Affordability: Reality vs Rhetoric
Here’s what I know to be true. I pay less at the gas pump, and I am grateful for that—truly. I also pay more for groceries. A lot more. We thrift 95% of our clothes and buy used/refurbished to save money. I pay more for homeowners’ insurance and property taxes. I pay more for most things I buy. I have out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. And I am not alone—most Americans can agree that affordability is one of the single most pressing issues in society today.
Being able to afford a roof over your head, food on the table, clothes on your body, and access to affordable healthcare should not be a luxury; it should be the standard. Just last Tuesday, Trump delivered a message on affordability. He claims that he has no higher priority than making America affordable again. His message is simple: “They caused the high prices, and we are fixing them.” The only thing he is trying to fix is his plummeting approval rating. Trump calls the affordability crisis a hoax and pushes the narrative that the U.S. is crushing inflation, providing lower wages and bigger paychecks, and says the only things rising are the stock market and our 401(k)s. But the data tells us a different story, and so can a trip to the grocery store.
Numbers Don’t Lie
While Trump rides on the fact that gas prices are down to $1.99 in several states, the overall cost of living has continued to climb. Grocery costs are up 2.7 percent, and electricity costs have increased by more than five percent. He claims to be crushing inflation, but 57 percent of voters said Trump was losing the battle against inflation, and 68 percent said the economy was poor or very poor. The administration can play the blame game all it wants. Still, there comes a time when they need to step up and take some accountability, because this administration has only made the affordability crisis worse. A Politico poll reports nearly half of Americans find groceries, utility bills, healthcare, housing, and transportation difficult to afford. People have even expressed skipping medical check-ups and prescription doses because of the high costs. And they are frustrated with the unkept promises of an affordable America.
Relief or Reactive Policymaking
In September, we discussed how farmers are dealing with all-time-high prices due to Trump’s tariffs. More recently, this month, the Trump administration announced $12 billion, one-time bridge payments, to American farmers who were impacted. Last Tuesday, he stated, “Tariffs are bringing us hundreds of billions of dollars. I just helped our farmers out because they are starting to do really well.” While Trump rolls out relief assistance, the timing raises an alarm. It seems the administration only responds to political pressure when it is unavoidable. Watching the backbone of America tank and the people who feed the world struggle should not be what it takes to get them to listen. This feels performative; we need a solution. This is simply slapping some bandages on the issue—an issue this administration created.
Ironically, President Trump praises his tariffs during this affordability crisis. This is what reactive policymaking looks like. While one-time bridge payments offer some relief, it fails to address long-term solutions. Far worse, it can set the framework for only reacting to existing issues rather than addressing root causes.
And even with this assistance, farmers express that it is not enough.
Humans—Not Line Items
“A society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable.” When people cannot afford basic necessities, it becomes more than just an economic issue. Access to food, shelter, and healthcare is your fundamental human right. From cutting healthcare to driving up prices, this administration is not focused on fixing what is broken. Priorities need to be reevaluated.
We are building an economy that benefits the super wealthy; we need to focus on an economy that works for the vast majority of Americans. It is time we embrace affordability as a priority. As the holiday season continues, affordability means everything to parents working multiple jobs, seniors living on fixed incomes, and young people trying to build their futures. Under the current administration, needs are not being met, and basic services are becoming less accessible. Farmers, small business owners, service workers, manufacturers, healthcare workers, teachers, and all Americans are feeling the weight of high costs. Americans deserve a Congress that fights for a better economy for the 99%.
I Believe
I believe that no person should have to work three jobs to live. I believe that if you work 50 hours per week, you should be able to get some assistance with housing if you need it. And ultimately, I believe access to basic, life-saving healthcare is a basic human right. My priority is to come together to focus on solutions that will lower everyday costs for hardworking American families, ensuring basic necessities are affordable and accessible for all.
Trump was asked what grade he would give the economy, and he said an “A plus-plus-plus-plus-plus.” Next time you’re at the grocery store, take a look at your receipt and see if you can say the same.
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President Trump speaks in the Poconos, YouTube (2025), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKXW5MnjKz4Consumer price index summary - 2025 M09 results, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htmPress release: December 2025, Harvard CAPS Harris Poll, https://harvardharrispoll.com/press-release-december-2025/ Sean Collins, Most say their financial situation is holding steady, but it’s tenuous - AP-NORC AP (2025), https://apnorc.org/projects/most-say-their-financial-situation-is-holding-steady-but-its-tenuous/ Erin Doherty, New poll paints a grim picture of a nation under financial strain - Politico (2025), https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/10/poll-affordability-cost-of-living-00678076Mitchell Jacob, The Agriculture Industry, https://www.mitchelljacob.com/blog/agriculturalindustryTrump administration announces $12 billion farmer bridge payments for American farmers impacted by unfair market disruptions, USDA (2025), https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/12/08/trump-administration-announces-12-billion-farmer-bridge-payments-american-farmers-impacted-unfairDrew Hawkins, Farmers say Trump’s payment isn’t enough amid rising health care costs, NPR (2025), https://www.npr.org/2025/12/08/nx-s1-5637276/farmers-say-trumps-payment-isnt-enough-amid-rising-health-care-costs Original citation unknown.