“I don’t know why posters are giving this guy grief... it’s all due to the inflation of fixed costs created by government policies.”
I read the article. While you are correct as to the probably cause that has decimated millions, nowhere did I see him assign inflation or excessive taxation/regulation as the cause of his current problem. His lifestyle is bigger than his income. He can afford to live there, he is struggling with making the decisions to face that reality... like use public schools or home schooling, suspend all vacations ... otherwise he is right, he needs to work to make up the gap.
Since he is in Bay area, and some other facts mentioned in the article ... betting odds are is that he is a demonkkkrap. So criticism is warranted because he gets what he votes for and supports - he “can’t go there” in his mind and face the truth. Also, he probably would not welcome some good old Dave Ramsey advice - b/c Ramsey does not talk like demonkkkraps do.
There is definitely a bias here towards living extremely frugally, foregoing luxury, and schadenfreude towards those who are brought down. Like the crabs-in-the-bucket metaphor used frequently.
I want to live in a country where EVERYONE can aspire to living in a nice house, in a safe neighborhood, send their kids to good schools, take vacations, have a comfortable retirement.
Even though this guy might not "get it," entirely, he's exposing the reality that if HE can't reach those dreams, those lower than him, and their children, don't have a chance in hell.
The American Dream isn't just dead, it's been raped, murdered, and multilated.
Yup—Dave Ramsey would lock him in a room with a budget—and when they got through cutting and slashing the guy would be spending like a normal person and saving plenty of money every year.