VP Kamala Harris Proposes the “First Ever Federal Ban on Price Gouging”
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris holds campaign in North Carolina
FAYETTEVILLE, UNITED STATES - JULY 18: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris holds a campaign event that is her seventh visit to North Carolina this year and 15th trip to the state since taking office in Fayetteville NC, North Carolina, United States on July 18, 2024. (Photo by Peter Zay/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Real News:
At a campaign rally on Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina, Vice President and presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris unveiled her plan to enact “the first ever federal ban on price gouging for food.”
With Vice President Harris coming onto the scene as the presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee just a few weeks ago, this is one of the first policy initiatives the Harris campaign has introduced. The announcement has undoubtedly garnered much attention from voters and analysts alike. Many warning that this may not be the right step to lower the price of groceries for everyday Americans.
Many news pundits have criticized the policy for being too vague in nature and too closely resembling the communist and socialist policies of countries like; Venezuela, Argentina, the Soviet Union, and many others, all which led to higher grocery prices and major shortages. Economists say this policy “would likely lead to the worst supply shortages since the 1970s.”
What pundits are saying about this hazy policy is that there would be no set standard that dictates price, meaning that all prices are subject to the discretion of the government. For example, the FTC would decide what the “right” price for eggs is at a Kroger in Idaho.
Biblical Perspective:
As a people we must not be naive but heed the wisdom and the mistakes of those that have come before us (Deuteronomy 32:7 & 1 Corinthians 10:6-11). We should be diligent in praying that all policies enacted are enacted out of a pure heart (1 Timothy 1:5) and promote human flourishing (Psalm 92:12 & John 3:16).
Timeless Take:
Forgetting our history is a dangerous route to take. As much as we can learn from triumph, we learn even more from loss. Looking at how governmental control of grocery prices has so negatively impacted the countries it’s been a part of, it’s hard to believe that it would be the right step for the United States to take.
We must pray that our elected officials and those in charge would use prudence and discernment when deciding the course of action for our country. We must pray that the policies enacted would be for the betterment of the people and not for malicious intent.
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/16/business/harris-price-gouging-ban-inflation/index.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/15/kamala-harris-price-gouging-groceries/