Letter to the editor: Democrats will get the job done

Inflation is high. Grocery prices are up. It costs more to fill the tank than it did in 2020.

Strangely, many folks concerned about inflation plan to vote for Republicans. What will Republicans do about inflation if elected? They may extend the Trump-era tax cuts for corporations, exacerbating inflation. Record corporate profits account for 53.9% of price increases. For reference, between 1979 and 2019, corporate profits accounted for 11% of price increases.

Republicans undoubtedly will hold the debt ceiling hostage whenever they wish to pass or block legislation, whether that is social policy or aid for Ukraine. This hurts the economy even when the nation almost (but not quite) defaults on its debt. Will Republicans starve Ukraine of aid, contributing to skyrocketing world energy costs and worsening inflation?

How about Democrats? With just two more Senate seats, Democrats could block corporate price gouging and shift much of the tax burden from middle-class families to the ultra-rich. They could implement clean-energy policies to make America energy independent.

What have Democrats already done? U.S. manufacturing is at its highest level in 14 years, adding almost a half-million jobs. Democrats have capped out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare recipients, made hearing aids available over the counter and allowed Medicare to negotiate some prescription drug prices. Social Security benefits are increasing 8.7%, helping seniors. Unemployment is at a record low, and infrastructure projects, rebuilding our roads and bridges, are already happening.

As a bonus, Democrats will codify abortion access and voting rights.

Nathaniel Myers III

Fox Chapel