Saw Tyler Cowen doubling down on that tired narrative about the $140K threshold. His suggestion? "Just look at Guatemala if you think that's hard."

This is textbook deflection from someone who should know better.

Let me be clear: CPI isn't some grand conspiracy theory. But here's the problem—it's an objectively poor tool for gauging what ordinary people actually experience at ground level. Using aggregate price indices to dismiss legitimate concerns about cost of living? That's lazy analysis dressed up as wisdom.

When prominent economists keep recycling establishment talking points instead of wrestling with measurement limitations, we all lose. The debate shouldn't be "is CPI rigged" versus "everything's fine." It should be: are we using the right tools to capture economic reality for median participants?