Cost of Living, Inflation, Economy, and Jobs as Most Important to Americans According to Poll

Understanding what concerns Americans is helpful because it provides insight into the issues that affect their daily lives. It's not surprising that inflation and the cost of living rank among the top concerns. While the economy and jobs are important, they can feel more abstract. In contrast, higher grocery bills, housing costs, and everyday expenses are felt immediately.

For many people, if their paycheck isn't keeping up with rising prices, affordability becomes their biggest concern. These are challenges they experience every day, making them more urgent than broader policy debates.

The survey reflects this pattern. Inflation, the cost of living, the economy, and jobs are the highest priorities because they directly affect household finances. After those basic economic needs are considered, attention shifts to other domestic and foreign policy issues. In general, people tend to prioritize the issues that have the greatest impact on their everyday lives before focusing on broader national or international concerns (In theory).

New Marquette Law School Poll: Inflation and Cost of Living Remain Americans' Top Concern

• Inflation and the cost of living remain the nation's top concern, surpassing all other policy issues.
• The economy and jobs rank second, reflecting continued concern about financial stability, employment, and economic growth.
• Other issues, including immigration, health care, crime, housing affordability, and education, are viewed as important but generally rank below economic concerns.
• The survey found more negative views of U.S. support for Israel among younger Americans than among older age groups.
• Americans remain cautious about artificial intelligence, with relatively low levels of trust in AI technologies.
• Overall, economic conditions continue to dominate public opinion and are likely to remain central factors shaping political attitudes and voting preferences.
• The findings suggest that policymakers and candidates will continue to face pressure to reduce inflation, improve affordability, strengthen economic opportunities, and address important international issues.

Marquette University. (2026, August). New Marquette Law School Poll national survey finds inflation and cost of living the most important issue; economy next most important. https://today.marquette.edu/2026/08/new-marquette-law-school-poll-national-survey-finds-inflation-and-cost-of-living-the-most-important-issue-economy-next-most-important/

US Productivity Q2, 2026-Preliminary

Becoming more productive is generally good news. Productivity growth slightly outpaced inflation, which is a positive sign for the economy. Overall, the report suggests businesses are becoming more efficient, although I'd still like to see both wages and productivity grow even faster. Efficiency should also reduce costs if the system was fully efficient (Perhaps the difference is part of the profit margin. Sticky on the the labor end and sticky on the product end so it might be average workers that are getting squeezed in income and cost of living. Maybe not.).

With advances in technology and artificial intelligence, you might expect a larger boost in productivity, much like the internet transformed how we work decades ago. Of course, productivity depends on how it's measured, so it's important to understand the methodology behind the numbers.

The key takeaway is to stay informed, follow the long-term trends, and watch what's happening in the broader economy. Hourly compensation increased slightly, remaining just ahead of inflation, while productivity continued to improve. As businesses continue adopting new technologies and AI, there is potential for even greater efficiency and productivity gains in the years ahead.

U.S. Productivity and Costs, Second Quarter 2026 (Preliminary)

• Nonfarm business labor productivity increased at an annualized rate of 1.4% during the second quarter of 2026, reflecting stronger output growth relative to hours worked.
• Business output rose 1.7%, while hours worked increased only 0.3%, indicating that firms produced more goods and services with relatively little additional labor input.
• Unit labor costs increased 1.3%, suggesting that productivity gains helped moderate labor cost pressures despite continued increases in employee compensation.
• Hourly compensation increased 2.7% during the quarter and 3.7% over the past year, while productivity improved 2.2% compared with the same quarter one year earlier.
• The report indicates continued improvements in business efficiency, with productivity gains potentially supporting economic growth while helping contain inflationary pressures from labor costs.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026, August 6). Productivity and costs—Second quarter 2026, preliminary. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/prod2.nr0.htm

Fixing the Window Switch and the Love of Money: Hunker Junker Chronicles

 Recently we (people) got into one of those classic conversations about old cars.

Illustrative Only

My driver's side window switch had been acting up for months. Every now and then the window wouldn't roll up, but I'd pop the switch out, wiggle it around, snap it back in, and—presto—it worked again. I kept telling myself, "I should order a new switch." Like many projects on an old car, that sentence stayed on my to-do list for a while.

Then I went to practice dance with the dance team I'm in. When I went in, the window decided it was on strike. After a few failed negotiations, I finally ordered the replacement switch.

Naturally, by the time I walked back outside...the old switch was working perfectly again.

Old cars have a great sense of humor.

A few days later the new switch arrived. I swapped over one little silver clip from the old one, snapped everything together, and now it works perfectly. Another tiny victory for old-car ownership.

Some friends asked, "Why are you driving that old thing? Just buy a new car."

I laughed.

That's not really the point.

