Use AI for Personal Research

With all the “news” slanted, I decided to use AI, to assist with presenting to me, available information from the internet. Because Politics over rules information, and there is so much media attention given to how I am suppose to feel about the economy, I decided to test results from Perplexity.

Caveat – Always review the results and the source(s) and understand these AI’s, Chatgpt, Grok, Perplexity, Meta and Google are Programmed as to how data retrieved, filtered and presented. As a human, use critical thinking to interpret.

Following is UNEDITED responses from Perplexity.

Compare Inflation from Biden years to Trump

Inflation was much higher during Biden’s term than during Trump’s first term, but the exact comparison depends on whether you use an average rate or the worst monthly peak. Biden’s average inflation rate was about 4.95% versus Trump’s first-term average of about 2.46%, and Biden’s inflation peaked at 9.1% in June 2022.

How they differ

  • Trump’s first term (2017–2021): average inflation about 2.46%.
  • Biden’s term (2021–2025): average inflation about 4.95%.
  • Biden’s peak: 9.1% year-over-year inflation in June 2022.
  • Trump’s latest year: one recent source reports inflation around 3.8% in April 2026, but that is after Biden and is not directly part of the Biden-vs-first-term Trump comparison.

Important caveat

A peak monthly rate and an average across a presidency are not the same thing. Some political comparisons also mix a single high month under Biden with an average under Trump, which makes the contrast look larger than an apples-to-apples comparison.

Plain-English take

If you want the cleanest headline, Biden-era inflation was higher than Trump’s first-term inflation by roughly 2.5 percentage points on average. If you want the biggest shock point, Biden’s inflation spike reached 9.1% at its worst.

Would you like a simple year-by-year table for 2017–2024?

Real wage comparison Biden era vs trump

Real wages were generally weaker during most of the Biden era than they were by the end of Trump’s first term, but the comparison depends on the exact metric and time window. One recent analysis says real wages fell 1.4% during Biden’s Jan. 2021–Jan. 2025 term, while another says real wages rose 0.9% in Biden’s final year alone.

What the data suggests

  • During Biden’s early term, inflation rose faster than wages, so purchasing power fell.
  • By the end of Biden’s term, real wages had improved somewhat, but one analysis says they still had not fully returned to January 2021 levels.
  • For Trump’s first year of his second term, one analysis reports wages up 3.7% and prices up 2.4%, implying about 1.3% annualized real wage growth.

Why comparisons differ

Real wages are usually measured as wage growth minus inflation, so the result changes a lot depending on whether you look at monthly data, a full presidency, or just the latest year. Political sources also often choose different endpoints, which can make the same economy look better or worse.

Simple takeaway

If you mean the full Biden era versus Trump’s first term, Biden’s period was worse for real wage growth overall because inflation outpaced pay for much of it. If you mean the most recent yearly trend, the latest Trump-era numbers look stronger on real wages.

Would you like me to make a side-by-side table of nominal wages, inflation, and real wages?

Yes, please provide a side-by-side table of those metrics

Here’s a side-by-side view of the main wage/inflation metrics we discussed.

PeriodNominal wage trendInflation trendReal wage trend
Trump first termWages rose, and one 2025 analysis says the first-year gain was about 3.7% Average inflation was about 2.46% Roughly positive, with one analysis implying about 1.3% annualized real wage growth in the first year of Trump’s second term
Biden eraWages rose, but inflation often rose faster during much of the term Average inflation was about 4.95%, with a peak of 9.1% in June 2022One analysis says real wages fell about 1.4% over Biden’s full Jan. 2021 to Jan. 2025 term
Latest Trump-era readingWages up 3.7% in the first year of the new term Prices up 2.4% in that same period About 1.3% annualized real wage growth

How to read it

Nominal wages are the paycheck number before inflation, while real wages measure purchasing power after inflation. That means a period can show wage growth but still deliver worse living standards if prices rise faster.

Main takeaway

The Biden era looks weaker on real wages overall because inflation outpaced pay for a large share of the term. Trump’s first-term inflation was lower, and the latest Trump-era wage numbers look more favorable for purchasing power.

Would you like this turned into a chart next?

Follow-ups

Yes, please generate a bar chart for these metrics

No, I prefer a line graph showing the inflation trend over time

Yes, but include a column for housing affordability as well

No, can you create a simplified summary table for a presentation

Yes, but show the comparison broken down by economic sector

Government Shutdown – Is your Politician a Liar?

With Mid Terms in about a year, thought it may be good for everyone to start tracking their representatives.

