Inflation, supply chains, and messaging
Democrats are still failing to address the top issue on voters’ mind inflation. More and more economists, pundits, and pollsters are saying the I word, inflation. The Biden administration attempted to ignore or dismiss data on rising inflation, but voters still felt it. While other issues like Afghanistan, Build Back Better, Covid, and CRT took center stage, the issue in voters’ minds was inflation. A few posts ago, I suggested ways to address inflation (cut or eliminate tariffs, increase immigration, and keep rates low so businesses can expand) President Biden has done a few and made moves to expand transportation capacity but that is not enough. Voters are concerned and want a President that will not only empathize but address their problems.
Gas, groceries, and housing are where voters are focused, so that is where Biden should also focus. He did a great job conveying some of the top CEOs of Best Buy Co Inc, Food Lion, Samsung North America, Qurate Retail Group, Todos Supermarket, Etsy Inc, Mattel Inc, Walmart, CVS, and Kroger. With them each boosting his policies and efforts to fight inflation. If Biden wants this to work, he needs to repeat it, use trusted messengers, and be seen as fixing inflation. Instead of a one-time meeting, he should continue weekly forums with business leaders and provide updates with himself or trusted advisors heading them. A low-cost policy like that shows his administration is focused and could provide space for key figures in his administration to improve their standings and his.
Having business leaders emphasizing that supply chains are causing prices spikes gives time and credibility that his policies are not the cause and inflation can be tamed. It will also build support for what policies he has passed and let voters know the government can be the solution. Repairing roads, bridges, and ports, loosening regulations on trucking and ports, expanding broadband, investing in education, childcare and healthcare these are all long-term anti-inflationary measures. Politics is about persuasion, and the charts I’ve provided show Democrats can still get a plurality or majority of voters behind them. Now is the time to save their majority and possibly not only expand it but reform our economy and society.