Sure, I could buy another car, but this one runs ok, it's becoming more reliable, and it's got personality. It reminds me of my gramps. Everywhere I go people wave, smile, or stop to talk about it. Nobody walks across a parking lot to admire another gray crossover that looks like every other gray crossover.

Mine has stories.

I'm slowly fixing it up mechanically before worrying too much about the bodywork. I'd rather know it's dependable than simply shiny.

The conversation eventually drifted from cars to money. I've known people who judged success by appearances—nice clothes, expensive cars, flashy lifestyles. Sometimes they didn't actually have much money; they just looked like they did. Image became more important than substance.

I don't want to live that way.

Money matters. We all need it. But I don't want my happiness—or my self-worth—to depend on what other people think of me.

One friend laughed and said, "You should run for office."

My logic seemed to make a little more sense the more I explained it.

I told him I appreciated the compliment, but I don't think that's where life is taking me. I care about good ideas, strong communities, and treating people fairly, but I don't want to say whatever people want to hear just to gain influence or power. If it becomes a necessity some day that may change. 

As we talked, I realized the old car was really just a metaphor.

The study below discusses how an excessive love of money can lead people to objectify others—to see people as tools instead of human beings. That's a dangerous way to live because people become stepping stones instead of neighbors, coworkers, friends, or family. Study after study show that once you achieve a comfortable level of money the joy is in relationships. 

At the end of the day, none of us gets to take our money, titles, or shiny new cars with us. We're all traveling the same road, and eventually we're all headed to the same destination.

So drive the old car if it makes you smile.

Buy the new one if that's what you truly enjoy.

Wear the fancy watch if you like watches. Mine is a cheap one under $15 (For dive watches either go super expensive or go super cheap where they glue them together. A trick I learned from surfers.)

Just don't measure people by what they own or what they can do for you. I'm surfing and diving and most people are not so its just a choice.

There may not be one perfect way to live life, but there is a right way to treat people—with dignity, respect, and kindness.

Besides...my old car finally rolls the window up every single time. That's worth celebrating. I feel a little good about fixing that problem. Different worlds and lives for different people. As long as you can fit in multiple worlds then you understand the social side of society.

The Love of Money Results in Objectification

• The study examined whether a strong desire for money influences how people perceive and treat others, finding that a greater love of money is associated with increased objectification.
• Across four studies, individuals who highly valued money were more likely to view relationships in instrumental terms, focusing on how useful others could be rather than their personal qualities.
• Temporarily activating feelings of wealth or increasing motivation for money made participants more likely to favor people for their usefulness and to attribute fewer mental and emotional capacities to others.
• The researchers found that objectification partially explained why money-related thinking could contribute to unethical or immoral behavior by reducing empathy toward other people and even animals.
• The findings suggest that while money is an essential economic tool, an excessive focus on money can weaken interpersonal relationships by encouraging people to treat others as means to an end rather than as individuals with thoughts, feelings, and intrinsic value.

Wang, X., & Krumhuber, E. G. (2017). The love of money results in objectification. British Journal of Social Psychology, 56(2), 354–372. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12158

The Economic Value of Sailboat Races in the UP: Escanaba and Gladstone

I liked these two. 
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The Escanaba Yacht Club hosted this race as part of its active summer sailing schedule. Along with the Gladstone Yacht Club, it helps make the area a great destination for recreational and competitive sailing. Both clubs contribute to the local economy by attracting sailors, spectators, and visitors throughout the season.

For those on the West Coast, San Diego also has an outstanding sailing community, including the Silvergate Yacht Club on Shelter Island. Yacht clubs like these serve as more than places to sail—they help promote tourism, strengthen community engagement, and showcase their regions.

The collegiate sailing report below highlights an important concept: sailing events bring visitors who spend money on hotels, restaurants, shopping, and recreation. As races grow in visibility and prestige, their economic value to the host community also increases.

The Escanaba area is well positioned to benefit from tourism and growing sailing interest (They are doing an art event this weekend which is another great idea.). With quality hotels, excellent outdoor recreation, a vibrant waterfront, and a growing number of summer vacationers, the region has many of the ingredients needed to host successful sailing events. By combining sailing competitions with tourism, community branding, and local attractions, communities can increase visitor spending while raising the profile of both the sport and the region (I looked around on some regional racing calendars and it looks like you can submit races for free so that can help races get more public notice and greater search engine exposure.).

I also do amateur photography so if you like my pictures that is nice. Its a hobby. 

