In a recent display of economic bravado, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has declared that the Fed is ‘well positioned’ to tackle the ‘risks and uncertainties’ lurking on our economic horizon. Let’s just take a moment to collectively roll our eyes and wonder why we should be reassured by someone in a suit who probably holds more wealth in his portfolio than we see in a lifetime.

Powell’s remarks came after the Fed’s latest policy meeting, where he attempted to play the hero amid growing concerns over inflation and market instability. Because nothing says ‘trust me’ quite like a bunch of bank executives patting each other on the back while millions of Americans are just trying to scrape by. His confidence does little to quell the gnawing anxiety creeping into the minds of those of us who have seen rent prices and student debt skyrocket while our paychecks remain paltry.

Moreover, Powell’s optimism seems rather misplaced when you consider the ordinary folks struggling with everyday expenses, falling further behind as their wages stagnate while the rich get richer, thanks to tax breaks and stock market gains that only the 1% can understand. It’s like watching someone throw a party in the middle of a hurricane and expecting everyone to dance instead of fleeing for safety.

The Fed plans to hold interest rates steady, ensuring banks can continue to profit while the rest of us are left to wonder if our savings accounts have actually turned into bottomless pits. Meanwhile, many cities are bracing for potential recessions, with warnings that a slowdown could be just around the corner, particularly as global markets continue to be as wobbly as our resolve to keep up with inflation.

As Powell puts on a brave face and assures us everything is just great, real life tells a different story. With the cost of living becoming unbearable, the average millennial is left balancing their student loans and their sanity while trying to make sense of a world where billionaires roam free while we must carefully ration our avocado toast. How inspiring.

So, while Powell may be feeling chipper about the Fed’s ‘positioning’ for the future, the rest of us can only hope that whatever ‘risks and uncertainties’ come next will finally usher in a much-deserved reckoning for our current economic system. Here’s to hoping for better options than voting for the lesser evil next election.