Empty Grocery Store

Letter To The Editor: Harris’ Price Control Proposal Risks Worsening U.S. Economy, Hurting Small Businesses

Empty Grocery Store
Letter By Robert Hernandez. Empty Grocery Store

Vice President Kamala Harris recently unveiled a proposal aimed at curbing rising food prices, which she attributed to “price gouging” by grocery stores and producers. However, this proposal not only reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of economics but could also deepen the financial strain on American families and worsen the struggling economy under the Biden-Harris administration.

Harris’ plan to introduce price controls suggests that grocery stores are deliberately inflating prices to boost profits. But as someone who has worked extensively with grocers of all sizes, from large chains to family-owned businesses, I can confirm that price gouging isn’t driving higher food costs.

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The real culprits are the supply chain disruptions, rising labor costs, and market demand—factors largely exacerbated by the administration’s policies. Grocers operate on thin margins, and the surge in prices is a direct result of inflation and regulatory missteps, making it difficult for businesses to control costs.

Instead of acknowledging their role in fueling inflation and supply chain issues, the Biden-Harris administration is scapegoating businesses for problems that stem from poor policy decisions.

Though a federal ban on price gouging may appear attractive on the surface, it could backfire by creating food shortages. Rather than helping consumers, price controls could force companies to cut supply or withdraw from certain markets to avoid penalties. This would only drive up grocery costs for the families Harris claims to support.

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History demonstrates that price controls are ineffective. When producers can’t cover their costs, they scale back production, leading to empty shelves, long lines, and black markets. We’ve seen this play out in countries like Venezuela, where attempts to cap food prices led to severe shortages and mass exodus. Similarly, Argentina’s experience with price controls has resulted in rampant inflation and a thriving black market. Harris’ proposal risks dragging America down this dangerous path.

Beyond its economic implications, this proposal threatens the principles of free markets and individual liberty that are the foundation of American society. Handing control of prices to government bureaucrats is a step toward authoritarianism and far from the American way of life.

Small businesses and farmers, particularly in Hispanic communities, would suffer most under this policy. Many family-owned grocery stores and local farmers would be forced to sell at a loss, pushing them out of business and allowing large multinational corporations to dominate the market, further eroding local economies.

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Additionally, price controls could lead to a decline in food quality. In places like Panama and Puerto Rico, such policies have resulted in an influx of low-quality imports, driving out local producers. Americans could face a future where the only available options are inferior, mass-produced goods.

Kamala Harris’ proposal is not a solution; it is a distraction from the true causes of rising prices. The backlash against her plan was swift, and its absence from her Democratic National Convention speech raises questions about its viability and public support. Rather than solving economic problems, it threatens to worsen them while undermining the freedoms that define the United States.

American families need a return to policies that encourage economic growth, competition, and innovation. We should focus on reducing federal spending, cutting regulations, and unleashing American energy to lower production and transportation costs.

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The American people, especially the hardworking Hispanic community, deserve better than to be pawns in a progressive agenda. It’s time to defend the values that make America strong and ensure the principles of free enterprise remain intact.

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