# There's something rotten in...well, everywhere **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 17, 2024, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712 "2024-05-17T18:40:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/21 "2024-05-19T07:26:28Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Exactly! The average American has more personal freedom and is far better off financially than billions of others on this planet, yet they are ready to tear this society apart because they are so enraged about … … … WHAT, exactly?! About LOSING that freedom and that money. Our major cities are being made unlivable for the law-abiding middle class. The prices of everything is up, and almost everyone is feeling the pain. The price of gasoline and other fossil fuels is up. Transporting food uses fossil fuels, so the price of food goes up. Almost all fertilizer is from the Haber-Bosch process, which uses nitrogen from the air and hydrogen from fossil fuels to create ammonia. High temperature (from fossil fuels) and high pressure are required in the process. THAT increases the price of food. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/22 "2024-05-20T11:38:58Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > About LOSING that freedom and that money. Our major cities are being made unlivable for the law-abiding middle class. That’s right wing media nonsense. There has always been crime in cities, but it was been magnified and distorted a hundred times until the social media age. I was out and about in Chicago all weekend, and I saw a multitude of happy people enjoying themselves. THAT stuff won’t incessantly be on the news, just the bad stuff. > [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > The prices of everything is up, and almost everyone is feeling the pain. Prices are up, but the number of people working and the money that people have available is way up, also. People are buying, buying, buying. Small businesses are recovering and new ones opening up. The roads are crowded with trucks delivering goods to retailers because their shelves are being emptied. > [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > The price of gasoline and other fossil fuels is up. Here in Chicago, which is one of the top five most expensive places to live in the United States, gas prices have fluctuated between $3.50 and $4.00 a gallon for a long time. That is still cheaper than many places around the world. By the way, if you have complaints about fossil fuel pollution and prices, you need to talk to your Republican oligarchs who run this country via their fabulously rich corporations. They are the ones buying congressional votes. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/23 "2024-05-20T14:32:16Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Here in Chicago, which is one of the top five most expensive places to live in the United States, gas prices have fluctuated between $3.50 and $4.00 a gallon for a long time. That is still cheaper than many places around the world. It’s also cheaper when adjusted for inflation vs. the early 2010s (2011-2014) and other times in our recent past (summer of 2008, especially.) And I love Chicago, wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in the world right now. There are problems, but it’s better, crime-wise, than it was in the 90s, when I was growing up in my teens here. But we didn’t have social media back then to amplify the message. I always find it surprising that Chicago ends up on these “most expensive places to live in the US” lists. For a big city, it is affordable, as long as you don’t need to live in the trendiest neighborhoods. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/24 "2024-05-20T15:25:40Z")
Well said. Also, given what is happening to our climate, another big advantage is that it is adjacent to the Great Lakes, which is the largest available supply of fresh water in the world. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/25 "2024-05-23T05:31:10Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Here in Chicago, which is one of the top five most expensive places to live in the United States, gas prices have fluctuated between $3.50 and $4.00 a gallon for a long time. Yes, I know, because I also live in Chicago. That “long time” began the day after Biden took office because of this: > Executive Order 7: Revoke the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and cancel other Trump administration energy rules That jump-started inflation, which is still going on. And you blame Republicans. On Trump’s last day in office, I remember $2.80/gal. > [@Jasmine](#): > > That is still cheaper than many places around the world. Like California, which is sliding down the tubes in multiple ways. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/26 "2024-05-23T05:53:02Z")
becuase studies showed we didnt need keystone we had enough oil Also everyone feared opec was going to do one of their controlled floods via saudi and make the project a financial failure just like they wiped out all that shale oil concerns ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/27 "2024-05-23T09:06:04Z")
I suspect several states, the Russians, the Chinese and maybe others are working towards stirring up trouble just for fun and to destabilize us. I can’t prove it. It might not be true, but it is my working theory. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/28 "2024-05-23T11:29:58Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > On Trump’s last day in office, I remember $2.80/gal. Trump’s last day in office was during COVID. Gas prices plummeted overall. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/29 "2024-05-23T13:40:14Z")
I also couldn’t find toliet paper, paper towels or go to work on Trumps last day in office. Such fond memories that some people would like to pretend never happened. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/30 "2024-05-23T13:43:54Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > What the heck is wrong with people? > > What am I not getting? The advantages of avoiding social media and the Internet in general? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/31 "2024-05-23T17:05:50Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > On Trump’s last day in office, I remember $2.80/gal. Me too. And I remember that the greatest factor in that low price was that we were in a pandemic, and the demand for gasoline was actually pretty low when compared with the supply. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/32 "2024-05-26T06:51:09Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Me too. And I remember that the greatest factor in that low price was that we were in a pandemic, and the demand for gasoline was actually pretty low when compared with the supply. And there was also COVID on Biden’s first day. Then why did the price jump? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/33 "2024-05-26T06:59:15Z")
