Soviet-style centrally administered price controls on food and grocery prices will form part of the federal economic proposals U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will unveil today when she finally speaks to the press and the public after 25 days of avoiding the media and the public.
Her address will mark the first time Harris offers a policy-focused speech since she was anointed the Democratic candidate in July and has been roundly accused by critics of being a "policy-free zone."
Be informed, not misled.
Harris, the Democrat presidential nominee, is promising to institute a first-ever national ban on price gouging and price-fixing within her first 100 days in office in an effort to deflect many voters’ low marks for President Joe Biden’s handling of the economy.
Time magazine reports Harris plans to direct the Federal Trade Commission and other agencies to investigate and penalize “big corporations” that violate government rules in a mirror of Soviet command economy diktats.
Other ways of tackling price fixing and selective anti-competitive practices in the food and grocery industries will also come under scrutiny, her campaign said by way of previewing her full set of economic proposals.
Harris plans to direct the Federal Trade Commission and other agencies to investigate and penalize “big corporations” that violate the rules, and to find other ways of tackling price fixing and other anti-competitive practices in the food and grocery industries, her campaign said late Wednesday night.
While price controls have a checkered history in the U.S., Harris’ team is working to quickly add some proposals to the Biden administration’s achievements and goals, which are at the core of her campaign agenda. She will also detail plans to cut prescription drug and housing costs in an economic address during a visit to Raleigh, North Carolina, today.
In her speech, Harris will specifically single out the highly consolidated meat industry, deeming its processing middlemen “particularly egregious” price fixers with a history of being found to have illegally controlled prices.
She also plans to direct her administration to carefully scrutinize proposed mergers between large food companies with an emphasis on considering whether they will result in higher grocery prices for consumers. That work would include examining the proposed merger between Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos., which faces challenges from the FTC and several states.
Harris has gone almost four weeks without a press conference or an interview, though she has answered a handful of shouted questions from journalists in the traveling press corps.
Trump's view on the economy.
“Now they’re drilling, but the day after the election—if they win this election—the drilling stops,” Trump says. “By contrast, I am announcing today that under my leadership the United States will commit to the ambitious goal of slashing energy prices by half.”
Trump said he would reverse the Biden-Harris policies that thwart energy extraction in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. He also promised to end the electric vehicle mandates put in place by the administration.
Trump also notes that "Vice President Kamala Harris is linked to the current administration’s economic problems, especially runaway inflation, pointing out that she was one of the biggest cheerleaders for Biden’s economic policies and the critical tie-breaking vote for many of his key pieces of legislation."
“Kamala has declared that tackling inflation will be a day one priority. Think about it. For her, day one was three-and-a-half years ago,” Trump said. “She says her plan is going to bring down prices. Why didn’t you do it? You’ve been there three-and-a-half years.”
Trump outlines a hopeful, bright vision for the country and the U.S. economy.
“We will have prosperity, and we will have peace,” he says. “We will end the era of inflation, mayhem, and misery.”
Takeaway
This is indeed an era of inflation, mayhem, and misery.
Some thoughts from our Founding Fathers on true leadership:
“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence” – John Adams.
"The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them" – Patrick Henry.
"How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them – Benjamin Franklin.
Leadership traits that work are timeless. The principles and values of good leaders during the American Revolution are also useful today. In any facet of life, business, politics, or other activity, these ideas tend to lead to the best results for everyone. Our Founding Fathers knew this to be true. We should also all hope to be able to live up to the same standards in our lives.
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Engaged. Be Prayerful.