meirl

[u/danielminds]

[u/shadowsythxx]

Nothing radicalizes a person faster then paying six bucks for fast food that used to be cheap

[u/ChadPowers200_ → u/shadowsythxx]

I got McDonald’s recently saw they are doing monopoly again. Just a nostalgic thing. 

Then I got depressed because the tabs looked so cheap and there was just one. I remember them having two on large fries and drinks. 

Then I just noticed how shitty the packaging for my nuggets were and just everything is going to shit. 

[u/forgotaccount989 → u/ChadPowers200_]

It's even worse when you realize they aren't even the monopoly places anymore and just random codes that they are trying to get you onto their app with. Go fuck yourself McDonalds.

[u/PTBooks → u/forgotaccount989]

Yeah and they’re gonna use ai to start doing surge pricing for their food.

[u/No_Internal9345 → u/PTBooks]

food

*product

[u/Adfest → u/No_Internal9345]

The best "FIFY" that I'm going to see all day

[u/Volqaire → u/Adfest]

FIFY"

FTFY

[u/Adfest → u/Volqaire]

I stand corrected

[u/Derper2112 → u/Volqaire]

chef's ktss

[u/Gork___ → u/No_Internal9345]

McDonald's CEO referring to their food as "product" is so remarkably tone-deaf lol.

[u/PiccoloAwkward465 → u/forgotaccount989]

I tried to look up the menu online in a discussion about rising prices. I couldn't get to it on a web browser, it directed me to the app.

[u/thegoodnamesrgone123 → u/PiccoloAwkward465]

I bet even the app is like "everything is market price"

[u/omaha_g8 → u/thegoodnamesrgone123]

“They said market price. What market are you shopping at?!"

[u/IkujaKatsumaji → u/ChadPowers200_]

I know this is a stupid thing to be mad about, but the tabs don't even work like they used to. Used to be, each tab was a monopoly space. Now they have a code you scan, and you might get a monopoly space. It's so goddamn stupid.

[u/MobileArtist1371 → u/IkujaKatsumaji]

Nah, you could get just food and no space way back when.

[u/Shark7996 → u/IkujaKatsumaji]

Even physical rewards have been digitized. We really do own nothing.

[u/LalafellDisaster → u/ChadPowers200_]

“Nuggets” they’re sliced so thin they’re chips not nuggets.

[u/arstin → u/LalafellDisaster]

"sliced"? You mean "extruded".

[u/Calgaris_Rex → u/arstin]

"extruded"? You mean "pooped".

[u/OriginalLie9310 → u/ChadPowers200_]

And if you read the fine print it says you have a 1 in 450 billion chance of actually winning a grand prize.

[u/pyreon → u/OriginalLie9310]

The stated odds are goofy but it's a result of multiplying the odds of getting each indivdiual piece from the set together. using some made up (but close enough) numbers for the railroads: if the odds of getting the rare piece is 1:50,000,000 (still bonkers but not as absurd as the stated odds) and the odds of getting the other 3 are 1:20 each that gives you the 1:400 billion number

[u/pocketMagician → u/shadowsythxx]

Yeah, not the corruption, murders and concentration camps. But gas and taco bell prices. Great.

[u/purplewitch54154 → u/pocketMagician]

Most people don’t care until things start affecting them personally

[u/PresentAwareness745 → u/purplewitch54154]

people on the right were pretty meh when we started bombing Iran

And now suddenly they finally turned on him. At least some of them did

[u/J0hnEddy → u/PresentAwareness745]

when gas first skyrocketed, my father told me that the war would be over “in a couple weeks” and then gas would be cheaper than its ever been in history. Months later, he’s mad at the gas companies for “price gauging” (which is like true), but will not put one bit of blame on tangerine man

[u/i_give_you_gum → u/J0hnEddy]

And the real oil shock is going to hit after the midterms, the only reason why we didn't see an oil-pocalypse before then was because China cut their oil imports by 40%... which is historic

Imagine the US suddenly cutting our imports by 40%, we simply don't have the reserves to do that.

But our reserves are nearly out now.

[u/Cabana_bananza → u/i_give_you_gum]

China is doing everything in their power to forestall a global economic collapse. They tapped into their truly titanic oil reserves, they are rushing to build ram and chip capacity to save the global consumer electronic market. They know that if consumers stop consuming so much of the house of cards the global economy is predicated on will collapse.

[u/xSaviorself → u/Cabana_bananza]

Part of me feels like the collective strategy from the West seems to be to pick up the ball and take it home. China is motivated as a growing consumer market to continue to be the producer as well, and for them the export market shrinking is a bad thing because it limits their growth.

