The Cost of Enough (Continued)

Their kids still see the same orthodontist. Their lawyer handles the noise.

“For the very rich, policy changes are noise; for everyone else, they’re the month’s groceries.”

Ethan muted the terminal. Outside, a leaf blower started somewhere, muffled through triple-pane glass. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d held a receipt.

Across every tier, the costs that drift in—tariffs, inflation, policy cuts—weigh more than any relief that trickles down. The problem isn’t just that the math doesn’t work. It’s that it’s working exactly as designed.

The refrigerator cycled off. For a second, there was no hum. Just the sound of nothing.

And that’s when you could hear what enough really costs.

Bibliography

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