It can be legitimately argued that Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign has not existed in reality ever since it began.
Harris’s campaign listed a variety of problems and issues plaguing the country. And in each commercial, it seemed to portray a world in which she seemingly was not the vice president of the United States for the last (almost) four years. A theme of her campaign is “A New Way Forward,” in which she proposes political remedies to solve the nation’s current issues plaguing the public. However, Harris mentions problems created by her administration and troubles for which she is largely responsible.
In the most objective of political realities, it is impossible to argue against the fact that Harris is campaigning for a “New Way Forward” from Harris. Watching any of the plethora of Harris commercials that polluted television programs this weekend will confirm this. And for those who prefer reading, all one must do is read the first sentence of the second paragraph of the first page of Harris’s policy book, “A New Way Forward For The Middle Class.”
“[Harris and Walz] know that prices are still too high for middle-class families, which is why their top economic priorities will be lowering the costs of everyday needs like healthcare, housing, and groceries and cutting taxes for more than 100 million working and middle-class Americans,” the policy book says.
Yet the “still too high” prices referenced happened during Harris’s term as vice president. She is trying to portray herself as the hero of the political villainy for which she is responsible.
Let’s compare the prices today to when Trump was in office for some essential grocery items.
Consider the price for uncooked ground beef.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in February 2017, the first full month former President Donald Trump was in office, the average price for uncooked ground beef in the U.S. was $4.029. By February 2020, the month before the pandemic occurred in the U.S., the average price for uncooked ground beef in the U.S. was $4.298 per pound. By December 2020, Trump’s last month in office, the price had increased to $4.55 per pound.
Comparatively, in February 2021, Harris’s first full month in office as vice president, the average price for uncooked ground beef was $4.556 per pound. Today, the most recently available average price for uncooked ground beef, after nearly four years of Harris in office, is $5.917 per pound.
Consider the price of eggs.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price for a dozen Grade A large eggs in February 2017, the first full month Trump was in office, was $1.464. By February 2020, the month before the pandemic occurred in the U.S., the average price for eggs in the U.S. was $1.449. By December 2020, Trump’s last month in office, the price had increased to $1.481.
Comparatively, in February 2021, Harris’s first full month in office as vice president, the average price for a dozen large Grade A eggs was $1.597.
Today, after nearly four years of Harris in office, the average price for a dozen large Grade A eggs is $3.821 (the most recent available price is September 2024). This is an increase of nearly 260%.
Consider the price of chicken.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price for a fresh, whole chicken in February 2017 was $1.473 per pound. By February 2020, the month before the pandemic occurred in the U.S., the average price for a fresh, whole chicken in the U.S. was $1.362 per pound. By December 2020, Trump’s last month in office, the price had increased to $1.621 per pound.
Comparatively, in February 2021, the average price for a fresh, whole chicken was $1.583. Today, in 2024, after nearly four years of Harris in office, the average price for a fresh, whole chicken is $1.979 per pound — an increase of almost 25%.
These are just some of the prices of some things. We haven’t even mentioned the significant increase in the cost of gasoline, electricity, utilities, rent, houses, cars, and other everyday items that people in the country are paying much more for than when Trump was in office.
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Harris frequently says in her commercials, speeches, and on the campaign trail that “we’re not going back.” However, it is safe to assume that nearly everyone would want to return to the quality of life under Trump. Harris is trying to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes by offering a new way forward.
Yet, in a way, it might be the most honest thing she has said during the campaign because everyone, whether a Republican or Democrat, should want a new way forward from Harris — especially Harris.