Today, the charming, independent, modest, comfortable coffeehouse, Kéan Coffee, raised its prices again, and we have reached the upper limit of what we can pay. I don’t think this will improve. I am reminded of a doctor we had, one who didn’t take insurance (common in his specialty), who sent us short notes every couple of months that always said, “Due to costs, I am raising my hourly fee by $35.” My life was in his hands. We had to pay it.

“Due to costs” — what a powerful locution! If only we could use it ourselves! “Due to costs, you will charge us 50% less for our electricity.” “Due to costs, our hourly rate for our services will double.” You can see that I am dispensable and so cannot enforce these kinds of demands. I have the feeling that we will be priced out of many supermarkets, restaurants, and cafés before too long.