Liberty Violations

April 13, 2025
Seal SD Liberty

Report: Inflation, Unemployment, Government Assistance, and Liberty Violations in the U.S. (2020–2024)

Inflation (2020–2024)

  • Pandemic Spike (2020–2022): Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), surged from 1.4% in 2020 to a peak of 7.1% in June 2022—the highest since the early 1980s—driven by pandemic-related supply chain disruptions, labor market imbalances, and massive government stimulus [Web ID: 8].
  • Disinflation (2022–2024): By December 2024, CPI inflation dropped to 2.6%, with core inflation (excluding food and energy) at 2.8%, thanks to the Federal Reserve’s 525 basis point rate hikes starting in March 2022 [Web ID: 8, Web ID: 20]. The Fed’s preferred PCE inflation metric hit 2.4% by September 2024, just above its 2% target [Web ID: 15].
  • Real Impact on Households: Despite the drop, prices remained elevated—food prices rose 1.4% from November 2023 to November 2024, down from a 12% peak in August 2022, but energy prices fell 4% in the same period [Web ID: 3]. The Ludwig Institute (2025) found the true cost of living rose 9.4% in 2023, more than double the CPI’s 4.1%, meaning purchasing power fell 4.3% at the median [Web ID: 10].
  • Consumer Sentiment: 67% of voters in 2024 described the economy as “not so good or poor,” with 75% noting “moderate to severe hardship” from inflation, despite official stats showing a 2.4% CPI by September 2024 [Web ID: 15]. People felt the pinch—progressive promises of “inflation reduction” didn’t match reality on the ground.
  • Progressive Policy Impact: The Biden-Harris administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (2022) threw $369 billion in subsidies at green tech, but it didn’t stop inflation from hitting working families hard—it was more about corporate handouts than real relief [Web ID: 0, Web ID: 4].

Unemployment (2020–2024)

  • Pandemic Surge (2020): Unemployment spiked to 14.8% in April 2020—the largest increase in modern history—due to COVID-19 lockdowns, with low-wage workers most affected [Web ID: 11, Web ID: 20].
  • Rapid Recovery (2020–2023): By April 2023, the unemployment rate fell to a 50-year low of 3.4%, reflecting a tight labor market where employers struggled to fill openings [Web ID: 20]. It rose to 4.1% by December 2024, still low historically, with job growth averaging 186,000 per month in 2024 [Web ID: 3, Web ID: 5].
  • Labor Market Trends: The prime-age (25–54) employment-to-population ratio reached its highest since 2001 in 2024, and the unemployment gap between Black and white workers hit a record low of 2.5% in December 2024 [Web ID: 3]. However, prime-age labor force participation dipped slightly in late 2024 [Web ID: 5].
  • Job Stability: Layoffs remained low at 1% of jobs monthly in 2024, and the average length of unemployment dropped to 22.4 weeks, compared to 29 weeks in the prior cycle, showing improved job stability [Web ID: 3].
  • Cooling Trends (2024–2025): Job growth slowed from 603,000 per month in 2021 to 186,000 in 2024, with forecasts predicting a rise to 4.5% unemployment in 2025 as hiring cools to 80,000 jobs per month [Web ID: 5, Web ID: 21].

Government Assistance Programs (2020–2024)

  • Pandemic Relief (2020–2021): The American Rescue Plan (2021) sent $1,100 stimulus checks to most Americans, expanded unemployment insurance, child tax credits, and rental assistance, cutting child poverty in half [Web ID: 4, Web ID: 19]. West Virginia’s child poverty rate dropped from 20.7% to 16.8% in 2021 [Web ID: 19].
  • Expiration of Relief (2021–2022): These “pop-up safety nets” expired post-pandemic, leaving inequalities unaddressed—West Virginia’s child poverty rate rose to 25% by 2022 after benefits ended [Web ID: 4, Web ID: 19].
  • Inflation Reduction Act (2022): Allocated $369 billion in green tech subsidies, but critics argue it favored corporations over families, doing little to address the 39% of Americans (130 million) struggling with basic expenses by 2024 [Web ID: 0, Web ID: 4].
  • Food Insecurity Surge: By 2024, 44 million Americans, including 13 million children, lived in food-insecure households due to high prices, disappearing pandemic aid, and unaffordable housing (USDA) [Web ID: 4].
  • Housing Crisis: 22.4 million renters spent over 30% of income on rent and utilities in 2022, a record high, with record evictions and homelessness driven by progressive policies failing to address root causes [Web ID: 4].
  • Healthcare Costs: Over 50% of U.S. adults struggled to afford healthcare, with 40% skipping treatment due to costs in a privatized system—progressive promises of reform fell flat [Web ID: 4].