I liked these two. 
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SAISA Collegiate Sailing Generates $6.4 Million in Direct Visitor Spending

• SAISA-hosted collegiate sailing events generated an estimated $6.4 million in direct visitor spending from 2011–2026 across 449 events.
• Florida hosted the most events, while South Carolina generated the highest visitor spending because of larger championship events.
• The study measured only direct local spending, excluding multipliers and indirect economic effects.
• The findings provide schools and communities with evidence of collegiate sailing's economic value.
• The report recommends using the results to support tourism, partnerships, and future investment in collegiate sailing. 

South Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association. (2026). SAISA collegiate sailing economic impact research, 2011–2026. https://saisasailing.com/2026/08/01/new-saisa-study-finds-collegiate-sailing-brought-an-estimated-6-4-million-to-host-communities/

Building Gladstone's Bike Park-DNC Trails: Fitness, Quality of Life, and tourism

(Illustrative Only)

A guy mountain
biking and heading
into town for
supper.

Organizations like DNC Trails play an important role in improving recreation and quality of life in our community. Their work benefits local residents while also helping strengthen tourism—both of which contribute to a healthier local economy.

Research consistently shows that spending time in nature reduces stress, improves mental well-being, and encourages physical activity. Whether it's hiking, biking, or simply taking a walk, trails provide an easy and accessible way for people of all ages to stay active and enjoy the outdoors.

Recreation is also a major reason many visitors choose destinations like ours. While some travelers seek busy cities, others are looking for peaceful beaches, scenic trails, sailing, equestrian activities, hunting, fishing, and other outdoor experiences. These natural amenities are part of what makes our region unique.

Well-maintained trails encourage people to get outside, explore the area, and spend more time in the community. They support healthy lifestyles, enhance tourism, and improve the overall quality of life for residents.

If you're looking for a local organization to support, consider making a donation to DNC Trails. Even a small contribution can help expand and maintain recreational opportunities that benefit everyone. And if trails aren't your cause, there are plenty of other worthy organizations—from local fire departments to charities serving children and families—that could also use your support. Every donation, no matter the size, helps make our community a better place.

More Info and Donate to Gladstone's Bike Park

Weekly Jobless Claims Ending August 1 2026: Michigan Has Decrease in New Claims

Unemployment claims for the week ending August 1 rose slightly, but overall the labor market continues to show resilience. Most Americans who want to work are employed, which is an encouraging sign. The challenge now is to continue creating opportunities for workers to increase their skills, productivity, and earning potential through education, training, and workforce development. Of course matched with motivating opportunities.

One encouraging detail in the report is that Michigan recorded one of the largest declines in initial unemployment claims, driven in part by fewer layoffs in manufacturing.

Manufacturing remains an important part of the U.S. economy. Policies that encourage investment in domestic manufacturing and support the expansion or return of production facilities can strengthen employment, supply chains, and local communities. Many manufacturers shifted production overseas over the past several decades in search of lower costs, and efforts to expand domestic production may provide additional opportunities for American workers.

(As a side thought. When our labor, leaders, and others help build these companies the should maintain the bulk of their operations in the US where we receive the benefit. It is not all about the money! There are other values to consider.)

Overall, the latest unemployment claims data suggest the labor market remains on solid footing. Continuing to invest in workforce skills, innovation, and competitive domestic industries can help sustain employment growth and improve long-term economic prosperity.

U.S. Weekly Unemployment Insurance Claims: August 1, 2026

• Initial unemployment claims rose slightly to 199,000, while the four-week moving average declined, indicating stable layoff activity.
• Continued unemployment increased to 1.801 million, but the insured unemployment rate remained unchanged at 1.2%.
• Unadjusted initial claims declined during the week, reflecting normal seasonal patterns.
• Michigan recorded one of the largest decreases in initial claims, largely due to fewer manufacturing layoffs.
• Overall, the report suggests the labor market remains relatively resilient, with layoffs continuing at historically low levels.

U.S. Department of Labor. (2026, August 6). Unemployment insurance weekly claims (USDL-26-1307-NAT). Employment and Training Administration. https://www.dol.gov

The Allegory of the Clan: A Philosophical Exploration of Court Corruption and Constitutional Principles

The Allegory of the Clan is a hypothetical philosophical thought experiment modeled after Plato's Allegory of the Cave. It is not intended to describe any specific organization or institution but rather to explore how hatred, corruption, abuse of authority, and group loyalty can emerge within any democracy when accountability breaks down. In the allegory, a powerful in-group targets those it considers outsiders because of their race, ethnicity, religion, political views, or other characteristics. In essence, they were misuing the power entrusted to them within an institution to do things that were high unconstitutional like violating freedom of religion, speach, and human rights.  

(Most nationalists would fall short of their own criteria. Patriots focus on values that are universal and nationalists focus on identity and in-groups.)

(Illustrative Only)

A democracy works 
best when corruption is
rooted out, focus is on the
next generation, and
we elect our best and 
brightest to preserve
our generational values.
Corruption has no place
in the court or in any
institution.
Vote your conscious.

