OPINION:
Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Madeleine Dean, both Democrats, sent cease and desist letters to heads of major companies about “shrinkflation” — the practice of cutting portion and product sizes while jacking up prices to consumers. That’s rich. As if the Democrats themselves weren’t to blame for causing the shrinkflation in the first place.
This is the Biden economy, the one where consumers earn less than they did four years ago under former President Donald Trump’s administration — because the dollars they earn don’t go as far as they did four years ago. But those are the lucky ones. At least they still have jobs. So what if the box of cereal that was $3.99 for 15 ounces under Trump’s time is now $4.99 for 13.5 ounces under President Biden’s?
It’s all good.
Let them eat cereal. No, seriously; that’s a thing.
“Kellogg’s CEO suggests cash-strapped Americans may try cereal for dinner,” National News Desk wrote in February.
“Kellogg’s CEO says Americans facing inflation should eat cereal for dinner,” CBS News wrote that same month.
Hey, the cereal companies gotta make a buck, too. In Biden-economics, the pot’s not exactly brimming.
But to blame the companies is the height of Democrat hypocrisy and arrogance.
Put on alert were the CEOs of Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and General Mills.
From Warren’s senatorial website: “It is clear that these big companies are engaging in shrinkflation. In fact, reporting indicates that one of the key reasons that General Mills’ profits continue to grow is because they’ve shrunk some of their packaging. For example, the ‘Family Size’ box of Cocoa Puffs went from 19.3 ounces to 18.1 ounces while charging the same price, at least initially. Similarly, PepsiCo replaced its 32 oz Gatorade bottle with a 28 oz bottle for the same price. And Coca-Cola has openly told its shareholders that it had ‘earn[ed] the right’ to hike prices for consumers because of their company’s market power.”
Companies aren’t blameless when it comes to greed. CEOs aren’t immune from the fleshly desire to make easy money. But to take a time in U.S. economic history when the chips are down due largely to government actions — and to be clear and specific: due to Democrats’ actions — and to instead lay blame on businesses is to deny truth and run from accountability.
Inflation, under Biden, has hit 40-year highs — at 9.1% at one point. Eggs rose in price 33%. Meat rose in price 8%. Gasoline rose in price nearly 60%. And despite what this White House has repeatedly insisted — that the economy is actually chugging along and employment is good, great, awesome — most Americans are feeling the price pinch. Poll after poll after poll has shown that citizens are disgruntled with their rising costs.
“Young people are gloomy about the economy,” ABC News wrote in December.
“Young Voters Are More Concerned With the Economy. That’s Bad for Biden,” Bloomberg wrote in April.
“While inflation has been rough on all Americans, young adults are faring worse across most economic indicators and are facing tremendous challenges,” Brookings wrote in September.
Telling the American people “nothing to see here, go home,” as the White House has been saying in various ways and manners and messages and forms is hardly the salve that’s soothing.
It’s just one step shy of blaming the businesses.
“Shrinking the size of a product in order to gouge consumers on the price per ounce is not innovation, its is exploitation,” Warren and Dean wrote to the CEOs.
So it using a political position and platform to gain support from voters while shielding self from accountability — which is exactly what Warren and Dean are doing with these condemnations of companies.
If Americans want a better economy, then the right move begins with electing Republicans. Democrats are the party of tax and spend; of seize and redistribute; of regulate and control. Combine those and what do you get?
Bigger price tags on smaller cereal boxes, followed by finger-pointing at the businesses and manufacturers. Who, me? No, no, no, not we! It’s classic Democrat thinking: whoever controls the purse strings also controls the people. Whoever controls the White House and Congress this November also controls the U.S. economy for the next four years.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley. Listen to her podcast “Bold and Blunt” by clicking HERE. And never miss her column; subscribe to her newsletter and podcast by clicking HERE. Her latest book, “Lockdown: The Socialist Plan To Take Away Your Freedom,” is available by clicking HERE or clicking HERE or CLICKING HERE.
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