Homework for the Trump Voter About Prices
Take Notes
On Election Day in 2024, 49.9% of voters were truly concerned about the economy. They were afraid that prices of daily goods were far outpacing their wages and cutting into their ability to save. To plan. To finally take on a mortgage or simply manage skyrocketing rents. To set aside money for their futures and the futures of their offspring. They were voting primarily on one issue. At least that’s what they said into microphones. Some of the other reasons they supported President Donald Trump they chose to keep to themselves. “Personal” reasons for casting a vote for a second Trump administration.
A lot of voters didn’t see a pay raise from their employers in years. The ones that did shared that the increase was minimal.
They were worried about the price of cars.
There were screams in the aisles of grocery stores related to the cost of eggs. Eggs.
EGGS!
Discretionary funds were nonexistent for many. Trump voters were angry at former President Joseph Biden — easily transferring that emotion towards former Vice President Kamala Harris in her presidential run — for a lack of leadership in dealing with growing the economy. An economy that was healthy when measuring with traditional markers but it wasn’t felt by those living with their paychecks. Seeing how far they went — and how little buying power they felt that they had.
Ordinary Americans. Most of his supporters surviving on one paycheck at a time. They were sure that Trump — by most estimates, a billionaire — would relate to their plight. He would fight for them.
Inflation. Inflation. Inflation.
That was the other buzzword that consumed all the oxygen in the room. Once it jumped from someone’s mouth, everyone nodded their heads. Whether or not it was then supported by any grain of truth was irrelevant.
It was a term that could be deployed to blame President Biden for every financial malady a specific block of voters carried in their pores. They would cling to it and never surrender their ground in repudiating Biden and Harris.
The cost of everything was paramount to them. The one issue.
Inflation was stalking them.
So, adoringly, they returned to a time when they were more prosperous. More stable financially. It was during the first Trump administration. It was time for a repeat of that miracle.
The owner of Company A hears the news reports on the economy. They may have a tacit understanding about how it might impact their expenses. A day passes.
The next headline 24 hours later states that there might be a shortage of certain goods that might impact Company A.
Company A then makes the decision to jump the market and raise rates for the goods they sale to distributors or direct-to-consumer. It’s a failsafe measure. Protect the business right now in lieu of the instability that the market is predicting. In the future, it’s easy to return prices to previous levels if needed.
Inflation becomes the term the owner can use to justify a price increase. They have cover, from a certain perspective.
Does this sound fair?
Company A begins to draw record commerce. Usually, due to the reality that consumers rarely, if ever, use their ability to revoke their patronage as their direct protest to the juiced price point.
From across the street, Company B sees this behavior. They’re still operating under the rules of a calm market. A steady if nonexciting economy. Company B is falling behind. Still profitable but there’s money left on a shiny glass table and the owner of Company B stares at it with love. He can’t access it.
Until…
Company B decides to copy Company A. While also using inflation as a convenient shield to respond to customer outcry. Company B receives an injection of profits they’ve never experienced.
Company C awakens to the operation. Company D, E, F, G and H all follow behind them. They all have their most profitable quarter, half-year, and year to date. There’s no need to drop prices.
They’re safe because of…inflation.
Yet, it’s not inflation directly that pushed prices north. It was corporate greed.
Four years ago a home gas supplier in California had to raise rates. They informed their millions of customers — who can’t shop for another energy supplier — in a small corner of the e-bill that could be easily overlooked that inflation was the reason that they “regrettably” passed the costs downward.
People, as usual, got along with their lives, commuted to work, fed their families, spent carefully, and cooked on their stoves with the same gas that was fed to their stoves but now more expensive.
Some time inched along. A class action lawsuit from a handful of customers hailing from that same gas company about a year later gained traction. Naturally, it was swallowed in the way local stories tend to vanish when competing for attention alongside politics, business news, sports, and celebrity relationships.
In an email the gas supplier gave all their clients a $150.00 credit. Months later, there was a credit for an identical amount. It was received well. People accepted the credit and moved on.
A handful of months later that tiny lawsuit ended. It seems that ultimately the gas supplier hiked rates without any proof that one was warranted. A defense using inflation was beat back by the court. The culprit for the increases was corporate greed. Nothing more. To comply with the terms of the judgment, the gas company in California supplied free gas to the consumers they overcharged.
Why is this relevant?
I was one of those customers. I haven’t paid for gas in 16 months. My first bill comes this month. I think. It’s been a while.
President Trump is enacting measures that will inflate the prices of cars, avocados, bananas, apples, lumber, aluminum, seafood, beef, soy, etc. Eggs are rising again. In the last three weeks the Target four blocks from me has raised eggs from $2.99 a dozen to $4.99. Two nights ago I needed spinach and the same dozen was $7.49. I rarely eat or buy eggs so the price tag didn’t alarm me. It stood out. Americans, apparently, are ravenous over eggs.
He is causing true inflation. Yesterday. Today. It will continue into the future. Is it long-term or short? That truly depends on… I don’t know how to finish that sentence. Oh…yesterday was the largest stock crash since March 2020. During COVID. The first Trump administration.
He clearly did not lower prices of anything since he came into office after 49.9% of Americans deemed him to be a suitable choice. He’s bringing financial strife to those that can’t afford any. The same voters who believed he was the only choice in November 2024.
I don’t feel sorry for those that voted for Trump and are suffering due to his petulant tariff war that doubles as an act of self-mutilation. Not for himself. He’s sacrificing MAGA for the sake of the billionaires that he relates to.
Hurting the other half of the U.S. that didn’t vote for him; my heart is with them.
How are Americans so uninformed on tariff policies — and what they mean in their simplest form? How didn’t they know that tariffs would increase the prices of everything Trump promised to get under control? He said that prices would come down once they elected him.
A tariff is a tax. A tax increases the price of your purchase. A tariff is a tax.
You, Trump voter, caused this all.
This was your one issue. Right? Prices. The cost of everyday living.
You’re not crying at town halls now because you objected when he ran on a platform to target fellow Americans with his disdain. No. You liked his proclamations of hatred and division on the campaign trail. Towards…other Americans.
You curse and complain now because the lives you wanted destroyed are eerily sitting at your table. Now. In your bed. You share last names. When you rise in the morning, Trump’s victim watches you in the mirror while you brush your teeth. You were euphoric at the prospect of hurting your neighbors because your president would never hurt…you. A supporter in MAGA gear. You cast a ballot for the pain of others, not yourselves.
It was all about eggs. Prices? Yes, I recall. Your answer to that was to give an unserious man very serious responsibility.
When Americans were presented with the choice of a reasonable alternative, 49.9% of voters selected this administration.