A financial columnist for The Washington Post is taking heat over comments she made regarding Americans’ view of inflation.
During an appearance on MSNBC on Wednesday, columnist Michelle Singletary reacted to a poll that found a majority of Americans said they would prefer a recession over inflation.
Singeltary said, “There’s a great deal of Americans where it is uncomfortable that they’re spending more, but they are not going to go under.”
“You know, you got to stop complaining when there’s so many people who literally the inflation rate means they may only have two meals instead of three. There are Americans who did extremely well in the last two years in the market. You still have your job. And yeah, it’s costing you more for gas, but guess what, you’re still going to take that Fourth of July vacation,” she continued. “You can still eat out. So I’m going to need you to calm down and back off.’
She added, “Overall, many Americans are not suffering as much as they think they are.”
Singletary later said, “I’m trying to help other people realize what can you do. And what you can do is continue to save. What you can do, if you don’t need to drive, don’t drive. If you can put off a project, put it off. But if you’re in the position to go eat at the restaurant, even if that meal is a little bit more, go eat at that restaurant and help save a business that is still trying to limp through the pandemic.”
Watch the video below:
WaPo’s Michelle Singletary: “There’s a great deal of Americans where it is uncomfortable that they’re spending more, but they are not going to go under. You know, you got to stop complaining … Overall, many Americans are not suffering as much as they think they are.” pic.twitter.com/epCwq6NeG2
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) June 22, 2022
Her comments did not go over well:
The regime’s message to you:
— Nathan Blodgett (@NathanBlodgett) June 23, 2022
The problem isn’t inflation. The problem is YOU. https://t.co/bsGHv2r6q2
Yes, it's "uncomfortable" when your paycheck isn't keeping up with your bills. The disconnect between the mainstream media and reality is stunning. https://t.co/uA2KXII2T4
— Glenn Jacobs (@GlennJacobsTN) June 23, 2022
Americans remember this is what they think of you & your suffering. She actually said…”I’m going to need you to calm down & back off.”#BidensAmerica #msnbc #WaPo https://t.co/ZDm6ymizBV
— Jenny Garcia Sharon for Congress (@jenny4congress) June 22, 2022
Faith in Americans dies in darkness https://t.co/rNz4YsC7Xn
— Tim Graham (@TimJGraham) June 22, 2022
It is likely that there are some Americans who complain about inflation but have enough money that it does not really affect them or are in a position where they can make some slight changes and not really worry about it.
And there are also Americans who have low incomes or fixed incomes where inflation is burning through their earnings and they have to cut back on meals to get by.
There are also a lot of Americans who are frustrated by knowing that their money just is not going as far as it did a year or two ago, and who are wondering if prices will keep going up and how many adjustments they are going to have to make to their budgets.
While Singletary’s comments may have been meant to calm concerns, it’s not typically a good idea to tell people that the pain and fear they feel isn’t really as bad as they “think” it is.
