For a while now, the inflation stats have been improving much faster than public sentiment has. You *could* say that the vibes are off, and that Biden just has to shift them. But there might also be a deeper reason behind the bad vibes. People's anxieties about "inflation" are really just nostalgia for lower prices -- and prices are *not* going to tumble anytime soon.
If that's right -- though it's just a hunch at this point -- Biden should be careful before bringing up inflation. Instead of convincing people that he shares their concerns, he might just remind them that they're pissed that prices are still much higher than they were five years ago.
Curious to hear your thoughts, and thanks to you & Lauren for the posts.
I think inflation is so hard-wired into the system that the reality will never ever match people’s desires. I think that rather than talking about inflation as an abstract concept that it takes years to fully understand in terms of factors/causality, he should take a very down to earth approach and talk about specifics.
I drive an EV so I’m out of this loop, but my husband has told me that at gas stations everywhere there are stickers that say “thank Biden for this” from when gas was over $4.
Well, for many reasons, it’s lower. My husband says — and I agree — that savvy Dems should go around putting response stickers with Biden and a speech bubble: “yep! I did! You’re welcome!” But the Dems are too busy fomenting culture war stuff that does little to mitigate daily anxieties. This is just my perception on the ground.
Student debt is a huge problem, but not for the working class that we’ve hemorrhaged for the last howevermany years. Ditto climate. It’s a distant problem when faced with eggs and medicine.
Do you think talking about inflation will work?
For a while now, the inflation stats have been improving much faster than public sentiment has. You *could* say that the vibes are off, and that Biden just has to shift them. But there might also be a deeper reason behind the bad vibes. People's anxieties about "inflation" are really just nostalgia for lower prices -- and prices are *not* going to tumble anytime soon.
If that's right -- though it's just a hunch at this point -- Biden should be careful before bringing up inflation. Instead of convincing people that he shares their concerns, he might just remind them that they're pissed that prices are still much higher than they were five years ago.
Curious to hear your thoughts, and thanks to you & Lauren for the posts.
I think inflation is so hard-wired into the system that the reality will never ever match people’s desires. I think that rather than talking about inflation as an abstract concept that it takes years to fully understand in terms of factors/causality, he should take a very down to earth approach and talk about specifics.
I drive an EV so I’m out of this loop, but my husband has told me that at gas stations everywhere there are stickers that say “thank Biden for this” from when gas was over $4.
Well, for many reasons, it’s lower. My husband says — and I agree — that savvy Dems should go around putting response stickers with Biden and a speech bubble: “yep! I did! You’re welcome!” But the Dems are too busy fomenting culture war stuff that does little to mitigate daily anxieties. This is just my perception on the ground.
Student debt is a huge problem, but not for the working class that we’ve hemorrhaged for the last howevermany years. Ditto climate. It’s a distant problem when faced with eggs and medicine.
I’m so angry at the dnc for so many reasons. Ugh
Honestly I would design and buy these stickers if anyone thinks it’s a good idea. How will I get them to gas stations across the country?
https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/mje/2022/05/02/the-link-between-gas-prices-and-presidential-approval-ratings/