I’m right there with you Fishwater. One of these days everyone is going to figure out where all this free money is coming from.
From ourselves. Inflation has been considerably higher than reported for at least a decade... And it's only going to get worse now. The bureaucrats have changed the way they keep score on inflation to hide this fact from us. Lower interest rates are also a great smokescreen for our rising cost of living.
The true place to see inflation is in skilled services... Childcare, education, healthcare, skilled trades (plumbing, electrical, etc.) Energy costs and cheap Chinese **** like flat screen TVs and furniture are the only sectors that have not experienced significant inflation in the last decade.
Your tax rates have not changed yet and likely won't for several years. So you paid in less over the last four years than anytime in modern history. On a dollar for dollar basis you are not being damaged right now. If you have a little wealth, make sure to take advantage of this time. Equities, real estate, commodities, and crypto/gold are safe havens against inflation. That's why they have all gone through the roof.
There will be a day in the not too distant future where the inflation can't be covered up. And there will only be two ways to slow down inflation... Tax the middle class or raise interest rates. Both are going to be horrible for the economy, but only one is detrimental to elected politicians. So they will tax the wealthy for popularity and raise interest rates out of necessity. Put some hay in the barn now while the sun is out...
The first rising interest rate environment in 4 decades is on the horizon. Your house value will drop, the equity markets will drop, and economic output will slow at times. It's going to be a shitshow for those who are unprepared.