LTE: Don't buy candidates' blame game on inflation
Most of us do not like high inflation rates for obvious reasons. What is not so obvious are the causes of high inflation. While politicians seldom seem to have a real grasp on facts, recent advertising by two candidates are great examples of clueless attribution of blame for inflation; presumably to help their election chances. Both Senate candidate Tiffany Smiley and House candidate Matt Larkin place the blame on Joe Biden, Patty Murray and Kim Shrier for their roles in government spending to address the economic costs of the pandemic. Here they show their ignorance while trying to frighten voters into supporting them and their falsehoods.
There are about 18 other countries with inflation rate increases greater than ours, including many of our allies. Smiley and Larkin would like us to believe that this problem only happens in the United States and that it is the government’s fault. Untrue is a kind way to describe these false claims.
The pandemic, oil price increases and the Russian war in Ukraine are the main drivers of inflation in 2022 . Government spending to address the pandemic and serious issues like the supply of semi-conductors has helped reduce unemployment, reduce deaths from covid and prepare us better for the future. Did government spending have some role in increasing the inflation rate? Economists differ on this. What is clear is that unemployment has reached historic lows due to stimulus spending and the slowing of the pandemic, the result of government investment.
If you want to help reduce inflation drive less, prices will follow and inflation rates will subside. Get vaccinated and help reduce the economic cost of covid. Finally, support actions to defeat the Russian invasion of Ukraine for a variety of reasons; including opening up big supplies of food and fertilizer that the world needs to feed itself.
https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/dont-buy-candidates-blame-game-on-inflation/
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