{"id":2230219,"date":"2024-04-25T15:50:02","date_gmt":"2024-04-25T19:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidenomics-inflation-killing-the-american-dream-100k-no-longer-enough-to-survive-in-these-states\/"},"modified":"2024-04-25T15:53:45","modified_gmt":"2024-04-25T19:53:45","slug":"bidenomics-inflation-killing-the-american-dream-100k-no-longer-enough-to-survive-in-these-states","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidenomics-inflation-killing-the-american-dream-100k-no-longer-enough-to-survive-in-these-states\/","title":{"rendered":"Bidenomics: Rising Inflation Threatens American Dream &#8211; $100k No Longer Suffices in Some States"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbidenomics-inflation-killing-the-american-dream-100k-no-longer-enough-to-survive-in-these-states%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2230219&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>This piece by George C. Upper III delves into the evolving interpretations\u2062 of the American\u200b Dream, \u200cemphasizing its intrinsic value beyond material pursuits. It discusses the impact of rising costs under the Biden administration, highlighting the challenges many face in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-freedom-caucus-opposes-unlimited-bank-deposit-guarantees\/\" title=\"House Freedom Caucus Opposes Unlimited Bank Deposit Guarantees\">achieving financial stability<\/a>. The commentary\u2062 sparks reflection \u200don the broader societal\u2063 and \u200deconomic implications affecting individuals&#8217; pursuit of prosperity and \u200dcontentment.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/commentary\/\">  Commentary <\/a>   <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/georgeupper\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/georgeupper\/%20\"><span>George C. Upper III<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   April 25, 2024 at 12:04pm <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>The American Dream means different things to different people \u2014 for the Founders, it meant a place to live in freedom to enjoy life and pursue their own goals. It still means that for millions of people around the world living under oppressive regimes.<\/p>\n<p>Later, it came to mean other, often more material, aspirations for many Americans who had come to take their liberty for granted \u2014 marriage, home ownership, a comfortable retirement.<\/p>\n<p>Honestly, that\u2019s a fairly lame dream in both psychological and spiritual terms. A.H. Maslow\u2019s famous <a href=\"http:\/\/psychclassics.yorku.ca\/Maslow\/motivation.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hierarchy of needs<\/a>, for example, puts physiological and safety needs \u2014 i.e., material needs \u2014 at the bottom of the scale.<\/p>\n<p>And the Apostle Paul \u2014 if you read me very often, you\u2019re probably sick of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/vile-biden-comes-fire-invoking-jesus-promoting-abortion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hearing about Paul<\/a> by now \u2014 famously said a couple of millennia ago that he had learned to be content no matter what his material situation looked like.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content,\u201d he wrote to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Philippians+4%3A4-20&#038;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Philippian<\/a> church. \u201cI know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Still, it\u2019s hard to get much else of importance done \u2014 raising a family, accomplishing lofty goals, self-improvement and growth \u2014 if you can\u2019t make the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ap-bidenomics-mortgage-rates-soar-highest-level-since-bill-clinton-president\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mortgage payment<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>And that\u2019s getting harder to harder to do, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2024\/04\/16\/why-a-100000-salary-no-longer-buys-the-american-dream-in-most-places.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CNBC<\/a>, as expenses continue to rise faster than wages in President Joe Biden\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnfortunately, what has happened is that wages haven\u2019t kept up with the cost of living, by and large, for the last 50 years or so,\u201d Elise Gould, senior economist at the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute, told CNBC.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt becomes increasingly hard for many families to be able to attain that sort of middle-class lifestyle, that American Dream,\u201d Gould said.<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Has inflation damaged your American Dream?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>She may lean left, but she\u2019s right about that.<\/p>\n<p>The outlet cited a report from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gobankingrates.com\/money\/economy\/true-cost-american-dream-every-state\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GOBankingRates<\/a> that found that all 50 states now require a family of four \u2014 assuming ownership of a home, automobile and pet of some sort \u2014 now require a household income of more than $100,000 just to be able to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/student-loan-pause-will-still-cause-chaos-long-after-its-over-borrowers-panic-overwhelm-loan-services\/\" title=\"Student loan pause aftermath: Borrowers panic, loan services overwhelmed.\">cover essential expenses<\/a>, save 20 percent for retirement and such, and have some left over for incidentals.<\/p>\n<p>And 38 of the 50 states \u2014 three out of four \u2014 required household incomes of higher than $140,000.<\/p>\n<p>Much of the reason for that is debt, CNBC concluded.<\/p>\n<p>Please don\u2019t ask me why, but the outlet cited a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kids-are-resilient-and-kids-will-recover-natl-teachers-union-president-dismisses-effects-of-school-lockdowns\/\" title=\"\u2018Kids Are Resilient And Kids Will Recover\u2019: Nat\u2019l Teachers\u2019 Union President Dismisses Effects Of School Lockdowns\">clinical psychologist<\/a> to make this point.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe benchmark of a six-figure salary used to be the gold standard income,\u201d psychologist Sabrina Romanoff told CNBC. (If Romanoff has done extensive research into the psychology of debt or the American Dream or whatever, the outlet didn\u2019t bother to note that.) \u201cIt represented the tipping point of finally earning a disposable income and building savings and spending based on your wants, not just your needs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow people making well over six figures are still living paycheck to paycheck,\u201d she added. \u201cSo what used to symbolize financial freedom is now keeping people stressed about making ends meet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to the GOBankingRates report, Hawaii was unsurprisingly the most expensive state in which to live, followed closely by California, Massachusetts, Washington, New Jersey and New Hampshire, all of which required household incomes of higher than $200,000 to live comfortable, according to the publisher\u2019s formula.