Cost of Living
The cost of living in the US is too high for too many
It seems that every day some product or service we all once relied on is either more expensive, has less stuff in it, or both. Companies have used the guise of supply chain shocks during the pandemic to justify permanent exorbitant price increases. What reason now that the pandemic is over? Inflation. Inflation that they helped create themselves with greed. The primary factor of inflation since COVID has been price increases by companies. They have broken records for profitability, sending the stock market into the stratosphere. It is time for pricing gouging to end.
Even before the pandemic, everyone was just barely getting by. Most had just finally found some relief from the financial crisis in 2008. We believe if you’re too big to fail, you’re too big to exist. Allowing market consolidation never results in prices lowering due to some supposed “efficiency.” Efficiency only means better profitability, because why lower prices when you are only seeking shareholder value. Then customers are stuck with monopolistic businesses with tremendous pricing power. This has to end. We want significantly more competition in the market so prices fall and consumers have real choice. Anti-trust laws are on the books for a reason and we intend to use them.
Oh, and tariffs are going to make the cost of living exponentially worse. They are moronic to use in this moment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are you going to do about grocery prices?
Groceries are first and the foremost item we want to tackle. Everyone needs good nutritious food to thrive in our country. We want to make that affordable. The ACP will work with farmers to encourage coop growth and subsidize staple crop production here at home. We also want to legislate right to repair across the economy, but especially farm equipment.
Can’t you just reverse inflation?
Reversing inflation is much more difficult than stopping it in the first place. Once prices are readjusted up, it is hard to bring them down again. However, we feel that we can create strong disincentives through legislation, to prevent this price gouging frenzy from happening again.
Why don’t people just pull themselves up by their bootstraps?
This type of thinking is unpatriotic. In America we shouldn’t just be looking out for ourselves. We need to be looking out for our countrymen too. That is what a society is. The ACP wants to build a strong one.
If I lose my job I can’t survive. I’m tired of living paycheck to paycheck, what are you going to do?
Raise the minimum wage, end overdraft fees, lower interest rates for student loans, readjust federal tax brackets, crack down on rent price fixing, and subsidize good companies that make the essentials of life.