The western markets seem to be controlled by this AI bubble led by a collection of fucked up billionaires, and they do not want China interfering with their plans it seems. Meanwhile, China sees what the West has done and is trying to make up capacity while it can. It'll rely on espionage, corporate theft of trade secrets, and state funding to leapfrog current Western standards.

In 50 years China will look vastly different while the West will be stagnating. That's what they are betting on.

[u/JoesJourney → u/xSaviorself]

China also has a big problem that’s about to turn the corner: population. Decades of declining birthrates due to the one child policy has produced an aging population. They are allowing 2 kids per family now but it’s about a decade (or two) too late. You’re right. China will look VERY different in 50 years.

[u/xSaviorself → u/JoesJourney]

The population graph stuff doesn't look great for them, but knowing how they operate they'll try some shenanigans and somehow throw themselves the other way again at some point. The reality is they're still 25-40 years away before the costs of these decisions bear down on their society.

[u/percdistrict → u/PresentAwareness745]

They’d still vote for him over Kamala. No doubt in my mind

[u/PiccoloAwkward465 → u/percdistrict]

I'm predicting a lot of 51% to 49% elections for the Dems. It will somehow still be close.

[u/chief_beef_the_third → u/PresentAwareness745]

It's a small number of fringe MAGA voters that left. Most of them are brainwashed. They literally blame Obama for this.

[u/Frosty_Sea_9324 → u/chief_beef_the_third]

Sadly that small fringe is almost 30% of the US.

Edit: thanks for the reply. I get what you’re saying and that we’re saying the same thing.

[u/chief_beef_the_third → u/Frosty_Sea_9324]

I meant the fringe voters within MAGA have gone away. If MAGA used to be, say, 33% of the voting public, now it's down to like 30% of the truly blind & brainwashed people. But yes, it's still abhorrent how they have even that much support.

[u/Little_Yesterday_705 → u/chief_beef_the_third]

It's important to note that 30% of the voting public is like 15% of the US adult population.

[u/Theory-After → u/Little_Yesterday_705]

If that, voter turnout is atrocious.

[u/OutlawBlue9 → u/purplewitch54154]

And this is the problem. Democracy and self rule come with a price; needing to give somewhat of a shit and pay attention.

[u/DetailedSycamoreTree → u/purplewitch54154]

Yeah I mean there’s a reason ‘bread and circuses’ works so well to distract a population. Human psychology is famously exploitable

[u/Gangsir → u/purplewitch54154]

To be fair, that's kinda a survival tactic. If I got mad/sad/upset/etc about every single bad thing happening whether it affected me or not, I'd go insane fast.

I can't care about everything, only a select few things, using a limited empathy pool. We cannot expect ordinary people to shoulder the burden of something much larger than them like that.

[u/idiotsbydesign → u/purplewitch54154]

And sometimes not even then....

[u/Zeppelanoid → u/pocketMagician]

I mean unironically yes. There’s a reason for the whole “bread and circuses” thing. The current US administration is forgetting that part.

[u/ElundusCaw → u/Zeppelanoid]

But we don't live in a time of bread and circuses.

Bread and circuses used to be free! That was the whole point!

[u/a_filing_cabinet → u/ElundusCaw]

The one thing that (was) getting cheaper for a long time was luxury items. Not just jewelry and expensive watches, I mean things like electronics and TVs, toys, ect. Stuff that wasn't necessary, but made life nicer. AKA, circuses. And as much as people complain, food prices have been kept insanely low for decades. There were spikes, certain items were expensive, but overall food was more than affordable to the vast majority of people. The bread and circuses weren't free, but they were about as close as you could get. It's really only the last few years where that system has really started to break down, and coincidentally it's these last few years where people are starting to actually get really riled up

[u/niberungvalesti → u/Zeppelanoid]

Current US administration is more of the Kim Jong Un style of shoot em or jail em. Why else is the bunker ballroom priority 1 and all the tech CEOs ready at a moments notice to sail to destinations unknown?

[u/No_Pirate_4737 → u/pocketMagician]

I mean it's not good, but yep, that's how the average person votes

[u/Im_Unsure_For_Sure → u/No_Pirate_4737]

Average? The is the vast majority. Including those who virtue signal on reddit.

[u/No_Pirate_4737 → u/Im_Unsure_For_Sure]

I meant average as in typical

[u/Rude-Orange → u/pocketMagician]

Same way how there were tons of Republicans who complained about useless government jobs until their sons / daughters / themselves got cut. Turns out they weren't useless. Everyone else was.

