Inflation and the blame game in the 2022 mid-term election: Letters

Inflation and the blame game in the 2022 mid-term election

Oct. 30 − To the Editor:

Last week, Exxon Mobil and Chevron reported record-smashing quarterly net profits of nearly $20 billion and $11 billion respectively. They didn’t just pass through their own increased expenditures, they added a huge increase on top, just because they could. Adding this news on top of the core Consumer Price Index (CPI) report in September, which grew by 6.6% over the prior 12 months, the inflationary rise has been even higher when accounting for volatile goods like the cost of energy (Washington Post July 26, 2022). While inflation may not be the most important election issue on every voter’s mind, it certainly is top-of-mind for many. With the November general elections almost upon us, and with the usual plethora of political ads, it is clear one side has decided to hammer on inflation as the most important issue. There are likely many who are not sure who to believe and who deserves their vote.

So let us take a look at how we got here. We all know that the current economic situation did not suddenly appear in the last year. A February 2022 blog by The Economic Policy Institute, stated that the COVID-19 pandemic is the primary factor driving excessive inflation through demand and supply-side distortions, i.e., global supply chains snarled due largely to port shutdowns caused by COVID-19 outbreaks. Higher prices for slower shipping because of fractured supply chains or the difficulty of meeting demand have been major drivers as businesses didn’t always have enough stock on hand to meet the demand and couldn’t make or ship goods fast enough to catch up. This has resulted in skyrocketing prices for many of our staples, as well as discretionary spends like airfare and vacations, particularly after covid cases fell and pent-up demand took hold.

Clearly germane to this explanation, Fortune Magazine reported in March of this year that U.S. companies posted their biggest profit growth in decades by jacking up prices, even as Americans struggled with rising consumer prices amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, U.S. companies' pre-tax profits surged 25% to $2.81 trillion in 2021 compared to 2020. While the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the deep systemic inequalities and massive failures in our economic system, the pertinent question for voters who believe that inflation is the number one issue in this election is, who should we hold to account? If the government cannot control how much money companies can make, how can we say that the government is principally responsible for this inflation? Do we just give corporations like Exxon Mobil and Chevron, that increased their prices and profits, a free pass by conveniently ignoring their role in this crisis?

If we want to make things better for all Americans across all socio-economic levels, we must begin by being honest with ourselves and choosing those leaders who will work on solutions, not just whine about the situation we are in without offering and advocating for substantive solutions. If we want to remain in our own tribes, then nothing will change and all of us will be worse off for it. Let’s all be honest with ourselves and with one another and not fall prey to the rhetoric.

Walter King

Dover

All Black people are not the same

Oct. 29 − To the Editor:

In the lobby of the movie theater last weekend - Oct 22nd

A woman came up to me and said “Are you Viola Davis?! I can’t believe that Viola is here in Newington!”

I was somewhat stunned, but not surprised. Although I don’t look a thing like Viola Davis aside from my skin color I have been somehow been mistaken for; Oprah, Whoopi and Halle Berry to name a few.

Later, as I was discussing the movie we had just seen with my family the same woman came up to me again insisting that I was Viola Davis. Both times my attitude was conciliatory, but I should have told her the comments were offensive. In that moment I felt tired of educating White people, but I wish I had spoken up.

Anyone who reads this may be shaking their heads and wondering why any Black woman would be upset for being mistaken for the beautiful Viola Davis. I hope my explanation does this article justice; I am upset because all Black people do notlook alike. We do not look alike, do not act alike and are only similar to one another by the color of our skin. Even our skin color has different shades and mine is not the same color as beautiful Halle Berry’s, who is a light skinned African American.

I suppose my message is to please be respectful of your Black and Brown neighbors. Our skin color does not make us alike, nor did it make me Viola Davis.

Jackie Gadsden

Portsmouth

Gov. Sununu continues to block progress on clean energy

Oct. 28 − To the Editor:

If you think it’s time to support clean, renewable energy, you’ll be interested to know that Governor Sununu is the only New England governor not to join the US Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of 24 governors committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and keeping global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

When this winter’s electric bill rises sharply, know that in 2019 Governor Sununu vetoed HB183, a bill to boost woodchip-burning ‘biomass’ electric plants which would have supported our North Country forestry industry and helped us move to more localized, sustainable power grids. He has since decided to keep those biomass plants offline. In total, he’s vetoed over a dozen clean energy bills that would have diversified energy in our state.

