With apologies to Art Linkletter (Google him, kids) President Joe Biden says the darndest things. Last week he said this with an absolute straight face:
“Like we were doing before I got elected president, inflation at the grocery store is, thank God, beginning to slow.”
Now, I know a few rural (as in “real”) Nevada readers of this Battle Born Media newspaper think Joe Biden hung the moon. Fine. But, is anyone buying this? Anyone?
First, you gotta love the way he prefaced that statement – “like we were doing before I got elected.” Was that an unconscious tip of the hat to Trump policies, or just another muddled piece of Biden-speak?
Who can tell these days?
My point isn’t to second guess the mysterious mind of our president (now 80, by the way), but to explore the veracity of what he’s trying to sell.
He says, without any evidence by the way, that food prices are going to go down. That would be nice, of course, given that during the first two years of his presidency prices have done nothing but go up, up and up. And, let us not forget that the president is on record as saying that he’s going to do nothing differently in the second two years of his presidency.
Biden’s wishes and predictions aside, let’s review reality as told to us by the president’s own federal agencies.
The Department of Agriculture says the average cost of eggs nationally this time last year was about $1.50. Eggs today cost $4.20.
From August 2021 to August 2022, food prices have risen 11.4% according to the most recent Consumer Price Index report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nearly every food item is now more expensive. Bread, for example, was 16.2% more expensive in August than a year ago.
The president tells us we’ve reached the high-water mark.
What say ye, Battle Born Media readers?
You believe that?
Do you see signs of relief when you go to the grocery store?
Tell you what, next time you’re in the store, snap a picture of these falling food prices and send it to me. I’ll see to it that Nevada’s largest and favorite English-speaking newspapers print them. I’m standing by to chronicle these downward moving prices.
In the meanwhile, let’s review the reaction of real people when the president’s quote hit Twitter last week. He received a universal Bronx cheer. Here are a few comments:
– I don’t know how much of Hunter’s crack is needed for him to say something like this but:
1 can of bottom tier coffee. 2 lbs of bananas. 1 case bottom tier water. 2 really crappy cuts of pork meat. 30 bucks. Thanks Mr. President.
– One dozen eggs cost $6.29 yesterday here in Cumming, GA.
– 18 eggs are $9 in Florida.
– Off brand prices are now the same price regular brands used to be. lol.
– I Know!! I am buying the crappy ketchup and mayo.
Of course, you’re probably with me in hoping the president is right about something for once. We could all use a break from Biden-era inflation. Color me hopeful, but skeptical.
ONE MORE THING
– President Biden, the first lady and LL Cool J lit the National Christmas tree near the White House. It was a shrewd move by the Biden administration. It showed the nation that Joe Biden can still count backward from three, with some help from LL Cool J, whom he addressed as Cool Whip. (H/T Argus Hamilton)
– Just so we’re clear. The Grinch never really hated Christmas. He hated people, which is fair.
– A friend from Morocco gave me a recipe for some delicious dinner rolls. The recipe calls for fresh thyme, but I only had the dried stuff and I’m pretty sure it is expired. But I used it anyway because, you never know, I may like that old thyme Moroccan roll.
– I asked the waitress for a quickie and she slapped me. The grandmotherly woman in the next booth said, “It’s pronounced ‘quiche,’ dear.”
That’ll do for this week. Don’t forget to send me those pictures of food prices in your area. Until next week avoid soreheads, laugh a little, and always question authority.
“Properly Subversive” is commentary written by Sherman R. Frederick, a Nevada Hall of Fame journalist and co-founder of Battle Born Media, a news organization dedicated to the preservation of community newspapers. You can reach him by email at shermfrederick@ gmail. com.
NVCondor says
Like what passes today as a Republican, lots of finger pointing and whining, but really short of offering any solutions. Yes, inflation has been a struggle and there are a ton of reasons for it. But really, Joe Biden controls the price of eggs?
At the time of your posting, the inflation rate has shrunk to 7.1%. That tidbit probably didn’t make NewsMax. It’s an improvement, but there is more to do and many of the things in the IRA won’t kick in until next year. So, things like prescription drugs will come down in price, something your Republicans fought hard to stop. In fact, most of them fought to stop improvements in our infrastructure and the creation of jobs.
Republicans, like you, made a big deal about inflation and in doing so, won a slim majority in the House of Representatives. So, when they take control of the House, the first thing anyone would think that is their top priority is addressing inflation. Wrong. Fighting inflation doesn’t even make the list.
Their number one priority is investigating Hunter Biden and Anthony Fauci. If it wasn’t so sad, it would be laughable.
Your politically slanted op eds are supposed to be humorous, I suppose. But as someone who doesn’t delve into rightwing media, I feel your comments demonstrate a really high level of cynicism and some misinformation. It’s your Newspaper, and I guess you are entitled to your opinions. But maybe, instead of the whining and the snark, you offer solutions to whatever you feel that should be addressed.