[u/elebrin → u/pocketMagician]

For a lot of people, the murders and concentration camps are happening somewhere else. They don't see it. Those things happen in the cities, and they live in their little nothing town where nothing changes or happens. They can ignore it because it isn't them, it's not their town. It might as well be some faraway place like the moon, and to them "Big Liberal Cities Are Terrible Places Full Of Crime Anyways And Aren't Real America." I live in such a place, that is the attitude among my neighbors.

The gas and Taco Bell prices are things they see and affect them directly.

[u/skin-flick → u/pocketMagician]

Isn’t that crazy that is what the breaking point is now ? $6.60 for diesel and pricey cheap food. Not a crazy orange man wanting to annex Canada and Greenland plus the host of other shit you noted.

Hey as long as you get on board and finally realize MAGA is all about people being fooled that they will be helped.

[u/Pale_Boss_8940 → u/pocketMagician]

yea this is how most people think. Majority care about themselves and their families and friends and that’s roughly it

[u/oldcretan → u/Pale_Boss_8940]

This is how people have always thought. The Russian revolution didnt start because the Tsar was an incompetent autocrat who demanded absolute authority despite being a dumbass. It didn't start after pogroms against the Jews. It didn't start because Russia was loosing a World War. It happened because there was no bread in the city. That kicked off a revolution and a war.

[u/ApartExperience5299 → u/pocketMagician]

It's bread and circuses, not freedom and dignity.

[u/MeliodasTA → u/pocketMagician]

Yeah it's unfortunate but the important thing is they still got there

[u/FearMyCrayons2023 → u/pocketMagician]

Yes. Because most people are to busy with their lives and jobs to worry about the news. The scandals take effort and time to look into to figure out what is actually happening.

Paying 20 bucks for a burger and fries that used to cost $5 is more tangible than some senator in some random scandal in a state across the country, or whether my state rep supports or doesnt support the political party of that senator

[u/i_give_you_gum → u/FearMyCrayons2023]

The "news" is actually societal fabric catching fire and burning

It would be nice if they pay a little bit of attention when they could.

[u/skeeterfunny → u/shadowsythxx]

Add in all the contaminated food that disrupted supply chains me and led to some of those items missing ingredients. So paying more for less.

[u/kent1146 → u/skeeterfunny]

This week's food crisis is...

<rolls dice>

Pig feces contamination! Found in...

<rolls dice>

Store-brand cupcakes? What the fuck?

[u/Outrageous-Sort-5742 → u/kent1146]

Damn, those were the good lard baked cupcakes. Tragedy.

[u/Mcswigginsbar → u/shadowsythxx]

Wife and I spent $33 at Taco Bell the other day for 3 chalupas, a Gordita supreme, small taco fry, and small Baja blast. We checked at the window to make sure our order was correct because we couldn’t believe it was that expensive.

[u/KptKrondog → u/Mcswigginsbar]

You have to get those box deals on the app/website to get a good deal. Off the menu at the store is a good bit more. I go there like once a month, the luxe box I think it's called is $6 iirc (at least where I live). A Doritos locos taco, crunch wrap supreme, and the cinnamon twists plus a drink. There's some other options that are similar.

I hate having to use apps for everything, so I just do it on the website cuz I don't go there that much.

[u/-Motor- → u/shadowsythxx]

We used to get 10 packs of hard tacos just to see who could eat them all fastest.

[u/Affectionate_Data936 → u/-Motor-]

My friends and I would make bets where the loser had to eat $20 worth of taco bell because it used to be a challenge.

[u/AwwwMangos → u/shadowsythxx]

See, for me it’s the rampant sexual abuse and party-wide coverup that influences my voting preferences, but for some it’s increased fuel/food prices. Whatever speaks to you.

[u/Idiotard_99 → u/AwwwMangos]

Exactly. My boomer parents are so flabbergasted that I’ve been so radicalized since January. Oh I don’t know, maybe it’s because the (heavily redacted) Epstein files are the most horrific things I’ve ever read…and then we started an idiotic war with Iran for literally no reason except to distract Americans from the Epstein files.

[u/Cheeky_Hustler → u/Idiotard_99]

I've been radicalized since January 6th. Throw the entire GOP into the trash.

[u/0202_tihssitidder → u/shadowsythxx]

I stopped buying any prepared food. None.

But, I was far from home and hungry. Stopped at a place I knew from 10 years ago to get a sandwich. $16. It was basically a very small appetizer. It was around $6 ten years ago.

Nope.

