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Congress needs to address economy
Ron Chittum
Minot
"It's the economy stupid!" This phrase was famously used during the Clinton campaign in the ’90s.
Nearly 30+ years later it's still true. Yet Congress does nothing to address it. Whether the Republicans or Democrats gain control of either the House or Senate this fall, nothing will change. During the Biden administration when inflation and cost of living reached a decades record high, the Democrats did nothing. During the Trump administration, with cost of living soaring, the Republicans do nothing.
I am not advocating for the federal government to control private business, but to craft policies to allow them to thrive. Just a few quick examples; I took my wife and three grandchildren to breakfast at the Minot Perkins, cost $100. We then went to the AMC theatre and bought a bottle of water, small soda, small popcorn, and an Icee, $31. With tickets it was another $100. We recently went to Bismarck, ND, and stayed at the Staybridge for 2 nights. In this so-called conservative state we were charged 4 taxes: city tax, city lodging tax, state tax, and a lodging/restaurant tax. All told, on the three rooms tax alone was $239.
Finally, 2-4% fees when you use a credit or debit card. For my rent alone it raised my annual cost by nearly $700. Groceries, gas, houses, interest rates, entertainment, etc., prices are out of control. It is getting to the point where the average family cannot afford to vacation, go out to eat, purchase beef, fill up the family car and so on. The answer, vote! No matter how much you like your state delegation, they are not acting on your behalf. It's time to end the status quo and put people in office who put the American people, the country, and their state first.