The American people have spoken. Even though our economy is roaring right now, the average working American is suffering economically. When you look at the last 50 years, wages have gone up gently to keep up with inflation, so that most luxury goods are within reach of the working class. We have more TVs and other consumer  electronics now than we had 50 years ago, and they are cheaper. We can afford gadgets and toys, like smartphones, bikes, refrigerators, household stuff, even cars, all the things we surround ourselves with. Those items are affordable and generally within reach, more than they were 50 years back.

But some things have gone up tremendously. Those are:

• Housing
• College Education
• Child Care
• Health Care
• Food

When the Republicans asked us about whether we were better off than we were four years ago, that’s what they were talking about. Going out to restaurants is now much more expensive, especially after Covid. And it won’t go back down. Child care costs have risen enormously. They were high before Covid, and with many providers shutting down, it’s become much worse in just the last few years. And I don’t need to elaborate on housing, college costs and health care! We all know.

These trends didn’t start with Biden. They started with Carter. This has been going on. Covid and its aftermath has just broken the camel’s back, and Trump is riding on the benefit.

I don’t believe for one minute that anything Trump is planning to do in the next four years is going to fix the cost of these five categories. The policies they are talking about are not going to lower the cost of any of these items. On the contrary. I expect food (they call it bacon and eggs) will continue to go up, brought about by the deportation of agricultural workers and tariffs.

Tax cuts are not going to help, either. Below is a list of the major tax cuts of the last 50 years, titles in red are by Republicans, blue by Democrats.

1. Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981

• Date: August 13, 1981
• Overview: This act was signed by President Ronald Reagan and included substantial tax cuts, particularly for individuals. It aimed to stimulate economic growth through reduced marginal tax rates and increased depreciation allowances.

2. Tax Reform Act of 1986

• Date: October 22, 1986
• Overview: Also signed by Reagan, this act simplified the tax code by reducing the number of tax brackets and lowering the top marginal tax rate from 50% to 28%. It also eliminated many tax shelters and deductions.

3. Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997

• Date: August 5, 1997
• Overview: Under President Bill Clinton, this act included reductions in capital gains taxes, expanded the child tax credit, and offered tax relief for education and home sales.

4. Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA)

• Date: June 7, 2001
• Overview: Signed by President George W. Bush, this act provided significant tax cuts, including reductions in income tax rates and the elimination of the estate tax over time.

5. Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003

• Date: May 28, 2003
• Overview: This act accelerated tax cuts from EGTRRA and included reductions in capital gains and dividends taxes, aimed at boosting the economy during a recession.

6. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

• Date: December 22, 2017
• Overview: Signed by President Donald Trump, this act significantly lowered corporate tax rates, reduced individual tax rates, and increased the standard deduction while eliminating personal exemptions.

We have had some major tax cuts, the most recent by Trump in 2017. Now looking back, it’s obvious that none of these tax cuts have solved the problem that has kept the American working class under the boot. Trump is going to enact another tax cut, which will cost another four trillion dollars, which will be added to the national debt. And four years from now, we will look back again, and housing will be more expensive than it is now, college education will not have become more affordable and students will continue to run up debts, health care will be catastrophic (I am not even seeing any “concepts of plans” to make that better), it will still be difficult for many families to find affordable child care, and a trip to McDonalds will be over 20 bucks.

Tax cuts are not going to solve our fundamental problems, deportation of farm workers will make food more expensive, and knee-jerk tariffs will make many of those consumer goods that are still within reach less affordable.

The American people have spoken. Trump is getting “out of jail free” and four years from now, if all goes well, we’ll be right where we are now.