I really hope Americans boycott eating out. Just stop. And stop going to large grocery stores (like Safeway) that have jacked up prices on everything. Safeway is usually 50% more expensive than discount places across the street.

MAGA/Conservatives, you are to blame. You are morons...and you ruin everything.

[u/KaneStiles → u/shadowsythxx]

It was like $2 back in the day bruh

[u/AuzRoxUrSox → u/shadowsythxx]

$1.59

That’s how much I remember it being when it came off the secret menu.

[u/PM_ME_DATASETS → u/shadowsythxx]

Americans can excuse war and pedophilia, but draw the line at fastfood prices.

[u/FastActinTenactin]

I used to get 2 cheesy Gordita crunches and a medium baha blast for $5. TOTAL. FOR ALL OF IT.

What have we become

[u/Catch_ME → u/FastActinTenactin]

I used to walk in Taco Bell with $5 and walk out with 4 burritos and 1 drink. 

[u/IHS1970 → u/Catch_ME]

I used to buy the 3 taco combo and a soda for 5 bucks with tax. fuck taco bell and all the rest of these fucks.

[u/discerningpervert → u/IHS1970]

I can't even afford to eat enough tacos to get the Taco Bell shits.

[u/imisstheyoop → u/Catch_ME]

Yup, the $1 1/2 pound beef and potato burrito was my jam during college.

[u/Taychon2319 → u/FastActinTenactin]

Most of their meal deals were around $5. Now most single items cost that if not more.

[u/ElaborateEffect → u/FastActinTenactin]

Idk who goes there anymore. Like, the food was flavorful, but it was still rubbish, but it was cheap. Now, it's even lower quality junk food for 5x the price

[u/Mmmm-Amethyst → u/ElaborateEffect]

Yeah... Legitimately the same price to order good takeout from a mom & pop Mexican restaurant as it is to pick up from taco bell anymore. 

[u/Yoduh99 → u/ElaborateEffect]

the apps help a lot. i dont know how the point system at taco bell works, but literally every time i go i have a reward to add a free cheesy gordita crunch to my meal. from $6 to $0 is really nice.

[u/kryonik → u/Yoduh99]

Also the app only boxes are good deals. Can get cheesy gordita crunch + another item + chips or twists + med soda for like $7

[u/NickBurnsCompanyGuy → u/FastActinTenactin]

I remember the 5 dollar box as well. Could get a burrito, two tacos, cinnamon twists, drink, and crunch wrap for 5 dollars

[u/ShatteredPixelz → u/FastActinTenactin]

It still is if you order on the app

[u/magnetic_madness]

The sad part is that the prices won’t ever really go down. Even if ingredient prices go down the companies just pocket more profit rather than reduce prices

[u/Your__Pal → u/magnetic_madness]

If we didnt know that already, tariffs proved it for us. 

We all paid for the tariffs, and the corporations somehow got the refunds for them. And somehow inflation is still crazy. 

[u/tech_noir_guitar → u/Your__Pal]

I think it started during COVID. There was a legit supply chain issue for a short time and the price of everything went up. But then all the companies looked around and thought well they are already paying these prices might as well just keep the price high even though the supply issues went away. Since then they have realized that people have to buy shit and they can charge whatever they want because nobody can just decide to not buy food and and gas and electricity etc. Prices will not go down because our corporate overlords have found out that they can just charge whatever they want and we have no choice but to pay it.

[u/hot_ho11ow_point → u/tech_noir_guitar]

It didn't start with covid. You just described every single little world scare for at least a few to several decades. Covid was one, but not number one.

[u/ToaPaul → u/magnetic_madness]

And still wages will remain the same.

[u/No_Exit_4920 → u/magnetic_madness]

Prices/costs rarely go down. Everyone is doing the same exact thing. It’s one giant circle of bullshit.

[u/dquizzle → u/magnetic_madness]

Which would be fine if wages started to soar up soon. But they won’t.

[u/old_ass_ninja_turtle]

Prices are not coming down anytime soon. Need to get wages growing again.

[u/OakLegs → u/old_ass_ninja_turtle]

They're not coming down, period.

This is the intended result of having increasingly few companies controlling increasingly more capital.

[u/TheeAntelope → u/OakLegs]

There are 10 fast food businesses that control almost every major fast food chain and fast-casual restaurant chain in America.

There are 10 businesses that control almost every major grocery product and utility product in America.

There are 11 major institutional investors that hold the majority of shares in each of those companies (holding 1 trillion or higher, each).

The controllers, CEOs, and other executives of those 11 major institutional investors dictate worldwide politics.

