Election 2024: Poverty and the Economy
The economy is getting plenty of attention in the run-up to the 2024 elections here in the US, where we select a new POTUS and have the opportunity to replace a large part of Congress. Depending n the source you consult the economy may be the number one or number two issue on voters’ minds. As we move through the next year or so this ranking will change but bear with me.
Politicians and pundits may talk about inflation or jobs, or specific things like gas prices, but all of those topics relate to the state of the nation’s economy. And, by extension, the economies of the 50 states individually. However, the dishonest and disinterested can share lies and disinformation about all of those topics.
Power and Misrepresentation
One thing that cuts across all economic issues in the election season would have to be this — blaming the other party for causing poverty to go up or wages to go down. Biden is making decisions that drive up the cost of gas, so we need some Republicans to get into Congress and reign in his ruinous economic policies. And, have you looked at inflation recently?
An honest and influential person, like a member of Congress, would try to promote practical solutions that line up with their values. A Republican would try to promote a market-oriented, small-government solution that relies heavily on providing opportunities to workers and entrepreneurs. A Democrat might prefer to focus on government programs and policies that build a stronger social safety net or increase wages and benefits for workers.
Many variables affect wages, employment, and inflation. Policies can make some difference but don’t let anyone tell you the other party is causing record inflation or falling wages or whatever.
Congress may be a small part of the problem, as could the White House. This much is obvious, but how much influence can Congress and the President really have over gas prices? Remember that crude oil is a global commodity, both extracted and refined around the world.
Demand Real Solutions
So, inflation is getting a little out of control. What can the government do? What can your party’s politicians really do? Instead of blaming the Other Side…what about demanding real solutions? If you a conservative, demand real ideas that are market-oriented. If you are a liberal, demand real ideas that protect the environment and/or the disadvantaged.
If politicians can’t offer practical ideas, there are two possibilities:
They really don’t have a clue
They simply don’t care
Option 1 covers the possibility that they are too stupid to think about the topic in the nuanced way it requires AND the possibility that they are intellectually lazy and can’t be bothered to learn.
Whatever side you are on, demand that both sides work together. Make it clear there is a zero-tolerance policy on bullshit. If Ronny Republican said he can’t vote for a bill because of something totally unrelated to economic opportunity or poverty reduction…well, he honestly has a point.
Perhaps we should also demand that politicians stick to one issue at a time. Adding fluff to a bill tends to risk killing the thing, or at least wasting taxpayer’s money. Worse still, that fluff could be a dishonest way to kill legislation.
Consider a bill sponsored by Donny Democrat. The bill includes some money for training and tax breaks for companies that subsidize training in 21st-century skills of some sort. Donny adds $2 million dollars for gender transition counseling in public schools. He wants to kill the whole bill by slipping in something he knows Republicans and many Democrats cannot support.
Deliberately sabotaging a bill should be grounds for removal at the next election.
Demand That Politicians Stay Focused
What else? Changing the subject is a dishonest political tactic more often than a legitimate way to discuss an issue. Don’t want to talk about poverty and homelessness? Well, we can’t always get what we want. If you have nothing to offer on the topic at hand, be quiet. Don’t change the subject to “Democrat-controlled” cities, entitlement thinking, gender-neutral pronouns, cultural Marxism, or whatever “thought leaders” in your party tell you to talk about.
These are guidelines we all might consider following in political debates, but we should absolutely hold politicians to the standard of staying on topic. If they change the topic, they are hiding something or just lying to undercut the other party; they probably don’t care about the issue.
Thoughts?