Violations of Liberty (2020–2024)

  • Lockdowns (2020): Government-mandated closures forced 19% of small businesses to shut temporarily, crushing 163,735 businesses by September 2020 (Yelp)—a direct assault on economic freedom [Web ID: 15].
  • Vaccine Mandates (2021): Biden’s OSHA vaccine mandate for businesses with 100+ employees (struck down in 2022) violated personal choice, forcing workers to comply or lose jobs [Web ID: 0].
  • Inflation Reduction Act (2022): $369 billion in green tech subsidies favored corporate cronies over families, with 130 million Americans struggling by 2024—liberty means keeping your money, not funding progressive pet projects [Web ID: 0, Web ID: 4].
  • Trade Restrictions (2020–2024): Biden’s IRA and CHIPS Act limited microchip exports to China, escalating trade wars and raising prices—protectionism over free markets is a liberty killer [Web ID: 0].
  • Censorship (2020–2022): The Biden administration pressured social media to suppress “misinformation” on COVID and elections, violating First Amendment rights (House Judiciary Report, 2022) [Web ID: 0].
  • Immigration Overreach (2020–2024): 8 million illegal crossings since 2021 (Lamborn, 2023) overwhelmed border communities, with progressive open-border policies ignoring Article 4, Section 4’s protection against invasion [Web ID: 15].
  • Healthcare Coercion: A privatized system left 40% of Americans skipping treatment due to costs—progressive “universal healthcare” promises were empty, forcing families to choose between bankruptcy and death [Web ID: 4].
  • Childcare Costs: Parents paid tens of thousands annually for childcare, with no progressive relief—government inaction forced families into debt, a silent tax on liberty [Web ID: 4].
  • Credit Card Debt Surge: 33% of Americans had more credit card debt than emergency savings by 2024, driven by progressive policies that failed to address inflation’s root causes—debt is slavery, not freedom [Web ID: 4].
  • AIPAC Influence (2024): AIPAC’s $20 million to defeat pro-Palestinian progressives like Rashida Tlaib violated free speech by targeting dissent—progressive silence on this was complicity [Web ID: 19].

Snarky Commentary: Progressive Socialists Posing as Americans

  • Lockdown Hypocrisy: Progressives locked down small businesses—163,735 closures in 2020 (Yelp)—while Walmart and Amazon raked in $210 billion (UBS, 2023). Liberty? More like corporate socialism!
  • Vaccine Tyranny: Biden’s vaccine mandates forced workers to jab or job—where’s the “my body, my choice” now, progressives? Guess liberty only matters when it fits your agenda.
  • Green Tech Grift: The Inflation Reduction Act’s $369 billion went to green tech cronies, not families—130 million Americans struggled by 2024 (USDA). Progressive socialism: where the rich get richer, and you get the bill!
  • Open-Border Chaos: 8 million illegal crossings since 2021 (Lamborn, 2023)—progressives call it “compassion,” I call it an invasion, violating Article 4, Section 4. Liberty means borders, not chaos!
  • Censorship Kings: Biden’s team censored “misinformation” on social media (House Judiciary Report, 2022)—progressives love free speech until you disagree with them. First Amendment? More like first betrayal!
  • Healthcare Hoax: 40% of Americans skipped treatment due to costs—progressive “universal healthcare” was a pipe dream, leaving families to choose between bankruptcy and death. Liberty’s dead when you can’t afford to live!
  • Childcare Con: Tens of thousands for childcare, and progressives did nothing—your wallet’s their playground! Liberty means keeping your money, not funding their failures.
  • Debt Slavery: 33% of Americans drowned in credit card debt by 2024—progressive policies fueled inflation, not solutions. Liberty isn’t debt bondage, but try telling that to the “socialist saviors”!
  • AIPAC Sellouts: Progressives let AIPAC spend $20 million to silence pro-Palestinian voices like Rashida Tlaib—free speech for sale! Liberty’s just a buzzword to these posers.

Conclusion

From 2020 to 2024, inflation spiked to 7.1% before cooling to 2.6%, unemployment soared to 14.8% then dropped to 4.1%, and government programs like the American Rescue Plan offered temporary relief but left 130 million struggling. Progressive socialist policies—lockdowns, mandates, corporate handouts, and open borders—violated liberty at every turn, crushing small businesses and families while favoring the elite. South Dakota can do better with a liberty-first approach—my GRT plan ends property taxes, saving homes and businesses. Join me at the Liberty Forum, April 19th, 2:00 PM, First Assembly of God, Rapid City, to fight for real freedom! Share if you’re with me! #OdomForLiberty #SouthDakotaStrong #TaxRevoltSD #FreedomFirst