Meanwhile, about 10 different businesses control all media in the country.

[u/SouthShoreComics → u/OakLegs]

Someone who sees! 🙌🏻 Fewer choices means companies increase price because there is no competition keeping options open for the market to decide on.

[u/WeirdIndividualGuy → u/OakLegs]

This, it's the worst part to come from this. Prices aren't going back down no matter what party is in charge, and if dems regain power, they'll be blamed for prices not going back down and people will inevitably vote Republican again where prices will go up even more

[u/Jsaun906 → u/old_ass_ninja_turtle]

Prices generally don't come down. Nominally. Best case scenario is that prices stagnant while wages increase.

[u/SophonParticle]

I just did the math on my currently salary. After 4 years at the company I make 10% more than when I started.

Inflation in that period is 14%.

I make less money now then when I started at the company.

[u/ElaborateEffect → u/SophonParticle]

You gotta switch companies. That's just how it is nowadays. Do it while you have a job...

[u/nativeindian12 → u/ElaborateEffect]

Best time to look for a new job is when you have a job

[u/Imaginary-Law-1583 → u/ElaborateEffect]

Unfortunately this is the way for pretty much everything now. There is no benefit for company loyalty. Its cheaper to change your car insurance every couple years. Your cable provider, streaming services, credit cards etc. Everything has benefits for initial service but then they fuck you after the first year or two.

[u/f7f7z → u/SophonParticle]

Don't worry, it's actually well over 14% inflation in 5 years. Gas 5 years ago vs now is 35%, Mortgage rates are going to be near triple soon, rent has doubled.

[u/LaVidaYokel → u/SophonParticle]

Can’t your dad’s golf buddies hook you up with a consulting gig or something?

[u/unclejoe1917 → u/SophonParticle]

Same. 

[u/HowdyDiarrhea → u/SophonParticle]

And your savings are worth way less

[u/VaryStaybullGeenyiss]

Treat-based politics is an American tradition.

[u/MetaCardboard]

Why can't people vote before things get bad?

[u/SlyCooperKing_OG → u/MetaCardboard]

Because the people are…. Retarded.

[u/LeftOstrich4387 → u/SlyCooperKing_OG]

The only correct answer

[u/fogleaf → u/SlyCooperKing_OG]

I can hear this quote

[u/EssayJunior6268 → u/SlyCooperKing_OG]

A lot of them also just don't care

[u/MattWolf96 → u/MetaCardboard]

What I've learned since 2016 is that people are just terminally stupid. Some don't think politics affect them until either there rights get stripped away or their prices go up.

[u/AmaranthWrath → u/MetaCardboard]

If it doesn't affect you, or you don't realize how it's affecting you, and you don't know or care how it affects others..... Why would someone who doesn't take it as seriously as it should be taken bother to educate themselves with "boring politics"?

I've voted since 18. It's exhausting to have to keep up with politics these last 10 years, but I had 16 years before that, when it was "boring." And it was always important, because all the things that happened in those 16+ years led up to where we are now.

[u/Deviantdefective → u/AmaranthWrath]

I'm not even American and the obese orange pedophiles mess is affecting me personally it's staggering some of your country is so fucking oblivious to it.

[u/Feisty-Narwhal8400 → u/Deviantdefective]

It’s infuriating. I went on a date with a guy, first and last date, thankfully, who did not vote in our spring primary because he wanted to play video games after work instead.

[u/ChazzyPhizzle → u/MetaCardboard]

Cannot critically think.

They can’t take the current situation, apply different premises and draw a conclusion of what the future could/would likely be.

[u/throwaway12874032 → u/MetaCardboard]

People who say they're not political are usually people who didn't get affected by politics, usually white dude in decent area with decent job 

[u/BeeCJohnson → u/MetaCardboard]

Three things. One, empathy is a skill you have to practice. Like, you got to actively work at thinking about other people's situations, putting yourself in their shoes, imagining what their life is like. And some people never even try to practice, so they can't imagine why they'd vote if their life is fairly stable. An offshoot of this is the "nothing ever happens" people. Yeah, maybe it's not happening *to you.*

Second, staying informed, actually informed in the modern era, is basically a second job. It's much easier to pick a propaganda channel/platform of choice and let it tell you what to think. Having to dig into the nitty gritty of shit and sift through lies is very difficult right now (on purpose). Some people recognize how fucked it is but don't really know where to find the truth anymore so they just throw their hands up.

Lastly, some people *have* to touch the stove to know it's hot. They can't just be told, or read about it. They only recognize the truth of things that have happened to them personally.

