In the United States annual festivities surrounding Christmas are a large commotion. In truth, while Christmas in America and the west had historically been associated with the birth of Christ and carried significant religious weight in terms of its meaning to the Christian faith, over the last 70 years (as the nation has grown more and more heterogeneous and secular) much of the religious importance of the celebration for many people has diminished. While many Americans remain devoutly Christian and the holiday truly signifies the birth of their lord and savior, to many others it has devolved into nothing more than a materialistic and consumer based celebration. This year alone, it estimated that over 12 billion dollars has already been spent on the holiday. While themes of kindness and charity to all still dominate the celebration, it appears that the Christmas of the present is quite different than that of the past.
Most Americans are likely not focused on the deteriorating political climate at the domestic and international level. Indeed, while the season is centered around wishes of peace and goodwill, the world appears to be heading in an opposite direction. War rages in Ukraine and the middle east, and tens of thousands of lives have been lost. The American economy is struggling, inflation is high, and citizens are living paycheck to paycheck.
In early 2024, the labor market remains volatile and the overall economic outlook for most Americans remains poor. In a recent Axios article, a poll showed that nearly half (or 45%) of Americans believe the American dream is dead. As economic uncertainty continues to remain reality, the former CEO of Home Depot Bob Nardelli claimed that more mass layoffs are likely. In January, layoffs in the United States increased by 136% in comparison to December 2023, with 82,307 layoffs planned in the first month of the calendar year. It’s the second-highest layoff total for January since 2009.