Members of the group engage in intimidation, spread false rumors, encourage collective harassment, misuse investigations, harmed children, enriched themselves through threats of violence, and isolate individuals from their communities (In this learning example the community rejected the hate despite the courts rewarding misbehaviors.). The purpose of the allegory is to examine how prejudice can become institutionalized when people place loyalty to a group, foreign ideas of religious hate, or domestic inspired racial entitlement (segregationsist) that put them above the rule of law and equal treatment.

As the story develops, it becomes apparent that the same closed network protects its own members while denying justice to others. Victims from many different backgrounds—including people reporting serious misconduct—find themselves ignored, blamed and openly target/retaliated against rather than protected. When evidence of wrongdoing begins to surface and the risk of accountability increases, the network shifts responsibility onto the victims, wipes their hands, walks away instead of addressing the underlying misconduct. More victims in the future are created. Intentional undermining of the institution and negligence in duty apparent. The allegory raises an important philosophical question: if institutions fail to investigate themselves honestly, how can public trust be maintained?

Research on public confidence in democratic institutions consistently suggests that trust depends on perceptions of fairness, transparency, and accountability. Public confidence often varies across different levels of government and the justice system, but a common theme is that people are more likely to trust institutions they believe apply the law impartially and hold everyone to the same standards (They made oaths and they should be bound by them.). This is why we all say oaths but not all believe in them and it has nothing to do with their religion, race or political party. Your merit in your values is what determines your loyalty to these principles. It determins your moral conscious;or lack thereof.

The broader lesson of the allegory is that every democracy faces the challenge of ensuring that public institutions remain faithful to their constitutional principles rather than becoming influenced by dark triad ideologies (foreign or domestic inspired), favoritism, or personal relationships. While the overwhelming majority of public servants act ethically and serve their communities with integrity, democracies must also recognize that no institution is immune from misconduct. Effective oversight, independent review, transparency, and meaningful checks and balances help ensure that abuses of power remain the exception rather than becoming normalized.

(Encourage those who do right to people and discourage those who do wrong. Support and encourage the youth to be involved and join these institutions to strengthen them and patch the cracks. One generations sins should be challenged by the next in a fluid system. It was designed this way.)

Ultimately, the allegory is not about assigning blame to any one institution. It is about encouraging citizens, scholars, and policymakers to think critically about how democratic societies can strengthen accountability while preserving public confidence. Not worn out false narratives. Strong democracies depend not only on good laws but also on institutions that investigate misconduct fairly, protect the rights of minorities and vulnerable populations, and uphold the principle that no individual or group is above the law. Otherwise all those struggles over generations come to nothing because some of the peole we put into positions to preserve those values would prefer to cater to specific groups that have abandoned these generational trusts.

Vote your conscious. Pick the best and brightest over the most connected. If you do not know who to vote for then pick an independent to limit the power of partisanship and insert new ideas and people. Open the lines of democracy from the bottom up versus perserving the top down and the increasing concentration of wealth and rights. 

*This is a philosophical discussion and thought experiment so take with a grain of salt. There is no right or wrong answer. 

Favorable Views of the Supreme Court Remain Near Historic Low

• Public opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court remains near a historic low, with roughly half of Americans holding an unfavorable view of the Court. Favorable ratings have declined substantially since 2021 and have remained relatively stable at these lower levels.
• Views of the Court continue to differ sharply by political affiliation. Republicans are considerably more likely to view the Court favorably than Democrats, while independents fall between the two groups, reflecting ongoing political polarization.
• Despite the Court's low favorability, opinions have changed little over the past several years, suggesting that public attitudes have stabilized after a period of significant decline.

Pew Research Center. (2026, July 30). Favorable views of Supreme Court remain near historic low. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/07/30/favorable-views-of-supreme-court-remain-near-historic-low/

State of the State Courts: 2025 Public Opinion Poll Findings

• Public confidence in state courts remained relatively stable, with state courts continuing to receive higher trust ratings than the federal courts and other branches of government. The survey found that 62% of respondents expressed confidence in their state court system.
• Respondents identified access to justice as a major concern, citing the complexity of legal processes and the cost of legal assistance. Strong support was expressed for reforms such as expanding practical legal education, increasing supervised courtroom experience for law students, and modernizing the bar examination.
• The survey also found strong public support for protecting judges and court staff, while concerns about artificial intelligence in the courts remain significant. About half of respondents worried AI could negatively affect state courts, highlighting the importance of implementing technology carefully and transparently.

National Center for State Courts. (2025, December 10). State of the State Courts: 2025 public opinion poll findings. https://www.ncsc.org/resources-courts/state-state-courts-2025-public-opinion-poll-findings