• fosforus
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    8 months ago

    Are you calling what I commented a random claim or referring to something else?

    • tb_@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      I edited my other reply for a bit more context, in case you missed it.

      That said, maybe I misunderstood your claim and with “the economy” you were referring to the prosperity of the average person.

    • tb_@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Yes. No doubt the economy took a hit at the start/height of the pandemic, but using that as a blanket statement to explain the linked article is unsubstantiated.

      Edit:
      Could also read the article.

      The poorest 40% of households suffered an 8% drop in cash savings and the middle 40% (the U.S. middle class) also saw their bank deposits and other liquid assets topple. Only the wealthiest 20% of households are still enjoying the extra cash they stockpiled during the pandemic, with their savings about 8% above where they were in March 2020.

      Given the American wealth distribution in 2023, just the top 10% of people hold 69% of wealth.
      The article mentions the top 20% saw their savings increase.
      I think it’s fair to extrapolate that America “as a whole” got richer (e.g. the economy is “doing better”), at the small cost of 80-90% of its inhabitants.

      The pandemic has been a disaster for the average person, yet the wealthy used it as another opportunity to exploit them.

      ^(sidenote, “stockpiled” is a very apt descriptor…)