Can you prove that? All over the country? Doesn’t it happen when most presidents, when the party changes, are sworn in? I imagine the stock market did stuff too. I believe you might be reading to much into it. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/34 "2024-05-26T07:17:46Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Can you prove that? Why do you ask me for proof when you didn’t ask any of my responders for proof? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/35 "2024-05-26T09:00:53Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > > [@ParallelLines](#): > > > > The What, for a lot of people, is that the WRONG people have personal freedom, and is better off financially. And they feel, and are being told every single day that it’s a zero sum game. If THOSE people have more freedom to marry who they want, be the gender they want, believe in the deity that they want, then those who used to get the default approval are somehow losing, being belittled, impoverished or imposed upon. > > Agree with everything you wrote. I’d add my own nuance to this bit, which is that even though we’ve got it all in America (well, some do), many are or feel like they are at risk. Americans are wealthy compared to much of the world, but we are not economically stable or secure. The more one feels like their own security is at risk, the more alluring the idea of easy scape goats is. > > I do believe if more people didn’t feel like they were on the edge, or falling farther and farther behind, they would be less apt to view anyone else’s gain as a threat. And there are plenty who are hateful for other reasons. I would agree with pretty much everything you said. Normal people don’t argue endlessly about politics or the economy (such as they even understand those things) constantly when they feel things are “ok”. Most of the problems in the world today have existed long before I was born. So what is it about the world now that seems to make people so crazy? I mean is it a big surprise? Nothing seems to work and no matter how much money you make, it’s never enough to feel secure (forget being “ahead” or whatever). No one trusts any of our institutions - education, government, health care, work, marriage, etc. And if you do, plenty of people will berate you for a fool. There is a massive cognitive dissonance between the world portrayed in social media and the real world. In some cases one or the other is “better” or “worse”, but either way it’s “inaccurate”. That has to create anxiety in people because on some level they must realize they can’t completely trust that their view of reality is correct, even if they don’t realize it. There’s not real sense of community for most people as everyone seems to be caught up in their own shit pursuing their own interests. I don’t think many people have a positive view on the direction the world is heading - more people, less resources, climate change, AI, more political tension, more stupid people doing stupid things. So yeah, I think all this causes a mentality of “every man for themselves” where all that matters is pursuing ones own interests. And even if you are doing well, you’re in constant fear that it could all be arbitrarily taken away at any moment. At least that’s my theory as to the “what” of it. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/36 "2024-05-26T09:45:25Z")
Maybe it’s just me but people have always been absolutely pricks in public since I can remember. I remember old men threatening to call the cops on me for riding my bike in a public dirt field in the 90s. I remember going to a casino in the 2000s and a random drunk guy trying to start a fist fight with me in the middle of the gambling floor because he accused me of swiping his chips at the poker table despite the dealer and none of the other players taking his side. I think we’re just more aware of it now because of social media and especially Twitter/X because people doom scroll it all day now. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/37 "2024-05-26T10:26:13Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > I remember old men threatening to call the cops on me for riding my bike in a public dirt field in the 90s. Yeah, until today, you remembered those rotten ol’ men. Just you. But now, with only one post,…another 10 thousand people know about them, and how rotten the whole world is. See? You just added to the problem. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/38 "2024-05-26T11:57:35Z")
oops, I just realized my comment above is lacking a smiley… It shouldda ended with a 🙂 ‘Cause it’s such a rotten ol’ world we all live in. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kitten\_Mitten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b782af/32.png) [@Kitten\_Mitten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitten_Mitten)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/39 "2024-05-26T18:11:29Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > That jump-started inflation, which is still going on. And you blame Republicans. > > On Trump’s last day in office, I remember $2.80/gal. Wow; don’t acknowledge that gas prices went way down in 2020 due to the pandemic so people WFH and didn’t take vacations meaning that demand was down significantly. As people began driving again and demand went up, prices went up. Well I see I was ninja’d by a number of people. I still want to make my comment after I saw: > [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > And there was also COVID on Biden’s first day. Then why did the price jump? just wondering if you took any ECON? Law of supply and demand, sir. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712/40 "2024-05-26T19:21:24Z")
Taking a different fork in the road here… COVID struck. I had already asked TPTB a week before everyone got sent home “Why are some some people allowed to work from home at our company, and others are not allowed, what’s the policy (they love policies)” I have a perfect work from home job. So something was rotten. I did not know what was coming re: COVID. I was just pissed about my commute. Pointless. At that time my boss had a new boss. Grand boss I guess we call them. I had a meeting with him. GB asked “What do you want to do?” Me “Work from home” GB - “What kind of equipment will you need?” Me = “I have everything I need” I had actually just bought a new computer system and sat dish for home. Of course on my dime. It’s my stuff. GB - “OK” There is a shit ton of rotten out there IMHO @Beckdawrek . But, it’s always been there. The light of day may get rid of some of it if we are lucky. My point is there is also good. And people that don’t just want to push you around, but want to help and do reasonable things. Like my GB. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-rotten-in-well-everywhere/1001712.md?page=3)