All of your points are so valid, and I couldn't agree more. One thing that gets me is that no one seems to understand that one of the biggest feeds into rising prices is the ongoing demands for raising the minimum wage laws. Why don't people realize that every time the minimum wage is raised, the cost of living goes up even more? Sure the minimum wage worker is taking home a little more money, but they are now having to pay out more than that to buy necessities, as are the rest of us, who didn't get a raise at all. Do people really think that raise is going to come out of the employer's pockets or the investors' profits? Of course it's not! They are simply going to pass that increased cost on to we the consumers. And no matter who the first line consumer is of any product, sooner or later, it filters down to you and I. And we are the ones paying the higher prices for smaller amounts, lower quality, etc. Oh, my, yes.. this does get my GRRRRR up!!