Currently we have a Government shutdown, with the usual Democrat & Republican blame game. This blame game and Party politics is killing our great country. The person you vote for, should share your beliefs and vote according to what you and the people in your area want, not what the Political party wants. Why do they become puppets of the Party? Money and Backing to get re-elected.

Today’s topic, Government shutdown. Democrats voted against a CR, Continuing Resolution, to keep Government funded and open for 7 more weeks. a Very similar CR, had been passed 13 times previously. This time, democrats wanted to add things to “Clean CR”.

Now I see plenty of posts from Democrat elected officials, claiming Republicans are taking away or increasing your Health Care Premiums and Costs. Major flaw, the rates and subsidies are fixed until December 31. Plenty of time to negotiate, versus shutting don government.

Here’s a recap of the CR.

For those so inclined, here’s a link https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5371

Additionally, Speaker Johnson, lays out current road block to getting the CR passed, this is unedited. https://x.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1973804284924854472

Yes Health Care is a major issue and needs to be addressed, but why shut down government and hurt the working people? Party Politics must stop.

I for one will remember Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) and Senator Ruben Gallego (@SenRubenGallego), when re-election time comes. Step up TODAY, open Governemnt, and then FIX Health Care for everyone. Fixing Health Care doesn’t take money from Middle Class to pay for someone else’s or use of Tax Dollars. We all feel the pain of that plan.

Is News Media Complicit?

When an assassins’ shell casing has inscription containing Hate Fascists, makes me wonder, how complicit and instrumental are “news” organizations who broadcast Political Leaders uttering a conservative viewpoint as Fascist. Seems broadcasting without questioning the labeling, is totally irresponsible.

Allowing paid individuals, employees, to also use such terminology, or their guests, without questioning. What are the acts and facts point to this being true? Such questioning is absent. This absence perpetuates the lie and gives credence.

Maybe the American public can be somewhat held accountable for watching these broadcasts without demanding accurate reporting, or just turning them off.

Notice the word journalism isn’t used, because, entities , such as #CBS, #NBC, #ABC, #CNN and #MSNBC, appear to report happenings and slant reporting towards an agenda.

Personally, the number of times, the above mentioned media, broadcast a video or read a story, labeling a group as Fascist, repeatedly, begins to instill truth, even when logically it isn’t. Repeating a Lie, over and over, gives credence to the lie.

People need to practice critical thinking and reject media that allows, knowingly or unknowingly, such practices. All Media, not just the ones mentioned, because FOX, NEWSMAX & OAN can be one sided. Reject hate and violence, practice restraint and controlled dialogue. What is controlled dialogue? Calmly talking and exchange facts & ideas, without getting emotional and disrespecting each other.

Practicing controlled dialogue, includes using and understanding the terms and definitions. Often, the term itself is misunderstood. Cherry picking a part of definition may be the culprit of contention.

Yes, I am using a singular topic here, but the are many others where media peddles influence including other political murders or attempts. Now let your mind wonder into other topics causing political divide.

Reject Division, Practice Critical Thinking. Reject Political Agenda and work towards common ground.

Government Spending

Dear Senators Sinema and Kelly,

As a voting Arizonian, please vote NO on the Manchin-Schumer Spending Bill.

I understand this is being sold as a reduction in taxes with Social spending to benefit people living in America.

However, I’ve never noticed money making companies willing to absorb tax increases. It may help in the short term, but shortly, these companies will pass the the increase onto us working people eventually. Whether it’s raising prices, or effecting the employees with lower raises or less in benefits. Worse case is forcing the companies to reduce U.S. lower force and outsource, to make profits. Profits drive stock market and corporate decisions.

While I appreciate the efforts to attract new and growing businesses to Arizona, seems this Bill could actually hurt that growth, with companies questioning growth in the U.S.

Inflation is killing our state and making it more difficult for our State to consider getting tax dollars to improve education and social spending at a local level. Consider, the average salary in Arizona is just over $63,000 annually, which isn’t even half your salary. In fact, 36% of your $175,000 base.

While this Bill will benefit you at the election in short term, it will hurt in the mid to long term. Large businesses work on the global platform, and know how to respond to government demands, to ensure they continue to make money.

Here’s the response I received from Mark Kelly. Is this a response to me or a basic form letter claiming to be a representative, yet doing what “he” wants to do.

I Do Not feel Represented.

California Eliminates College Entrance Standards

While I understand the need to level the playing field for all high school students to enter a higher level of education, but eliminating entrance standards and making it subjective seems counterproductive to the mission of the institution.

