So...Chained CPI.

[Spider Jerusalem]

I was somewhat ignorant of the fine points involved and what the specific difference is; I did some reading, and, apparently, the "chained and weighted consumer price index takes into account replacement of items in a typical basket of goods with lower-cost substitutes". So...you can't afford to put gas in the car, and have to take the bus; you can't afford real coffee, and have to drink instant; you can't afford a pack of Camels, and have to buy Bugler and roll your own; you can't afford to drink Heineken, so you get PBR instead. But don't worry, there's not any inflation, you're imagining it. Have I got this right? So declining living standards due to reduced purchasing power aren't a sign of inflation anymore? Since when, exactly?

[MotherPetrie]

1. Yup. It's called punishing the victim.

[cthulu2016]

2. And if you cannot afford human food...

the sentence finishes itself.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. It's the sacred law of supply and demand. Which means the price of catfood will go up.

[rurallib]

10. soon you'll be fighting the cat for that juicy mouse

[NCarolinawoman]

22. Or not being able to own a cat.

[enough]

4. I think if more people knew exactly what you are saying here, there would be

a lot more outrage. It's so obviously mean-spirited, cruel, and inhumane. And it's something that's being done to all of us.

[avaistheone1]

6. You are absolutely right.

Think the mainstream media will touch this issue in any kind of meaningful way with a ten-foot pole? I doubt it.

[just1voice]

5. Since the CPI was created not to measure inflation, it's a tool used for payouts

The CPI is a lie, period. Always has been. I can also tell you after years of studying other government economic tools that they are all lies used to manipulate something. Our government is completely corrupt and so are most other country's. We now live in an era of corruption.

[dawg]

7. The whole thing is based on a lie.

It is an immoral swindle.

[alterfurz]

8. Fancy Feast-->Meow Mix

[Cal Carpenter]

11. Ouch

Truth hurts

[tokenlib]

23. Aaaaugh! That cartoon is killing me..SPOT ON!! THANKS!!

My dogs will let me share their food--they seem quite spry too..

[Marr]

9. That's basically it, yep.

Infuriatingly arrogant and deceitful.

[rhett o rick]

12. Let me give it a try. The "Chained CPI" means that if you spend less then you need less then you

get less. So if the price of gasoline goes up and you take the bus, obviously you didnt need to drive your car and you will get bus fare. If you have to substitute cat food for your tuna, then the govment says "hey you apparently didnt need the tuna", and will buy you cat food. And as inflation ratchets the prices up and you settle for cheaper products, the govment will figure that you were over spending before and since you can survive with less, will give you less.

[JHB]

15. Even shorter: if you are able to reduce your budget...

...you obviously need a smaller budget.

(And if you can't reduce it, become "inspired&quot

[blkmusclmachine]

13. IM in a PEACH of a mood.

2014 is gonna be UGLY.

So much for Biden.

[donnasgirl]

14. And i want

To hear what Hillary has to say on the issue, sorry people I do not trust anyone anymore.

[FiveGoodMen]

16. And after a round or two of that, there ARE no cheaper substitutes for what you're buying.

Utterly fuck disgusting.

I am now of the opinion that Obama's entire purpose in politics is to get the GOP what they couldn't get for themselves.

A trojan horse.

A betrayer.

A terrible human being.

[Spider Jerusalem]

17. Oh, it's even better than that.

Or, I guess, worse. Can't afford beef? Chicken is apparently a substitute! Since it doesn't necessarily mean "direct replacement". Which pretty much ends up with living on red beans and rice, with meat on special occasions.

[FiveGoodMen]

19. What kind of monster VOLUNTEERS to do that to us?

[Fuddnik]

21. It sure ain't the Cookie Monster.

[tclambert]

18. . . . you can't afford real meat, so you have to take baloney.

. . . you can't afford baloney, so you get cat food.
. . . you can't afford cat food, so you settle for whatever you can find in the dumpster.

With chained CPI, you end up eating out of dumpsters, but inflation magically disappears.

[Fuddnik]

20. Can't afford to go to the doctor or buy health insurance, go to the free clinic.

Can't afford the dentist? Buy some pliers.

[NCarolinawoman]

24. Local news in Raleigh put it simply and directly:

"Obama's cuts to Social Security".

I can't believe that Romney's 47% tape was what helped Obama win. Does he even remember that?

[Maven]

25. Isn't it great? They're squeezing you already, so you're forced to buy cheaper and less.

So they reward your thrift by squeezing you even more. And so on and so forth.

[damnedifIknow]

26. Also

the president's budget calls for a 452 million dollar cut to LIHEAP and a cut to NASA funding by 50 million.

[upaloopa]

27. And you can't afford your medication and insurance

premiums you die.