Core

[Core @Core0f]

@Leonajardinho Employment rate doubling every year

[Leo @Leonajardinho]

A senior corporate recruiter at a Fortune 500 tech company told me something wild today.

They opened a single remote role for a mid-level project manager paying $85,000.

Within 48 hours, they received over 2,400 applications.

Over 40% of the applicants were former directors, vice presidents, and senior managers who were laid off over the past year and are now quietly applying for jobs paying half of what they made in 2022.

Many of them are taking 50% pay cuts just to secure basic health insurance and stop bleeding through their remaining savings.

On paper, unemployment numbers look stable because people are taking whatever work they can find to survive.

In reality, white-collar compensation is getting systematically downgraded across the entire economy while cost of living sits at all-time highs.

The middle class isn't just getting squeezed by inflation…..their earning power is actively being reset.

[Core @Core0f]

@Leonajardinho $26 per hour not bad

[Leo @Leonajardinho]

called an HVAC guy to replace a $40 capacitor on my air conditioner.

quote came back at $680.

i asked him how long the fix takes.

he goes: "about 15 minutes."

i said: "so I'm paying $2,700 an hour for labor?"

he looked around and whispered:

"i make $26 an hour. the private equity firm that bought out our family-owned business last year sets mandatory revenue quotas on every service call."

then he showed me his tablet.

if he doesn't hit $3,000 a day in upsells, he gets written up.

the original founder ran that company for 30 years charging $150 a visit and built a great life.

now wall street owns local plumbing, electrical, and AC contractors across the country, jacked up prices by 350%, and put working-class technicians on corporate sales commissions.

you aren't paying for skilled trade labor anymore.

you're funding a hedge fund's profit margin on basic home maintenance.

[Daily Loud @DailyLoud]

dad' BREAKS the internet — man seen walking girl to school with HUGE FIREARM

[Core @Core0f]

@Leonajardinho MORAL STORY: Boomers always experienced listen to them

[Leo @Leonajardinho]

BOOMER: "I put myself through state college working part-time at a grocery store during summer breaks."

ME: "In 1982, average tuition was $1,000 a year. Minimum wage was $3.35 an hour. You could pay off a full year's tuition with 300 hours of work."

BOOMER: "Kids today just lack work ethic. They want handouts."

ME: "Today, that same state tuition is $12,000 a year. Minimum wage is still $7.25 in most states. It takes over 1,600 hours of work just to pay for tuition, before rent or food."

BOOMER: "Well, then get an entry-level corporate job first."

ME: "The entry-level job requires a 4-year degree, 3 years of experience, and pays $42,000 in a city where average rent is $2,200 a month."

BOOMER: "Sounds like you just need to manage your budget better."

ME: "You didn't 'work harder.' You lived in an economy where basic human milestones weren't locked behind predatory financial paywalls."

[Core @Core0f]

@Leonajardinho Which state is gas at 3.99 ?

Where you at Leo?

[Leo @Leonajardinho]

Everyone loses their minds when REGULAR GAS hits $3.99 a gallon at the pump. 

Almost NOBODY notices when DIESEL quietly surges past $6.39. 

Here is why that disconnect is dangerous:

You fill your tank with regular gas once a week.

DIESEL powers 70% of every commercial freight truck, delivery vehicle, train, and tractor moving commodities across the country.

When petrol goes up, your personal commute gets expensive.

When DIESEL explodes, transportation companies hit every grocery store, farm, and distributor with massive fuel surcharges.

You aren't just paying $3.99 to drive your car.

You are about to pay $6.39 DIESEL prices on every single item sitting on a store shelf next week.

[Core @Core0f]

@Leonajardinho It’s not all of them but it’s always them

[Leo @Leonajardinho]

CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE THIS.

You buy a home in a residential neighborhood.

Your property taxes skyrocket 40%, and your homeowner's insurance premium doubles because insurance carriers are re-evaluating risk across the entire state.

Meanwhile, your neighbor turns their house into a full-time Airbnb, rents it out to teenagers who set off indoor fireworks, and leaves the neighborhood dealing with cops and property damage.

We don't just have an affordable housing crisis in America.

We have a system where responsible homeowners pay the collateral price for irresponsible commercial operations next door.

[Core @Core0f]

@Leonajardinho It’s a cycle

[Leo @Leonajardinho]

You: "I want to cancel my subscription."

Company: "We’re so sad to see you go! Click here to confirm."

You: clicks

Company: "To finalize cancellation, please chat with a live representative."

You: chats with representative

Representative: "Before you go, can we offer you 50% off for 3 months?"

You: "No thanks, just cancel."

Representative: "Understood. Please call this 1-800 number during business hours (M-F 9am-2pm) to speak with our retention department."

You: "Wait... it took me ONE click and 4 seconds to sign up and start paying you."

Company: "Correct."

You: "So why does it take 4 steps, a chat rep, and a phone call to stop paying you?"

Company: "Because 35% of people give up halfway through, and we get to charge their card for another month."

You: "That should be illegal."

Company: "Your next billing cycle starts Tuesday."

[Core @Core0f]

@Leonajardinho Bad dealership maybe?

[Leo @Leonajardinho]

My neighbor tried to buy a 3-year-old certified pre-owned SUV this morning.

Lender approved him at a 9.2% interest rate.

He has a 760 credit score, zero missed payments in a decade, and earns $85,000 a year.

When he asked the loan officer why the rate was so high for someone with near-perfect credit, the guy looked at him and said:

"760 isn't prime anymore. In today's market, 760 is the new 680."

Five years ago, a 750+ score got you 3.1% financing and low-APR credit cards.

Today, that exact same score barely shields you from predatory subprime pricing.

They moved the goalposts on what counts as "financially responsible."

You didn't ruin your credit. The banks just decided that doing everything right now costs 300% more interest.

[Core @Core0f]

@Leonajardinho All I can tell you is that inflation plays a part

[Leo @Leonajardinho]

I NEED SOMEONE TO MAKE THIS MAKE SENSE.

In 2021, when inflation started hitting, they told us credit card APRs were rising to "cool down consumer spending."

Fast forward: Average credit card interest rates hit a record high of 22%+.

Now, inflation drops back down toward target levels... but credit card interest rates stay locked at 22%.

When the Fed raises rates, banks hike your credit card APR overnight.

When the Fed lowers rates, banks keep your APR at historic highs and pocket the margin difference.

They didn't raise interest rates to "stop inflation."

They raised them because they realized you'll pay 22% interest when you're forced to buy groceries on credit.

[Core @Core0f]

@Leonajardinho Fear the IRS

[Leo @Leonajardinho]

Average American:

Earns $60K, pays $14K in taxes, spends $42K on housing and food.
Leftover: $4,000.
IRS verdict: "You made $60,000."

Mega Corporation:

Makes $10B revenue, writes off $9.8B in "operational costs" and expansion.
Leftover: $200M .
IRS verdict: "You made $200,000,000."

We are legally barred from writing off the cost of staying alive to show up to work.

[Core @Core0f]

@Leonajardinho Why are illlegals having social security