Episode 521
Road Rage 101: Then vs Now
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521 Road Rage 101: Then vs Now
NATIONAL DAY: NATIONAL SPANISH PAELLA DAY
BIRTHDAY: QUENTIN TARANTINO (1963-STILL LIVING)
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: 1866 - CIVIL RIGHTS ACT VETO OVERRIDDEN
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THEN VS NOW: WHAT LIFE ACTUALLY COSTS
THE WHAT:
A look at everyday costs from 1966 to today shows a mixed bag. A cross-country flight that once cost about $80 round trip now runs $400–$600—but adjusted for inflation, flights are actually cheaper today. Groceries for a family of four went from roughly $40–$60 a month to over $1,000, but as a percentage of income, food is actually less burdensome today. Gas has climbed from about $0.32 a gallon to $4–$5, landing slightly above inflation. Cars have doubled in real cost, going from about $2,600 new to nearly $50,000 today.
THE TAKE:
But one category breaks the entire system—housing. A $21,000 home in 1966 should be around $250,000 today. Instead, it’s $400,000 nationally and pushing $800,000+ in California. Life didn’t get expensive everywhere—it got expensive in the places you can’t avoid.
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INFLATION VS BUYING POWER: WHY YOUR MONEY FEELS WEAKER
THE WHAT:
Inflation measures how much prices go up—but buying power measures what your income can actually afford. If prices double and your income doubles, nothing really changes. But when prices rise faster than income, buying power drops. Over time, inflation has not hit all categories equally—food and gas have stayed somewhat in line, while housing and cars have outpaced wage growth significantly.
THE TAKE:
That’s why people say “everything feels expensive,” even when inflation numbers look normal. Inflation is just data—but buying power is your reality. The dollar didn’t collapse evenly—it held steady on food, bent on gas, broke on cars, and completely fell apart on housing.
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ARE FAMILIES BETTER OFF TODAY, 4 YEARS AGO, OR 8 YEARS AGO?
THE WHAT:
Looking at three key points—2018, 2022, and today—tells the story. In 2018, inflation was low, gas was affordable, mortgage rates were around 4%, and housing was still within reach for many families. In 2022, inflation surged to 7–9%, gas spiked, and everyday costs jumped quickly, creating immediate financial pressure. Today, inflation has cooled, and wages are higher—but prices remain elevated, and mortgage rates near 6–7% have made homeownership significantly harder.
THE TAKE:
Four years ago felt the worst because everything got expensive fast. Today feels frustrating because nothing came back down. But eight years ago was the last time income and expenses were truly balanced. The issue isn’t just inflation—it’s that the cost of living reset higher, and families are still trying to catch up.
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SHOW CREDITS:
Thank you to my co-host, Ken Madden of MaddK Studio
Audio credits and Producer Jason Radosevich Horrible Designs
Cast:
Kate the Duchess of NJ and John Jamingo of theBoomer Bunker
Aaron of I had to Say it
Boomer Bob of the Boomer Bob Show
Lorenzo from Misanthrope Radio 2.0
Cody the Beard as the Last Word.
Supporters:
Steve McShane of the Razor Wire News
Josh Roberts from New Hampshire
and you can always leave a comment by email: bruce@weatherdsoul.com
