Suppose Trump really were determined to lower the price of groceries

[Politruk]

How, exactly, does a president do that?

 

[Politruk]

That is, was he promising something impossible? Or something possible, that he could do only by going against Republican politics?

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

Trump loves the poorly educated.

 

[MajorRewrite]

There is no mechanism I know of that could lower the price of groceries specifically.

An economic crash has the potential to lower all prices (deflation). It would have to be a true crash. A little recession would not get it done.

 

[Politruk]

I recall Nixon once instituted a price freeze for a few months, but I'm not clear on the legal mechanism, or why it could not be maintained indefinitely. And I'm not clear on whether it was effectively enforced or black-market trade made it meaningless.

 

[MajorRewrite]

I recall Nixon once instituted a price freeze for a few months, but I'm not clear on the legal mechanism, or why it could not be maintained indefinitely. And I'm not clear on whether it was effectively enforced or black-market trade made it meaningless.

I forgot about that. I’d think price freezes would be ineffective because the products would just be exported to nations without price freezes. A good way to create shortages.

Inflation was a real problem in the Ford and Carter administrations. One of them had a public relations campaign to “whip inflation now” (WIN), as if the general public had the power to stop inflation if they just tried hard enough.

Eventually the inflation was snuffed out by raising interest rates, exactly as the Fed did in recent years.

 

[Bn2f]

You couldn't sit and share a beer with George bush cos he long had been sober.
Venture capitalist Mittens needed to be taught how to correctly sit on on barstool type chair for his open stage debate with Obama.
These fuckers will still buy the myth that these silver spooned fortunate sons are the ones looking out for their interests.
This buffoon thinks Wal-Mart is where you buy accessories to hang a painting. Knows nothing of food deserts. Never starved or ever had to decide between rent or the light bill. The WH is beneath him or his wife to be seen in for any length of time over a day. Yeah, this THIS is the guy to help the everyday Joe.

 

[Politruk]

There is no mechanism I know of that could lower the price of groceries specifically.

An economic crash has the potential to lower all prices (deflation). It would have to be a true crash. A little recession would not get it done.

But is there any way to lower retail prices without lowering wages, or increasing unemployment?

 

[MajorRewrite]

But is there any way to lower retail prices without lowering wages, or increasing unemployment?

I don’t think so. Apparently Trump doesn’t think so either.

 

[Deleted member 6873114]

How, exactly, does a president do that?

First he uses executive power to ban the use of were when it should be was. Then drill baby drill happens. With oil prices down the cost of food production drops. If it costs less to produce then the cost of groceries go down because groceries are often made out of food. Also, companies like John Deere would have less government regulation driving costs up. Thus the farmers would be able to get machinery at better rates. Shipping costs are a major part of grocery prices. Shipping prices drop when the cost of oil drops. And on and on and on. As it turns out the economy doesn't run on fairy dust. It runs on oil.

 

[Politruk]

Then drill baby drill happens.

That's not going to lower oil prices.

 

[Deleted member 6873114]

That's not going to lower oil prices.

Let's check back on this one year from now and see what oil prices are. Unless some other global shit happens like the Wuhan virus attack the oil prices will be way down.

 

[Deleted member 6873114]

How, exactly, does a president do that?

Really just study what the Biden handlers did and do the opposite. He drove the prices up... returning to Trump's first term polices would in itself drive them back down. But this time it will be more intense as the swamp water goes down the burden on the people will go down too.

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

Let's check back on this one year from now and see what oil prices are. Unless some other global shit happens like the Wuhan virus attack the oil prices will be way down.

In 2022 the price of West Texas oil was $120, now it’s just under $70. How much has the price of groceries gone down in the past two years?
https://www.macrotrends.net/2516/wti-crude-oil-prices-10-year-daily-chart

 

[MajorRewrite]

First he uses executive power to ban the use of were when it should be was. Then drill baby drill happens. With oil prices down the cost of food production drops. If it costs less to produce then the cost of groceries go down because groceries are often made out of food. Also, companies like John Deere would have less government regulation driving costs up. Thus the farmers would be able to get machinery at better rates. Shipping costs are a major part of grocery prices. Shipping prices drop when the cost of oil drops. And on and on and on. As it turns out the economy doesn't run on fairy dust. It runs on oil.

Not even you could believe a word of that.

 

[Deleted member 6873114]

Not even you could believe a word of that.

Explain. You think the economy does run on fairy dust?

 

[MajorRewrite]

Really just study what the Biden handlers did and do the opposite. He drove the prices up... returning to Trump's first term polices would in itself drive them back down. But this time it will be more intense as the swamp water goes down the burden on the people will go down too.

Wow. I thought MAGAs just pretended to believe nonsense, but you actually seem to be sincere.

 

[Deleted member 6873114]

Wow. I thought MAGAs just pretended to believe nonsense, but you actually seem to be sincere.

Just commenting on the situation. In time the MAGA movement will fail too. But for the next little while it will have some major results. But human nature and greed will eventually result in the swamp water creeping back in. Human history proves this to be true. So I don't get drawn into the idea that any of this makes any difference in the long run. But it can be amusing watching the swamp creatures thrash about.

 

[Politruk]

But human nature and greed will eventually result in the swamp water creeping back in.

The cost of bureaucracy is not economically relevant. Grocery prices are never high because of that.

 

[Politruk]

So far, it sounds like Trump just found something that was causing the voters pain and promised to fix it, without having any idea how he would.

 

[dmallord]

So far, it sounds like Trump just found something that was causing the voters pain and promised to fix it, without having any idea how he would.

That, in essence, is the felon's 'concept of a plan' statement about fixing some things someday, somehow given more time to formulate the 'plan.'

Word to ill-informed, don't hold your breath.

 

[Politruk]

Explain. You think the economy does run on fairy dust?

An economy runs on labor. Nothing else creates wealth.

 

[JohnEngelman]

Trump loves the poorly educated.

That is because they believe his lies. When Trump cannot deliver on his lies, they blame the Democrats.

 

[Bn2f]

First he uses executive power to ban the use of were when it should be was.

 

[jomar]

Simple. He’ll call domestic manufacturers/farmers, wholesalers and retailers of groceries and produce and threaten to impose 25% tariffs on their products unless they lower prices. This will work because tariff wars are easy and if the price of US groceries aren’t lowered the US will make billions off of US grocery suppliers just like we do off of China!