Gilbert Engel - Letter to Editor

Does the government control inflation? Inflation measured by economic institutions is an average of a group of items and services, meaning there are going to be some over the inflation number and some below it. Some of the items or services measured are not in control of the government. For example, local rent and real estate cost are largely controlled by location, availability and market factors related to location such as school, cultural access and job access. The government can affect the overall number over time by use of spending programs and the Federal Reserve interest rate decisions. That has been done very effectively by lowering the overall rate down to twenty-year averages and below, maintaining a strong job market and avoiding recession. The Biden administration has done that. A major cause of the inflation we experienced was from the Corona virus and that lack of foresight by the Trump Administration of its effects on shipping lane and prevention. The result of that failure it appears to me was clogged ports, false cures, poor preparation in real virus vaccinations, more deaths that could have been prevented and an overly traumatized heath care system. Is that the leadership you want back in control of this country?

Gilbert Engel, Niagara, WI