> Absolutely, inflation hurts. For example, I know that small town governments who provide the critical infrastructure for their communities drive the equivalen

> Absolutely, inflation hurts. For example, I know that small town governments who provide the critical infrastructure for their communities drive the equivalent of an F150 and the increase in gas prices strains city budgets, which may only be $1M per annum. Will they get by? Absolutely, because self-reliance is baked into their existence, the community rallies and supports its own, or they couldn't continue to live and survive in such remote environs. A ridiculous tautology. They will continue to exist because if they couldn't they wouldn't? Self reliance is baked into their existence? Please. Let's do a check: https://reportingtexas.com/amid-population-decline-rural-texas-towns-look-to-future/ https://reportingtexas.com/amid-population-decline-rural-tex... > Despite Texas gaining more people than any other state in the past decade, more than half of its counties lost population, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. > During the past few decades, changes in agriculture and the boom-or-bust oil and gas industry have led to dwindling employment opportunities in rural Texas. Many young people leave rural communities after high school in search of economic and social opportunity, often never returning. These towns are hurting badly. They're not going to survive by gritting their teeth.