The Inside Scoop on Price Gouging
As my campaign draws to a close, I can’t stop thinking about a conversation I had with a retired Hispanic woman in Salinas. I knocked on her door and told her I was running for Congress. She said that it was funny that I came to her door at that moment because she had just listened to President Biden on TV telling her that her life was good.
This was anything but the truth to this woman. She went on to explain how she had just come from the store without the eggs and meat that were in her shopping cart because she could not afford them. In less than three years, eggs have gone from $1.99 a dozen to $5.99, a 200% increase in price, while Social Security went up a mere 8%. No wonder this woman went home without protein for her diet.
Price Gouging?
My opponent, who has voted for every policy of the Biden-Harris Administration, will tell you that this woman was a victim of “price gouging”. Why would a store price basic necessities so high that most customers could not afford them? Think about it! Stores don’t want to go out of business!
Why have Prices Skyrocketed? The Inside Scoop!
Joe Biden loves his ice cream and he can afford it whenever he wants…but families who used to visit my shop weekly for a treat, now must reduce their visits to once a month. Likely putting gas in the car is more important than a family treat.
My shop is Ohana Hawaiian Shave Ice where we sell shave ice, ice cream, coffees and other treats that people enjoy. Just like the eggs that are sold in stores, I have had to raise prices to try and cover my costs. For example, we make our own syrups for the shave ice. Two years ago, a 10 lb package of sugar cost $4.99 at Costco. Today that same package is $8.99. That is an 80% cost increase for me. I cannot charge my customers 80% more for shave ice or I would have no customers!
Note from my opponent
Here is the note my opponent sent to supporters last Friday (10/25/24):
“I know we are all anxious for this election to be over. I am cautiously optimistic that Kamala will win if we all do what we need to do in this final sprint. But we know she needs a Democratic House to get her agenda passed. I hope you'll lend whatever support you can to that end.
Thanks for all that you do!
Zoe"
We Need Lawmakers Who Understand the Economy!
From my days as a Teamster delivering bread to stores, to having the opportunity to start a small business in downtown Hollister, I have worked hard all my life. Career politicians like my opponent have no idea how the real economy works.
With over 40 years of living on the tax-payer’s dime, my opponent has lost touch with the struggles of everyday Americans to put food on the table and for small businesses to survive.
"This is the issue of this election: whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capitol can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves."
Ronald Reagan
