I don’t come here except to find out what’s really going on from you smart people.
I know that Biden has done a good job with the economy. But there’s a segment that is in terrible shape. I don’t know what anybody could do about it, but these are people who ought to vote with us, but something has happened to upset them.
I’m not even talking about milk and eggs. Excuse me if prices are different where you are, but this is what I have seen in the East (I think it may be worse in the West). Three years ago, a loaf of bread could be had for $1, wheat or white. Now, the very cheapest loaf is $2.50, and it actually weighs less than other loaves (is baked smaller).
Three years ago, a small bag of potato chips was $0.75. Now the same bag is $2.25 and up.
Three years ago a two-liter of store-brand soda pop (like root beer) was $0.89. You can still get one for about $1.25, but you have to hit the “sale” price. Otherwise two-liters of soda sell for $2.50 and up.
Three years ago a Little Debbie snack cake was $0.50. Now the price is $2.00 and up.
Why did this happen? You would think people would switch to something cheaper, like juice, or buying a whole cake. But in fact the operators of convenience stores have found that there are a lot of people who really can’t do without these things — or they don’t want to. What got me started thinking about it was hearing a number of unsolicited rants in grocery stores. There are plenty of other things to eat that are not wildly overpriced. But these are things low-income people want. The bag of chips and a cold pop could be the best part of my day.
People are shocked and angered by these price increases and it causes them to refuse to think about politics at all. At the bottom of the price ladder, these are people who need motivation to vote, and they now have negative motivation.
As I say, I don’t know what can be done, but this is a pressure point.