For decades Christmas has been commercialized to the point where there are actually people that think decorations, trees, massive piles of presents, and a feast, are what Christmas is all about, rather than being taught the true meaning of Christmas which is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ observed by tens of millions on December 25.
With that said, there are many that do celebrate Christmas for its true purpose, but still use the day to give gifts that are needed, such as clothing for growing children, educational toys, or just items that are wanted throughout the year, yet Christmas is the day used to fulfill those wishes.
The point here is that there is nothing wrong with celebrating Christmas with some gifts as long as the original purpose of celebrating the birth of Christ is first and foremost, yet this Christmas, massive inflation dubbed by many as "Biden-Flation," has become the Grinch that stole Christmas.
Meanwhile, some food banks report they are busier than they were during the worst of the economic shutdown during the pandemic in 2020, Fitzgerald told USA TODAY.
Earlier this year, over 150 of Feeding America's 200 food banks reported increased or steady demand for services as food prices increased.
"With the demand being so great, the supply being so short, and inflation being high, it's just a perfect storm for long lines at the bank," San Antonio Food Bank's president Eric Cooper told USA TODAY.
Now would be a good time to visit Feeding America, type in your zip code and state, and find the nearest food bank to you and donate anything within your means, whether that is canned goods, boxed goods or just a monetary donation so they can get more food to offer to the hungry.
The media, being the media, prefers to spin the issues as a class warfare problem where "the poor buckle under inflation as the rich spend," which is highlighted to divide Americans, yet is nothing different from how things have always been.
In March, Morning Consult threw a wrench into the "official narrative" attempting to divide Americans by pointing out that no matter income or wealth, spending habits are changing from the devastating inflation the U.S. is suffering.
However, certain attributes of financial wealth were also tied to stronger responses to inflation in April. Adults with invested assets and those without were almost equally likely to report forgoing purchases when faced with sticker shock; when faced with a similar dilemma, homeowners were more likely than renters to trade down.
Inflation may affect the rich and the poor and all those in between differently, but it does, indeed, affect everyone.
It always amazes me that the MSM in the U.S. feels the need to tell us what we are feeling, the hardships we are suffering, and what our confidence levels are, as if we don't already know.
As if consumers don't already feel the pain every time they go grocery shopping, or order something online that is almost double the price it was in 2019 before the "pandemic" hysteria knocked the American economy on its figurative butt.
But should a general rail strike be called, that 1 MMbbl of low sulfur diesel would be depleted in a matter of weeks. As for the Jones Act, an arcane, Civil War-era law that mandates that only U.S.-flagged ships staffed by U.S.-based personnel can move cargoes from one domestic port to another, it is seen as a protector of union jobs now, and thus a hard thing for a Democratic president to suspend.
The President could also try to issue an executive order limiting U.S. exports of diesel to Europe and other international destinations, but such a move would be highly controversial and would undoubtedly upset international markets, likely resulting in more inflation-causing price spikes. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm recently took a more soft-gloved approach during an interview with Bloomberg, encouraging refiners to voluntarily limit exports on their own.
We're looking at a perfect storm heading right towards America like an out-of-control train barreling right at us.
During a time of systematic, 'big tech' censorship and widespread institutional corruption, truth-seeking media and alternative views are crucial, and EVERY little bit helps more than you could know!)
Once again let me reiterate that Christmas is not about the gifts, the expensive presents, and all the trimmings, but rather celebrating the birth of Christ, so technically, just acknowledging it, and commemorating the day of observance is enough, yet many will still want to at least have something under the Christmas tree for the children.
Personally I have never shopped on Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving), despite the sales offered because for decades we have seen the chaos, the fighting over a sale item that happens to be the last one available, the trampling of people in a mad dash to get into the store faster than others, basically just a mess.
Cyber Monday on the other hand is something many of us have taken advantage of because those same deals are offered online, to be delivered to your home, without the fighting, screaming, and chaos of Black Friday.
The online retailer Amazon has been sending out associate notifications about their Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals.
Disclosure: Affiliates make a small percentage on sales from Amazon, between one to three percent most of the time, so no one is going to get rich, but each dollar adds up.
I generally delete most of those promotional emails, but I did open one on Thanksgiving and saw items from 20% to 55% off normal prices, and since I was already set to write about the economy, the rail strike and Biden-flation heading into the holidays, I thought the timing was perfect to at least show readers some deals which might help get an extra gift or two under the tree for the children.
Those links will be added to the bottom of this article in the event that readers want to take advantage of some of the deals. If not, no harm no foul.
BOTTOM LINE
For many the economic conditions in the U.S. are a chance to go back to the basics, celebrating Christmas for its true purpose, and hand-crafting gifts rather than spending a small fortune at stores.
For others, Christmas and the New Year are dreaded because the economic situation leaves them at a point where they aren't sure how long they will be able to feed their families, so buying gifts isn't even an option.
Still others want to spend Christmas in a manner they are used to, for themselves and their children, because after the past two years of pandemic hysteria, lockdowns, inflation, food shortages, they simply want a Christmas holiday that is reminiscent of a time before 2020 when every day didn't bring a new concern.
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