When asked about renewables, Sununu claimed that a rapid shift to green energy would be “too jarring” to the economy. More jarring than losing our ski industry? More jarring than the ongoing drought that threatens state agriculture? More jarring than sea level rise?

Sununu has held office six years and is asking for two more. How many years does he need to “transition” to cleaner energy?

Tom Sherman supports a diversified portfolio of biomass, wind, solar, and hydro. He knows the time to act is now and is ready to work with surrounding states to lead.

Please join me in voting for Dr. Tom Sherman. Let’s tell our children we did all we could to leave them a healthy, livable world.

Mimi White

Founding and former member of the Rye Energy Committee

Rye

Our everyday experience tells us Democrats are failing

Oct. 28 − To the Editor:

Try as they might, Democrats can't convince reality-based voters to ignore our every-day experiences.

Things are not as bad as you think, they say, Democrats are doing a great job - an argument supported by cherry-picked statistics from the New York Times and half-truths. Sorry, but our everyday experience tells us that gas is expensive, we worry about heating oil and gas shortages looming this winter and the specter of rolling blackouts, we see steep increases in mortgage interest rates exacerbating housing affordability, we know our food costs more.

Rational voters worry that we are in a proxy war with Russia, which possesses the second largest nuclear arsenal in the world, and that our foreign policy is haphazard, as we drift from one crisis to the next (Afghanistan retreat will not be forgotten). The border is secure - pay no attention to the record high levels of fentanyl smuggling and related deaths.

Failing to convince us that things are just fine, their fall back position is that despite their being in control of both the executive and legislative branches of the federal government, nothing is their fault. As though trillions of dollars of stimulus spending has not contributed to or driven inflation and caused the need for the Fed to raise interest rates as a countermeasure. As though they did not intentionally cripple the production of fossil fuels in the US, setting the stage for the so-called Putin price hike and fuel shortages. As though our IRA's have not suffered a near-collapse as they teeter on the edge of further decline. As though they don't owe the American people a sober discussion of the risks of a proxy war with Russia.

But Trump! (Not on the ballot). But election denial! (as though we did not endure ongoing denials of the 2016 election legitimacy, with Hilary Clinton already preemptively claiming the 2024 election will be rigged). Please.

Fanciful yarns of Democratic competence, or worse, excuses for Democratic impotence in the face of global challenges, simply don't change our everyday reality which is driven by their failed policies.

It's time to let Karoline Leavitt and Don Bolduc see if they can do any better. It's hard to imagine they could do any worse.

Thomas M. Rossi, Ph.D.

Portsmouth

Bolduc pushes anti-woke hysteria to a new level of shrill

Oct. 30 − To the Editor:

Don Boldoc criticizes our public schools for indulging children with "fuzzies and furries" anthropomorphized animal fetishes. This ridiculous, false, and bizarre accusation pushes "anti-woke" hysteria to a new, uncharted level of shrill.

Students are presenting with serious mental health issues, backsliding in academic performance, and regressed social development as real problems. Our leaders need to confront these educational challenges, not contrived fearmongering.

Promoting provocative, untethered, and frenzied beliefs, absent of evidence or facts, might result in short term political gain, however, inflicts long-term destructive erosion of our community engagement and political discourse.

Ken Cohen

Kensington

Send the general to Washington

Oct. 30 − To the Editor:

New Hampshire born and raised Don Bolduc is a man of intelligence, character, humility, and is not beholden to the Washington establishment. He rose from a private to Brigadier General in the US Army that he served in for 33-plus years. He has received two awards for valor, 5 Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, Legion of Merit, and many more medals. He led the 3^rd Special Forces Group, served on the Joint Staff in the office of the Secretary of Defense, and briefed members of the Joint Chiefs and the President of the United States. This humble gentleman was a boots on the ground soldier.

I had the good luck of being seated next to Mr. Bolduc, along with his wife at a fund raiser for the Navy Seals Museum a few years back. An old boatswains mate told me on our ship once, that you can always tell the difference between an Admiral and a Captain, well that also goes for Brigadier Generals too. His presence is undeniable. His final post was Special Forces Africa Commander, overseeing more than 2,000 operations. Do not pass up an opportunity, to send native son Don Bolduc to DC as your next US Senator. After reading the 56 political flyers that came to my mailbox, I conclude that the NH Democratic Party has cornered the market on baloney. The falsehoods about this quality man are shameful. If you are an independent, your vote is extremely valuable: Please consider General Bolduc; he will do what is right for this country.

