious, but we spend so much time arguing about everything but the real problem.

Thank you. I’m working on it.

Lots. My health really tanked and it keeps getting worse. I used to have decent financial security, but that wiped it out.

I’m okay, just not feeling like the left side of the meme anymore at all. It could be much worse though.

I’m genuinely happy for you!

I also had that same basic experience. For a while, I did feel like I had grown into myself and would be okay.

What brought about that change?

https://archive.ph/Fx9Hw

He just hit the final S in that system

He probably should have taken this medication under the supervision of Dr. Toboggan.

Ohm, man!

Is it really so hard to believe that’s exactly how millions upon millions of people go about living their lives?

Yes, that does seem completely insane to people like you and me who don’t tolerate that level of willful ignorance in ourselves, but to someone else that’s all just noise that they tune out.

Ever heard the phrase, “Hell is other people“? I’m slowly starting to believe this existence is a punishment.

That’s correct, which is how I ended up on foot. In fact, all new carriers are contracted. They then dump on the contractors because they’re not federal employees.

At the time I had a 16-year old vehicle, so using that for work wasn’t really an option. Since my only way to avoid using that clunker was to apply for a city carrier position, I did. I figured that still meant I’d be driving a white mail truck (for which I did still have to pass driving certification). Instead I got sent to a downtown office where I was given a big van that we parked and left while delivering on foot.

Last summer (if I’m not mistaken) was the hottest on record. There was hardly ever a clear weather day that I didn’t end up literally soaked in sweat. Oh, in my own clothes too because they don’t give you any uniforms until you’re past your 90 day mark. They actually don’t issue uniforms either. You get an allowance so you can order your own through one of several contracted companies (of varying quality).

Like I said my van had broken AC, so it was a big metal oven all day long. High humidity too. Because I was a contractor, days off were rare and never more than one at a time. They can work you up to 11 days in a row. I did also have a large dog try to attack me. Many do hate mail carriers and will attack on sight. We had to carry mace.

They don’t really tell anyone this stuff up front because it doesn’t pay well enough to nearly kill yourself over. I really did almost pass out a couple of times despite never having done that before and despite drinking at least a gallon of water every day.

And that is the story of how I discovered I was born with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

I was a mail carrier briefly in 2023. It gets three degrees below Hell in the summer here. It was 110 outside and 125 inside my truck with broken AC that they wouldn’t fix despite the union contract stating the trucks have to be kept in good repair.

I now work an office job again because I was probably going to drop dead working in those conditions for 10-11 days straight with no day off. Carrying mail - especially on foot like I did - is a brutal job you guys. They deserve this agreement.

that one guy

Dude, I’m right here!

Several times I’ve had to wait for months on healthcare in the US system. This is such a weak argument against a socialized system.

Is that why dogs taste like trigonometry?

That would be in a world better than this one. Unions and a strong government that serves its people is how things like that are accomplished. Big businesses in an unregulated capitalist system will always choose profit over people.

Won’t anyone do something about the plight of the beans!?

Can I feed my cat an all-bean diet?

Until just a couple of years ago that was still true. Fortunately it no longer is, but it hasn’t really been long enough to turn such a massive ship around yet.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_Service_Reform_Act_of_2022