The same people who told us Kamala would win now tell us to rush out and buy cars, refrigerators, and new houses.

Photo above - AVOID THE RUSH - BUY NOW! I searched google for new refrigerators. These are all internet connected, and some have migrated from 2 or 3 doors to 4 doors. If you think these are expensive, blame Trump?

We need to go shopping NOW, or we will be screwed in just 2 months.

You CANNOT make up stuff this bizarre. The media lives in a bubble, and never admits any mistakes. But that’s not the topic of today’s column. The media will say ANYTHING to get clicks/eyeballs, and advertising revenue. Case in point: it hasn’t even been a month since the election, and they’re already pushing "buy now or regret it later" lists. See link below.

What should we buy? Everything, apparently. According to MSN (and MSNBC, and CCN, and Motley Fool, and . . .) Trump tariffs will destroy America and bring on the worst economic slump since . . . for-evah. But will this be even worse than the bankruptcies and closures from the Wuhan Chinese Army Lab virus?

Let’s run take a look at the list of stuff we ALREADY can’t afford, and haven’t been able to for years.

Lumber and steel will be going through the roof. Because for decades we’ve become reliant on Canadian lumber and foreign steel. So now we will NEVER be able to buy a home. This ignores the fact that for decades America has built far fewer homes and apartments than the population growth rate (births plus immigration). We’re not building homes because of local government fees, restrictions, zonings, set asides, taxes and NIMBY pandering. The housing shortage is set to magically pivot and become a Trump problem after inauguration day.

We all need to rush out and buy a new car RIGHT NOW. Because they’re only going to get more expensive when Trump becomes president? Excuse me . . . please identify a decade where cars DIDN’T get more expensive. Biden and Kamala are the ones who urged the UAW to hold out for $140,000 base pay contracts. And then proposed 100% tariffs on imported Chinese cars. This is all going to be laid at Trumps doorstep. Even if Kamala had won, it wouldn't be her fault I suppose.

Refrigerators. Washing machines. Dryers. Air Conditioners. Ovens. Although the link doesn't cite them by name, we should also probably also fill our Amazon shopping carts with air fryers, crock pots, waffle irons, blenders, and electric can openers. For years America has off-shored manufacturing of appliances to the cheapest places imaginable. Like Japan, China, and South Korea. Now the up and coming sources for refrigerators are Vietnam, Thailand, and Azerbaijan. And Africa hasn’t even gotten started yet. Nigerian refrigerator/freezers will probably cost half what a decent Samsung model goes for.

No, I am NOT getting a new ‘fridge, or dishwasher. My mom tried to get a new dishwasher last year, only to be told there were NONE IN STOCK (at Lowes). She needs the one specifically sized for counter heights for people with disabilities. None in stock. There were a bunch of Bosch dishwashers on a container ship somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic. The prices were astronomical. Soon this will all be Trump's fault. I’m sure our current president and congress should be complete exonerated for the last 4 years of inflation, high interest rates, supply chain disruptions, and increase in the national debt.

In the meantime, MSN and MSNBC are serving up clickbait telling us we have to BUY-BUY-BUY.

I’m just sayin’ . . .

The 5 things you should consider buying before Donald Trump’s new tariffs take effect

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SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

It's not a competition in attributing blame . .

Inflation over the past three years has been experienced more or less equally across most developed nations and is due to macroeconomic factors - pandemic and war - that are largely beyond the control of national governments.

If Trump precipitates a trade war though his Alice in Wonderland economic theories and restricts consumer access to goods, then yes of course he will be directly responsible for the pain that follows.

If he does nothing positive to reform the housing market - the problems are much deeper and more extensive than just government "red tape" - then again yes he will bear responsibility for prioritising the interests of existing property owners over the welfare of the nation.

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ElwoodBlues · M

@SusanInFlorida how can you ALWAYS be wrong? Do you do this on purpose?

US population growth has been slowing greatly in recent decades; completely uncorrelated with housing prices!!

Meanwhile, population growth in Europe has gone NEGATIVE in recent years; not so housing prices!!

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@ElwoodBlues @SusanInFlorida

House price inflation in the UK is driven by:

(1) Control of supply by a small number of developers who have no financial disincentive to sit on banks of land they own for years until selling prices are at their highest.

(2) The emergence of residential housing as an asset class. The interests of existing asset holders are given priority over the basic social and economic needs of those who do not own property.

(3) Homeowners living longer and occupying larger properties than they require.

Yes, local government can do more to speed up the planning process. Yes, additions to the population may increase short-term demand (although immigration is absolutely essential to compensate for and support our shrinking and ageing population). But in my view the main problem is sluggishness and inefficiency within the property market itself. The solution - government oversight, better regulation, taxation to drive better habits.

Roundandroundwego · 61-69

@SunshineGirl war is definitely beyond the control of national governments. The EU, the USA and NATO are definitely above democracy.

dale74 · M

The refrigerators with the Internet connected information display have always been expensive although I didn't find them necessarily too expensive but they were about 3,000 but I did need a new refrigerator but I was able to find a nice three door refrigerator top freezer bottom after tax for $1,200 now it was a floor display model but it works great and our other refrigerator has been working on going out we've had a couple of issues with it over the last few months. But I think the last one that I bought was probably around $900 and that was 7 years ago and it did not have the three door it was only a side by side.

SusanInFlorida · 31-35, F

@dale74 my mom has an internet connected LG refrigerator (don't ask me why). She gets messages reminding her to change the water filter for the ice maker. It doesn't send messages when the door is accidentally left open, and the chill leaks out.

Avectoijesuismoi · 31-35

It is nothing more than creating fear of loss to create panic buying it is the same trick used over and over for a variety of reasons
A similar tactic was employed during the pandemic to get people to buy things

It is used at virtually every sale, Black Friday etc etc time usually to shift stuff they couldn't sell

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Avectoijesuismoi · 31-35

@SusanInFlorida It is a fear tactic to get you to buy things. Probably things that they could not sell now they are using the combination of Black Friday and Trump Tariff's to get inside peoples heads and create the fear that if you don't get it now "You won't be able to afford to get it "
Bottom line they want your money now
Just as a side thing those Drawer fridges are the most awkward contraptions to use in reality a double door side by side is a far better option and far more user friendly

SusanInFlorida · 31-35, F

@Avectoijesuismoi car dealers are desperate to move their leftover 2024 models. Honda was barraging football viewers with its 3.9% interest rate continuously yesterday.

Avectoijesuismoi · 31-35

@SusanInFlorida Like I said it is more desperation to sell what they could shift than anything else they are just using the rest as scare tactics to hopefully create sales

SandWitch · 26-30, F

Even if Kamala had won, the cost of buying stuff would be the same as if Trump were POTUS.

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