[u/Fan_of_Clio → u/MetaCardboard]

Seriously

[u/never_not_phlegmy → u/MetaCardboard]

Complacency is a hell of a drug.

[u/Jarbarino- → u/MetaCardboard]

It's been said multiple times in this thread: Because no one cares until you are personally affected by it.

[u/Adezar → u/MetaCardboard]

Banality of evil. Most people just don't care, many humans are quite ok with the most disgusting things happening around them if they can avoid seeing it.

The citizens getting murdered by ICE, the demonization and abuse of immigrants, the raping of children (apparently), removing women's rights, removing workers protections, allowing corporations to take over every aspect of their lives are not enough to get people's attention to try to remove those people from power, but seeing the price of gas every time they fill up is something they can't avoid.

[u/RedBMWZ2 → u/MetaCardboard]

Honestly

[u/Ender_154]

Maybe if you voted previously then your fast food would have already been cheaper? Just a thought

[u/agriff1 → u/Ender_154]

That's too many steps of thought

[u/domdomdom2 → u/Ender_154]

> would have already been cheaper

It might have been cheaper than it is now, but lets not act like it would get cheaper. Companies aren't going to reduce prices.

[u/kwtut → u/domdomdom2]

not unless we force (regulate) them

which circles back to having already voted

[u/john-know-nothing → u/kwtut]

You can't regulate lower prices, especially since it sounds like you're pushing for price ceilings on goods which often have horrible repercussions over a long-term time horizon.

[u/infinitezero8 → u/kwtut]

if you think there will be a law that say "Fast food may not increase prices" then you're wrong

it's called voting with your wallet if you want their prices to drop

[u/element39 → u/kwtut]

What they're saying is inflation is rarely negative. Regulation would have helped prevent the prices climbing as fast as they did, but it wouldn't have made them cheaper than they were.

[u/kwtut → u/element39]

right, but it could make price gouging illegal on any/all fronts which could bring down other prices, no?

idk, i'm not an economist, i eat crayons for breakfast man

[u/Soupy_Twist → u/kwtut]

In this economy?!

[u/eisbaerBorealis → u/Soupy_Twist]

Dollar Tree crayons. Almost as good nutritionally, and the texture's not that different.

[u/draft_final_final → u/Ender_154]

Sorry we needed to save Gaza by voting for Jill stein

[u/Mindless-Newt-9123 → u/draft_final_final]

Has the vampire lord awoken from her 4 year slumber yet for this time around?

[u/whomad1215 → u/Mindless-Newt-9123]

it's not a presidential election, she's got two more years of sleep left

[u/Skill_Issuer → u/draft_final_final]

Gaza must be a utopia right now

[u/billsmitherson → u/Ender_154]

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, second best time is today. Theres no point in dwelling on what one should have done in the past when they're making the effort now.

[u/Razorray21]

Bro, I gave up on Taco bell when they started focusing on chicken nuggets.

Local taco places only for me. So much better

[u/DTFIVE → u/Razorray21]

Taco Bell and local spots aren't even comparable, they're almost different cuisines entirely.

[u/Chillow_Ufgreat → u/DTFIVE]

This. I don't eat Taco Bell to have Mexican food. I eat Taco Bell because my wife's out of town so it's prime time to satisfy my dark urges.

[u/A_Complaisance_Girl → u/Chillow_Ufgreat]

Yeah, Taco Bell is just Taco Bell... it's own cuisine.

And the entire reason for it is to be fast, tasty, cheap, and not a hamburger and fries. Like, that's it. The vague resemblance to tex-mex is just a bonus.

I ain't going there because it's great food. It's because it's a guilty pleasure or simply I need to eat on a dime and a bean burrito is a better choice.

[u/arizonadirtbag12 → u/Chillow_Ufgreat]

Tonight’s the night. It’s going to happen. It has to happen.

[u/harrypotternightmare → u/arizonadirtbag12]

Okay Dex

[u/arizonadirtbag12 → u/harrypotternightmare]

I’m just a man who likes gorditas, Doakes.

[u/InAnimateAlpha06 → u/Chillow_Ufgreat]

This is so true. I have enough Mexican restaurants in my area if I want good Mexican food. Taco Bell is for when I want to make bad decisions and need food on my stomach at the same time.

[u/Klutzy_Journalist_36 → u/Chillow_Ufgreat]

Nothing like getting an extra cheesy gordita crunch for home and eating it over your sink with nothing but the light of the open fridge to guide you.

Primal, fearless, naked, alone but not lonely.

Live más.

