Both candidates have been asked questions what they would do about the rising cost of food. Let’s discuss their answers.
Food Costs Too Much
Please consider the Miami Herald article Donald Trump and Kamala Harris Both Say Food Costs Too Much.
Harris vows to curb what she called grocery price gouging. Trump says that he’ll lower energy costs and prices overall, which in turn will mean less expensive food
Vice President Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has vowed to fight food price inflation partly by tackling what she calls grocery price gouging.
“As president, I will take on the high costs that matter most to most Americans, like the cost of food,” she told a rally in North Carolina recently. In her economic proposal, unveiled last month, she said she would “advance the first-ever federal ban on price gouging on food and groceries.” Harris said she direct her administration “to crack down on unfair mergers and acquisitions that give big food corporations the power to jack up food and grocery prices and undermine the competition that allows all businesses to thrive while keeping prices low for consumers.”
“There is little evidence of price gouging. Reported net profits by food companies over the past couple of years show no evidence that profits are higher than average over the last decade,” said Joseph Glauber, senior research fellow at the nonpartisan International Food Research Institute.
“Likewise,” he said, “It is unlikely that reducing the cost of energy by itself would have a significant impact on the cost of food.”
Tuesday night at a town hall in Michigan, a participant asked Trump how he would stabilize food prices. “We have to start always with energy,” he told the group. “There’s no bigger subject. It covers everything.” He said his goal is to get energy bills down 50% in a year.
Michigan Mother Asks Trump About How He Would Lower Costs
Trump claims he would lower energy prices by 50 percent. Fools cheered because that is what they want to hear.
Trump also blamed imports. That is preposterous. Reducing imports would raise prices.
And if Trump deports migrant crop pickers, prices will skyrocket.
A Perfect Response Thanks to Reagan
The perfect response to the question Trump was asked has already been given.
Flashback August 12, 1986: Ronald Reagan’s Press Conference
As you know and have been told, I do have a short statement here. Before we begin, I thought I’d mention that one reason for our visit to Illinois, especially this morning at the State fair, was to bring a special message to America’s farmers, one of concern and hope. Amid general prosperity that has brought record employment, rising incomes, and the lowest inflation in more than 20 years, some sectors of our farm economy are hurting, and their anguish is a concern to all Americans.
I think you all know that I’ve always felt the nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the Government, and I’m here to help. A great many of the current problems on the farm were caused by government-imposed embargoes and inflation, not to mention government’s long history of conflicting and haphazard policies.
The second paragraph above would have been a great start to a reply by Trump to the question on food prices.
Trump could have continued with: Egg prices soared because of avian flu. Government can’t control that. Nor can government control wheat harvests in Ukraine, or soybean and sugar harvests in Brazil.
When you ask Congress or the President to fix problems they have no control over, you are asking for bigger problems. And that is just what Kamala Harris will deliver with her price gouging and price controls.
Demanding grocery stores prove they are not price gouging will add another layer of regulation that is guaranteed to raise prices. History shows that wage and price controls don’t work.
Harris is proposing more proven failures.
What will I do? I will get out of the way. I will let farmers farm, and I will let grocery stores sell. And I will reduce regulations that place unnecessary burdens on farmers and stores. Competition and reduced regulation are the best answer, not price controls.
Most of all, we need to be honest about what government can and can’t do. I won’t make promises that I can’t keep. Harris will.
Reflections on Trump’s Answer
Trump was not prepared for the question despite its obvious nature. Nor was Trump prepared for the debate.
If you are honest about things, you will note that Trump is never prepared for anything.
Trump believes he can think on his feet but proves time and time again that he can’t.
Worse yet, he doesn’t prepare. And when you are unprepared and can’t think on your feet, you resort to playground name calling and make silly statements like Trump did in the video above.
Harris Declines to Comment on Her Changing EV Position (Everything Else Too)
On September 21, I noted Harris Declines to Comment on Her Changing EV Position (Everything Else Too)
Harris is in hiding. She cannot think on her feet either. However, Harris has one huge advantage over Trump: Harris listens to her advisors, and they are wisely telling her to shut up.
Her strategy of not saying anything and declining interviews shows discipline and a willingness to stick to a plan. She baited Trump in the debate then smiled as he blew up.
Why say anything if your opponent keeps putting his foot in his mouth?
In the case of food. Harris offered Trump a rare fat pitch.
Trump swung and missed with a preposterous statement that he would reduce energy costs by 50 percent, something that no one can possibly believe.
Pathetic.
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