Inflation Primer

The Biden-Harris Administration are taking bows because inflation is down. But what is inflation and is it really down?

Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises over time, resulting in a decrease in the purchasing power of money. When inflation occurs, each dollarbuys fewer goods and services than it did before. The Federal Government measures Inflation by changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). With inflation, the same paycheck buys less.The cost of living goes up.

Inflation has increased significantly since 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and economic stimulus measures all contributed to higher inflation rates. Here is a breakdown of inflation in the United States from 2020 to 2023:

1. 2020: Inflation was relatively low, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increasing by about 1.4% year-over-year. The pandemic caused a drop in demand, which helped keep prices down.2. 2021: Inflation began to rise sharply, with the CPI increasing by about 7% year-over-year by December 2021. This was driven by supply chain issues, labor shortages, and increased demand as the economy reopened.3. 2022: Inflation peaked in 2022, with the CPI rising by about 9.1% year-over-year in June, the highest rate in over 40 years. Energy prices, housing costs, and food prices were major contributors to this spike.4. 2023: Inflation started to moderate but remained elevated. By mid-2023, the year-over-year CPI increase was around 3-4%, depending on the month. While down from the 2022 peak, this was still higher than the pre-pandemic average.

Overall, inflation has increased by approximately 15-20% from 2020 to 2023, depending on the specific goods and services measured. This has had a significant impact on purchasing power and the cost of living.

Saying “inflation is going down” is very misleading. What is really happening is that the rate of increases in prices has slowed but PRICES ARE STILL GOING UP AT THE RATE OF AT LEAST 2.9% per year.

The above listed  inflation causes are  unduly kind to the Federal Government in general and to the Biden-Harris administration in particular. Consider the following:

1. The Biden-Harris Administration has handicapped the domestic energy industry which has not been able to keep up with growing demand. Less energy supply means higher prices and importing more oil compounds that.2. The Biden-Harris Administration has poured billions of your tax dollars into alternative energy programs that have not  met the increasing demand for electricity.3. The Biden-Harris Administration is  now paying for Obama Care and free medical care for a larger portion of our population.4. The Biden-Harris Administration has not addressed the rising cost of Social Security and Medicare.5. The Biden-Harris Administration has ushered over 3 million illegal immigrants across the southern border at an enormous increase in spending by Federal, State, and Local Governments. Increased Government spending is inflationary.

The Biden-Harris Administration has a plan to deal with this; increase taxes again. Our left-leaning, Democratic leadership has reached a new threshold of Socialist decline; 49% of our population pay no (ZERO) Federal Taxes. The rest of us are paying more to keep the dream alive.

Gerry Giesler

Greensboro, GA

Democracy According to Democrats

The Democrats have been of one voice, “Donald Trump is a threat to our Democracy.” As I have watched their policies and actions, I am reminded of a childhood truism …”it takes one to know one.” It has never been more applicable than now. Consider…

The Democrats have maneuvered to remove a duly selected nominee for President and  so doing they have disenfranchised the millions of voters who selected Joe Biden to be their President. The nominee will now be chosen by the elites in the Democratic Party.

Joe Biden violated his oath of office, and Immigration Law by allowing millions of unvetted  immigrants to cross our Southern Border illegally. His Executive Orders intentionally dismantled the controls that had been installed by the previous administration. His Vice President and Cabinet Members have lied about it for years telling us “ the Border is Under Control”. His henchmen in Blue states have compounded the mistake by legitimizing the immigrants with drivers’ licenses, credit cards, housing, and food stamps. They will register these people to vote if at all possible.

The Democrats are consistently thumbing their collective noses at the Rule of Law. Their followers have harassed Supreme Court Justices in the media and with riots at their private homes. Crime is up in every blue state where Attorneys General and District Attorneys systematically favor criminals over victims and literally let them out of jail free.

Our Constitutional Right to Freedom of Speech is threatenedconstantly. A “Ministry of Truth” established by the Biden Administration limits that right to the Democratic elite. People who do not agree with the party line are cancelled. Are we really OK with the FBI contacting private news organizations to censor stories it does not like? Or with party operatives suggesting  questions to be asked of their people? Or with Leftists squashing conservative speech on College Campuses?

The Democrats have forgotten or have ignored the Constitution’s tenant of Separation of Powers. Biden bypasses Congress regularly with his Executive Orders such as his attempts to forgive student loans, despite a Supreme Court Ruling it is illegal.

The Constitution established the Judicial as separate from The Executive Branch and from Congress. Yet the Department of Justice and the FBI have been used repeatedly to harass private citizens, corporations, and even opposing candidates. The FBI in particular has lied under oath to assist in prosecution of Democratic Party opposition.

The Biden Administration has interfered with our free enterprise system in handicapping our domestic energy industry with an overzealous clean energy policy.

The only version of Democracy that Donald Trump threatens isthe Democratic Party’s version of it and that is not at all close to what our Founders wrote into the Constitution.

Gerry Giesler

Greensboro, GA