I am referring to this https://www.theepochtimes.com/california-state-university-permanently-ends-standardized-test-requirements-for-admissions_4357369.html

Wouldn’t it be more helpful to set goals for these students and fix the current system that is letting them down. It’s not like this a new problem, the educational system has been letting students down for years, with the aid parents who don’t give a hoot and demographics where education isn’t stressed.

Considering California Budgeted almost $18,000.00 per K – 12 Student. National numbers per census bureau. https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2021/public-school-spending-per-pupil.html

Maybe instead of being progressive, let’s actual change the curriculum to useful skills to change the never ending cycle.

Influenza Deaths Dropped Dramatically

As I was looking through CDC Covid and Flu numbers, something popped out, in 2017 there were 52,000 Flu Deaths and in 2021 a mere 1,073. Appears CDC is not updating this chart any more, but I found the Influenza deaths mixed in with the Covid deaths. Below is how CDC reported Influenza, up until 2020. Why did CDC stop updating the Influenza Charts?

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/index.html
Recapping the Deaths by year

When I looked at Covid Deaths by Year, very surprised by the Influenza Death Column. In 2020, count went down to 8,785 deaths and in 2021 only 1,073. If you think it’s the flu shot, please refer to CDC stance, Flu is virus and cannot be cured, except by Natural Immunity.

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/index.htm

Curiosity drove me to look at Covid Deaths and Influenza combined. If you actually read the CDC numbers, they report Covid deaths as a whole of Underlying and Contributing. Simplified, Underlying is not the cause and according to CDC definition, a covid test doesn’t have to be performed, but the appearance of covid, allows death certificate to be coded with covid as underlying. Why would a doctor do this? Research government reimbursement for covid deaths. https://www.hrsa.gov/coviduninsuredclaim

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/covid19/mortality-overview.htm

Back to the point, if you review Influenza Deaths, combined with Covid deaths adjusted for contributing factor, the numbers are lower than 2017 flu deaths. For 2020 & 2021, taking 10% of 385,484 and 461,112 respectively and displayed in yellow.

Why isn’t this news? Why does the CDC and Media report cases, ie being sick. Why isn’t the Contributing factor death count, reported separately from all causes? Why can’t I find covid deaths coded and separated by vaccinated and not?

This is why many people are skeptical.

Covid Deaths School Age Kids

With all the talk about masking and making kids get the vaccine, I decided to check the CDC website and review deaths by age group. Surprise, as of today, July 24 2021, there have been 401 deaths for 0 to 18 years. 401 deaths since January 2020, that is about a 1.5 years.

Verify here https://data.cdc.gov/widgets/nr4s-juj3?mobile_redirect=true

Yes, 401 deaths in 17 months. I am NOT making light of deaths, but 401 out of approximately 74 Million? That’s 0.00005%.

Why does the media and CDC keep reporting accumulative numbers versus annual or seasonal numbers? That is how they usually report illness and deaths. Also, why do they include “underlying” conditions whereas the norm is reporting “contributing”. Overall deaths now becomes very hazzy when CDC labels 10% of the reported deaths Covid contributed to the death.

Verifiable at https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/covid19/mortality-overview.htm

Now if you look at Influenza illness and deaths, flu season for 2018 – 2019 there were 34,000 reported deaths. Compare 1st year of Covid “contributing” deaths would be 38,500. Even more interesting, there were 61,000 deaths from influenza in 2017-2018. Did we lockdown or make masks mandatory?

Verify at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/index.html

Let’s dive deeper into Influenza history, CDC is reporting for calendar year 2021, Influenza deaths at 408. That’s all age groups. For 2020, influenza deaths down to 8,790.

Verify at https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/index.htm

Appears “Mandatory” masks and vaccine and passports isn’t necessary. Our young may actually have the answer to beating this variant, or maybe our natural ability to build antibodies will prevail again.

So do some research and make up your own mind when it comes to #Covid , #Covid19, #Vaccine. Not sure why this isn’t being presented to the public. What you say #foxnews, #ABCnews, #NBCnews, #CBSnews. I know why #CNN and #MSNBC won’t report, they are afraid their business will die when people think for themselves.

Senate and Congress Reform

Term Limits – If the past 2 years haven’t made a case for term limits, consider the precedent has been set, where the career politicians will do anything to sway the populace for voting their party back into power, versus what is right. No matter who wins the next election, be prepared for more of this nightmare. The 2 party system is governing us, not the other way as it was intended. When politicians snub working for us, instead of making things better for their constituents.

Live in District – This really is no brainer. If the representative does not live in the district, how can they know what is actually happening.

