The August jobs report showed a further cooling of the labor market in 2025 and is consistent with what many businesses have been saying since the spring: It's tough to operate and plan for future hiring under a cloud of tariff-related uncertainty, high interest rates, and mercurial consumers, who may retrench their spending. As a result, many companies have put hiring plans on hold, though there is no evidence of widespread layoffs permeating throughout the broader economy.
Daniel Currell's guest essay in The New York Times shows how Walt Disney World Resort has evolved from an accessible "all-American vacation" to a luxury experience targeting high-net-worth households. Wealthy visitors can pay for premium passes that let them bypass lines; one tech executive quoted in the article experienced 16 attractions in seven hours. Meanwhile, Scarlett Cressel, a bus driver who could not afford to pay for special ride reservations and other perks, managed nine attractions over 14 hours.
A few days ago, my partner and I received a shopping voucher worth 500K rupiah ($30). At first, it felt exciting. We already had a plan: both of us needed new denim pants, and this voucher would cover it. We agreed on one rule, the total spend shouldn't go beyond 20% above the voucher's value. Simple enough, right? Two days later, after walking through malls, checking store after store, and chasing discounts, we found ourselves exhausted and frustrated.
For the middle class, this is a real win, especially in a state like New York... my constituents suffer the highest taxes in the country between property and income rates.
The problem with even a TINY' tax increase for the RICH, which I and all others would graciously accept in order to help the lower and middle income workers, is that the Radical Left Democrat Lunatics would go around screaming,'Read my lips,' the fabled Quote by George Bush the Elder that is said to have cost him the Election.