Affordability

Affordability seems to be the big issue in upcoming elections. Things have risen in price and it has made it economically tough for many people. As a senior on a fixed income (no – I am not a millionaire) I feel it takes more than many. Got it.

But this is the insidious nature of inflation. You see, I have been through this before. When the Federal Government pumps trillions of dollars of free money into the economy inflation is what happens. And of course, high interest rates follow. What I have learned is that it takes five to seven years to work out of high inflation.

Here is a simple example. The math is not exact but close enough. I go to the store and pay $100 for an item. Then 10% inflation hits. The next year I have to pay$110 for the same item. But a new political party takes power and lowers the inflation rate to 3%. So my item will drop in price right? Not so fast Bubba. The item price actually goes up to $113. And so on. Prices will not come down.

So how do we get out of this mess? Simple – grow the economy.

First we need to change some misconceptions. Profit is good. It provides improved investment which raises productivity making goods cheaper. It provides for more research and development to make better products. It expands businesses with more construction. It pays stockholders more returns.. And it increases wages.

Next we need to lower taxes – federal, state, and local. Government makes nothing. Government produces nothing. Government provides bigger, more difficult, more expensive, and more laborious bureaucracies. Go get a driver’s license. And more regulations Cut taxes and cut government. Just look at the waste in tax dollars to cure homelessness. My Congresswoman wants federal tax dollars to pay for abortions in foreign countries! And I have never figured out what a carbon tax is and I don’t know where the money goes. It certainly cut no carbon in China or India. Lower taxes cuts government and means more money in your pocket.

We also need to take advantage of our resources. Look, I want clean water, and clean air, and clean land. But I also want cheap gas and cheap electricity. And data centers. The crazies and environmental Nazis have crippled us. We need more refineries and pipe lines. And we need nuclear power. Energy fuels our lives. We can protect the environment and build our infrastructure if the crazies would compromise.

Last misconception deals with personal responsibility. Do not look to government to solve all your problems. Look, my wife and I did not buy our first house until we were 38 years old. And I used VA benefits to do that. I took the family (my kids are now middle aged) on ONE family vacation which lasted 4 days. We never blamed the government for not having something. Our lot was not the government’s fault. If I lacked it was my fault. And I did something about it. And I didn’t blame rich guys. We sucked it up. We stood by the Red, White, and Blue, and worked harder. We worked and we saved. I am an American and I will stand on my own two feet. I don’t want what I didn’t earn.

But then again I’m an old guy and I don’t get it……