[u/AlsoOtto → u/DTFIVE]

Totally agree. I remember an episode of This American Life from years ago about Mexicans who were deported from the US now living back in Mexico and working in English speaking call centers. They asked one man what he missed most about America. He responded "Taco Bell." The reporter commented this exchange happened immediately after he had just eaten the best taco of his life from a street stand. It's not Mexican food, but its own thing. Kinda how sometimes I crave a cheeseburger but sometimes I specifically crave McDonald's.

[u/ChainsawVisionMan → u/DTFIVE]

Well yeah they are. Taco bell isn't a fast food simulation of Mexican food, it's a fast food simulation of Tex-mex.

[u/Clarissathebard → u/Razorray21]

Yea but I don’t go to Taco Bell cause it’s fantastic food, I go because it’s 1 am and no where else is open

[u/Inevitable_Reward823 → u/Clarissathebard]

I don't go to taco bell because it's good, i go to taco bell because it's Taco Bell. If i wanted more authentic Mexican food I'd go somewhere else.

[u/Ok_Commission_9203 → u/Razorray21]

My authentic local place sells a chimichanga meal, rice, beans, sour cream and guac for like $15. That's less than I pay at TB. Fuck Taco Bell.

[u/TheMoneyPit26 → u/Ok_Commission_9203]

Luxe boxes 7.99 for the W

[u/Icy_Study4490 → u/Razorray21]

Everyone is pushing chicken right now. There’s a major chicken oversupply plus of course beef is more expensive because of the undersupply. Seems like every fast food place has some kind of chicken thing going on now even if they’ve never done chicken before.

[u/Theschreiberclan → u/Razorray21]

They were limited time and they were really good imo now they're back and the nuggets suck

[u/SideInitial3961]

"Be comforted that the people we hate are paying $6.10"
—JD Vance

[u/Unfair-Shower-6923]

Bro should've voted two years ago 🫠

[u/golfwinnersplz]

Remember, this is a cycle. It'll take more than a year for the Democrats to try and fix the economy destroyed by conservatives.

Keep this thought in your mind for a few election cycles.

[u/Diknak]

prices are never going down. Let's remember that. Inflation will always continue. Deflation is bad news...so that means we need some serious raise in income.

[u/jar36]

What's sad is that most people only care about themselves. They have to personally feel pain to be motivated
They elected a guy that we already know is a horrible person. He didn't s/a them, so they don't care
Only like 1/3rd of the people have others in mind, especially if it requires some personal sacrifice i.e. a rich person voting for higher taxes on themselves so that kids can get fed at school and they don't even have kids

[u/Menown → u/jar36]

"The wrong people are being hurt. "

[u/magicalmustache1]

Cool thing is this is probably the minimum now and it’ll keep going up.

[u/lepew13]

So you haven't voted in other mid terms. That's why you payed the price...

[u/Buzzbuzz_Becuz]

You got to sell your privacy by ordering on the app and get a whole box of shit and a drink for $7.

[u/TypicalRedditMod403 → u/Buzzbuzz_Becuz]

What information do you give them on the app that they don't already know??

Email? Use a burner.

[u/stiff_tipper → u/TypicalRedditMod403]

ya these ppl are scared of mcdonald's knowing they eat burgers during lunch time, meanwhile they post their personal thoughts to reddit which sells that to google to train their ai models

weird lines get drawn in the sand on this site

[u/Final-Carry2090]

You’ll be voting progressive, right?

[u/Adfest → u/Final-Carry2090]

No way! It's all those DUI hires jakin up these prices!

[u/Ih8YourCat → u/Adfest]

Companies really need to stop hiring all these drunk drivers.

[u/Formal_Waltz_5100 → u/Final-Carry2090]

"This cheesy Gordita crunch was so god damn delicious, that it felt criminal to only pay $6.06. I will be voting red to increase that price."

[u/zerosmith86 → u/Formal_Waltz_5100]

I don't want poors enjoying a cheesy gordita crunch. Red wave

[u/HyFinated]

https://taconomical.com is a site where it tracks and aggregates a list of prices of Taco Bell nationwide.

For instance, a Crunchwrap Supreme is cheapest in Big Spring, TX at $3.39 and most expensive in Paramus, NJ at $8.49.

It can be a solid indicator of the cost of living in a specific area.