<\/p>\n<p>The least expensive state was Mississippi, followed by Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama, Alabama, West Virginia, Louisiana and Oklahoma, all of which came in under $125,000 annually in the report.<\/p>\n<p>Read those lists again and see if you see a pattern.<\/p>\n<p>Of the 25 most expensive states, all voted for Democratic presidential nominee <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/biden-files-lawsuit-gas-station-chain-day-mocked-shuffling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Joe Biden<\/a> in 2020 except for Alaska, Utah, Montana and Florida. (And, technically, Maine, which splits its delegates and awarded one to President Donald Trump in 2020 and three to Biden.)<\/p>\n<p>On the other half of the list, only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-trump-backs-senate-candidate-said-not-maga-key-swing-state\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pennsylvania<\/a>, Georgia, Michigan and New Mexico voted for Biden (with a similar carve-out for Nebraska, which gave one delegate to Biden).<\/p>\n<p>Ideas have consequences, and expensive leftist ideas have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-biden-admits-cant-trusted-latest-major-blunder\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">expensive consequences<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Vote accordingly.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>An Important Message from Our Staff:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We who work here at The Western Journal have fought for years against Big Tech and the elites who want to shut us down and then shut America down. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Make no mistake \u2014 nothing will be the same after November 2024. Will you help us fight? Will you <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>help us expose the America-hating elites<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  who will do everything they can to steal this election? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We\u2019re a small group of people fighting to save the country for our readers and for our own family and friends. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Can we count on your help?<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p><i><span>At this point, Big Tech has cut off our access to 90% of advertisers. Imagine if someone took 90% of your paycheck and there was nothing you could do. They\u2019re trying to starve us out.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Donations from readers like you have literally helped keep our lights on, and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>we need you<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  now more than ever. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We operate on a shoestring budget, but with that budget, we terrify the globalists. Please help us continue the fight. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Stand with us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>, and we will never surrender.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Thank you for reading The Western Journal and for believing in America. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>It is a pleasure to serve you.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>P.S. Please don\u2019t let the America-hating left win. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Stand with us today<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-44802\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/georgeupper\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-44802\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-44802\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-44802\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-44802\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>George Upper is the former Editor-in-Chief of The Western Journal and was a weekly co-host of &#8220;WJ Live,&#8221; powered by The Western Journal. He is currently a contributing editor in the areas of faith, politics and culture. A former U.S. Army special operator, teacher and consultant, he is a lifetime member of the NRA and an active volunteer leader in his church. Born in Foxborough, Massachusetts, he has lived most of his life in central North Carolina.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  George Upper, is the former editor-in-chief of The Western Journal and is now a contributing editor in the areas of faith, politics and culture. He currently serves as the connections pastor at Awestruck Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. He is a former U.S. Army special operator, teacher, manager and consultant. Born in Massachusetts, he graduated from Foxborough High School before joining the Army and spending most of the next three years at Fort Bragg. He holds bachelor&#8217;s and master&#8217;s degrees in English as well as a Master&#8217;s in Business Administration, all from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He and his wife life only a short drive from his three children, their spouses and his grandchildren. He is a lifetime member of the NRA and in his spare time he shoots, reads a lot of Lawrence Block and John D. MacDonald, and watches Bruce Campbell movies. He is a fan of individual freedom, Tommy Bahama, fine-point G-2 pens and the Oxford comma. <\/p>\n<p>  Birthplace <\/p>\n<p>  Foxborough, Massachusetts <\/p>\n<p>  Nationality <\/p>\n<p>  American <\/p>\n<p>  Honors\/Awards <\/p>\n<p>  Beta Gamma Sigma <\/p>\n<p>  Education <\/p>\n<p>  B.A., English, UNCG; M.A., English, UNCG; MBA, UNCG <\/p>\n<p>  Location <\/p>\n<p>  North Carolina <\/p>\n<p>  Languages Spoken <\/p>\n<p>  English <\/p>\n<p>  Topics of Expertise <\/p>\n<p>  Faith, Business, Leadership and Management, Military, Politics <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a commentary by George C. Upper III on April 25, 2024, at 12:04 pm, he reflects on the diverse interpretations of the American Dream. Initially envisioned by the Founders as a realm of freedom for pursuing personal aspirations, it remains a beacon for many amidst oppressive conditions globally<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2010,"featured_media":2230220,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/red-state-blue-state-map.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2230219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/red-state-blue-state-map.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2230219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2010"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2230219"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2230219\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2230220"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2230219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2230219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2230219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}