Mark Schlieper

Rye

Chris Pappas is most qualified candidate in NH CD-1 race

Oct. 30 − To The Editor:

The qualifications of the candidates in the NH congressional race present a vivid contrast. Chris Pappas, age 42, has small business experience, has served on the NH Executive Council and as treasurer of Hillsborough County. He has had numerous terms in the NH state legislature as well as serving two terms in the US House. His record includes sponsoring bills to support small business and for improved access to affordable health care, as well as fighting for veteran benefits and to combat the opioid epidemic. He has worked with Republicans on infrastructure and border security.

His opponent is Karoline Leavitt, who is 25 years old and whose work experience since graduation from St. Anselm in 2019 has been short stints as a political spin artist for Fox News, Donald Trump and Elise Stefanik, number two GOP leader in the US House of Representatives. Leavitt has never held political office.

She insists on parroting the dangerous lie that the 2020 election was stolen, a claim proven untrue by both Republican and Democratic state election officials and judges appointed by both parties. This fact alone, even if she were otherwise qualified, calls into question her honesty, judgement, loyalty to the country and suitability for public office.

New Hampshire deserves a qualified representative in Congress. Please vote for Chris Pappas.

Cynthia Muse

Rye

Please vote Steven Borne for No. Hampton, Greenland, Rye House seat

Oct. 31 − To the Editor:

We write this letter in support of Independent Candidate Steven Borne for the new State Representative seat established for the district of North Hampton, Greenland and Rye. This new seat provides voters with an opportunity to expand North Hampton’s representation to an additional seat (2 seats total).

We’ve had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Borne for many years. He is a passionate independent thinker who gets things done. Mr. Borne has a long track record of non- partisan participation in Rye and the greater community. He is steadfast, and continues to refuse monetary support for his campaign. Mr. Borne has tirelessly worked at a grassroots level to expand his network and inform voters about his campaign values. He even made his own political signs.

North Hampton (and other district towns) would benefit from a strong independent voice, and a non-partisan commitment to representation. Mr. Borne is well educated and informed of critical issues facing our state and will represent the three Seacoast towns with diligence.

Steven Borne authored a 2019 publication” Consuming Government”, in which he discusses how to best manage government services. He will work with integrity, intelligence, and energy to represent our district to help make our government work efficiently and effectively.

Please consider Steven Borne, an independent, as the additional seat in the North Hampton, Rye, Greenland district.

More information is available at borne-independent.com

Nancy-Jane and Richard Luff

North Hampton

Republican takeover of Congress would damage US economy

Oct. 26 − To the Editor:

This is the second in a series on what to expect if Republicans take over Congress. As I mentioned previously, they have threatened to refuse to raise the debt ceiling, and they came close to succeeding a few years ago. This would cause the U.S. to default on its debt, and the repercussions would be horrendous.

Interest rates would skyrocket, vastly increasing what our government has to pay to service its debt. Government bonds would be relegated to junk status. The world might decide it’s too risky to continue using the dollar as the basis of financial transactions, as it is now, and could move to using the Euro, or even worse, the Chinese Yuan. The value of the dollar would plummet, making everything imported from overseas vastly more expensive. The U.S. could plunge into a depression.

Polls say people trust Republicans more on the economy, but does defaulting on our debt seem trustworthy? Also, the myth is not born out by history. Since 1933, the economy has grown an average of 4.6% under Democratic administrations and only 2.4% under Republican ones. Ever since the Reagan administration, the deficit has ballooned under Republicans and been reduced under Democrats. That’s because Republicans irresponsibly cut taxes to corporations and the ultra-wealthy every time they are in power.

Republicans are the “borrow money and pad the pockets of the rich” party. The current national debt is about $31 trillion, almost all of it caused by Republican policies and tax cuts. That’s about $94,000 for every U.S. citizen. And Republicans will cut taxes and balloon the deficit again, using the fairy tale of supply side economics (which has never worked and never will work). How many of you Republican voters out there think living on a credit card is a good idea?

Jim Mastro

Dover

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Inflation and the blame game in the 2022 mid-term election: Letters