Politicians Lying – We must request that members of Congress be held to the same level of truth that is expected of people testifying before them. Double standards should not be acceptable. How many people believed Schiff, claiming that he has seen “more than circumstantial evidence” of a Trump-Putin conspiracy. He didn’t, yet people still believe he does. Just a single example, no time to list all the lies in the past year by politicians, both parties are guilty.

Campaign Contributions – Everyone complains that companies are buying politicians, but what about the rich? Tired of all the campaign commercials full of half truth. How about we stop any campaign funds from companies, corporations and superpacs. Make campaign contributions only legal from U.S. citizens and limit the total amount. This should include comps and perks. Take away any financial gains that gives a candidate an unnatural advantage.

Bill be own Merit or Subject Matter – Tired of campaign ads full of half truths or Bills full of bloat? Why couldn’t politicians vote on a straight forward stimulus package for people without including millions for state bailouts. Want to make your representative accountable without excuses, this would remove the grey area.

Poll Constituents – Start building web sites and apps for representative area which give you a visible accountability in your area or district. You register with your physical mailing address. A post card is then sent to that address with a code and no other registration information, user name and password. You then sign into the web site and enter the annual verification code. When a Bill is introduced, you receive notification to give your input., After your input, you can see how you and all others in your district feel and voted. This isn’t an official vote, but if you know there 500,00 people in your district, 315,00 use the app, and 200,000 of you gave an opinion and mostly voted for or against, some semblance of direction can be surmised. While not perfect, daily activities is no longer a dark hole.

We really need to get our country back. Each of these steps would be a positive in getting the fundamentals envisioned by our founders. While our country has never been perfect, but let’s never stop trying to get there.

Mail In Voting for All

Mail in voting appears to be heading towards populace implementation, but just one’s persons’ ideas.

Keep the fill in the dot, this can be automatically read, no human intervention, “MOST” of the time.

Make each Ballot fold-able, where the voter signs, this way each ballot cannot be substituted, to help prevent fraud. Make sure the signature is on outside for verification, without opening the ballot, keeping the ballot secret. Additionally, once folded, a tab available for a machine to unfold and automatically count your vote, after signature verification, without human interaction to cut down on fraud.

After all ballots completed, folded and signed, they get placed in a tamper proof envelope, with a bar code for tracking purposes only. Nothing on the bar code to identify party affiliation. Give the Voter ability to scan tamper proof envelope to notify State, ballot on its’ way, with a phone app. Not mandatory, but would aid in locating areas where ballots not delivered in a timely manner. My ballot made it to State agency in 2 days. If a number ballots in my area start taking 5 days, it could raise suspicions for investigation.

Audit each ballot, for completeness or rejection. Determine an acceptable amount of missing completeness per ballot. If it exceeds the allowable percent of missing sections, then Pull ballot for manual inspection, to ensure not a malfunction. Missing sections, when someone doesn’t complete sections for judges, county supervisor, and so on. A rejection should include where someone votes for more than allowable, like President or Representatives. The Voter should be notified. This is problematic, should the entire ballot be rejected and if enough time, allow voter to resubmit? Should only that section of the ballot be rejected? Can Voter be allowed resubmit rejected section? Let each State decide the process.

Another option, is allow people to fill out the ballot at home, and walk into the voting location and feed the ballot themselves into counting machine, obtaining a reference number if no voter id. Walk into a private verification booth, enter the reference number, or voter id number, and review their ballot on screen, and either accept or reject. Of course, this would need some work, because maybe the person is happy just accepting without verifying. If the voter doesn’t like what they see on screen, the ballot must be returned to them and a new ballot issued for getting their vote in.

Of course there are other ideas, our State leaders need to work on a solution now. No matter who is declared the winner somewhere between Nov 3rd and Nov 5th, will end up in court(s). Technology exists for these things. I do like Arizona Alert System, I was notified when Ballot received. Then another notification once my signature was verified. If our State leaders don’t make improvements towards safe and accurate voting, we should elect leaders who will.

Reports of Hunter Intro of Joe to Burisma

This story is being suppressed by Facebook and Twitter. There is email evidence of Hunter Biden introducing Vice President Joe Biden to executives at Burisma. Here is the NY Post article. https://nypost.com/2020/10/14/email-reveals-how-hunter-biden-introduced-ukrainian-biz-man-to-dad/

Here is Western Journal article, https://www.westernjournal.com/bombshell-email-shows-hunter-biden-introduced-joe-biden-burisma-exec-controversial-firing/

Question, why will FB and Twit allow stories from NY Times with an anonymous source yet squash this story? Then claim they are neutral, ah – NO WAY. People need to follow Newsmax and One America News to get some news, not opinion columns.