[u/jennygotcake → u/HyFinated]

this is hilarious and insanely useful if accurate lmfao my wife and i have been looking for areas to relocate to and i’ve been looking at average prices of things and i can’t wait to start comparing deluxe box prices now 🤣🤣🤣

[u/oldcretan]

For everyone decrying people coming into politics now that it affects them personally financially. May I remind you: the Russian revolution happened because there was no bread. Not the long list of abuses. The Arab spring happened because of how bad the financial situation was. Not the decades of autocracy. The U.S.S.R. fell because it was financially destitute.

If Putin falls it won't be because of the repression, the war being mishandled, the assassinations, the meddling in other nations elections, turning Russia into a global pariah state. It will because the Russian people were harmed personally enough to want a different leader.

[u/oaktoker69 → u/oldcretan]

And that's not what we should be, we need to stop settling for this relationship with change. Encourage the people in your life directly to vote for more than themselves, confront bigotry in your community, hold empathy as a personal standard. If there's any hope for us to change course, its by actively challenging our individualist cultural norm

[u/oldcretan → u/oaktoker69]

Sure, but remember Carlin: think of how stupid the average person is and remember half of humanity is stupider than that.

Humanity is a very slow march of progress, step by step. Every day every person gets slightly smarter. Slowly. Very very slowly

[u/AmazonSk8r]

Just a regular taco costs 3.20 over here. That's more than two Costco hotdogs and sodas.

[u/IndecisiveRattle]

Do people looking for a cheap meal not like... look at the menu? Prices are definitely crazy but there's also some kind of options. Like I'd get three (or fewer) of the current $2 crunchadillas before even considering a $6 gordita crunch. Just blindly buying stuff out of habit is exactly why prices jump so much on certain things.

[u/MedianMahomesValue → u/IndecisiveRattle]

The taco bell app is also crucial. The boxes (only available on the app) are great. $6 for a cheesy gordita crunch, a burrito, fiesta potatoes, and a drink.

[u/Top_Wheel6546 → u/MedianMahomesValue]

For real. It's the cheapest and best tasting fast food in my opinion. It's 7.99$ for the build your own box in California but it's more food than I can eat in one sitting. I don't even use my free rewards food because I can't eat a box plus something else.

[u/SupaBloo]

One of my favorite things on the menu, and it used to be like $1.50.

I also miss the Triple Layer Nachos for $1.50. I would get two of them and a bean burrito for a buck, and my belly would be happy.

[u/Kevin_Palpatine]

This is the most American post I have read in quite some time.

[u/Hot-Blacksmith-6963]

Vote blue if you want cheaper food that is regulated and doesn’t make you sick

[u/snapplesauce1]

Gotta get the Luxe box for the gordita crunch. Will get an extra taco, side, and drink for $7. Also, gotta use the rewards on the app. It's still all so inflated compared to not really that long ago, just a PSA.

[u/B-rach87]

They charge that because dumb asses are still paying it. Quit buying the shit.

[u/Ghosts_of_the_maze]

I am a single issue voter

[u/Cheese0089]

I used to get 2 JBCs and 2 chicken sandwichs for $4.20 after the tax at Wendy's. This used to be a country.

[u/Luzzgar]

So those people will not do anything until it personaly inconveniences them.

That's kind of the whole problem. That's why the world is the way it is.

But better late than never, it's still an improvement.

[u/bedinbedin]

People dont realize that if it got to this, its probably already too late...

[u/baked_potato_]

I once ate 12 of those in one sitting when I was a fat teenager

[u/strongbob25]

Did a drive through at Bigby coffee the other day (Michigan chain; on a road trip).

Two coffees, two bagels and cream cheese. $30!

[u/CycIon3]

It’s called a combo box!

[u/adumblittlebaby]

Why don't they drive to 3 different supermarkets and make their own, inferior Gordita crunch for negligible savings?

Uh oh, those goal posts are getting stale - instead - it was never affordable to *checks notes* buy food.

[u/Dr_Fortnite]

Not using the app to make a box. Rookie move really

[u/Exact_Rooster9870]

NOVEMBER 3RD is election day!!!!

VOTE

[u/dakotanorth8]

Oh, so THAT was the bridge too far lol.

[u/BayouBlaster44]

$24 for 4 beefy 5 layers is a riot-worthy cause

[u/CrisEXE__]

I get it…. But whoever is in office isn’t making prices come down. Prices are up, and they will only continue to go up. Cheesy Gordita crunch went up $5, it’ll come down 10 cents, then go back up another dollar every year because the shareholder need higher profits every quarter.

[u/MattWolf96 → u/CrisEXE__]

The cheese has to be shipped, the current president raised diesel prices.

[u/Typical_Response_950 → u/CrisEXE__]

why not $10? why not $20?? why not infinitylibertybiberty dollars???