Democrat strategist James Carville is credited with first saying it in 1992: “It’s the economy, stupid!” Turned out to be a piece of advice that helped Bill Clinton capture the US Presidency.
The maxim still holds true.
Donald Trump re-captured his old job … despite his character/credibility/ethical and even criminal flaws … largely based on the hurt Americans have been suffering under Biden/Democrats when they buy groceries or pump gas or even pay their rent.
The average price of a dozen eggs in the US in 2020, when Biden too over was $1.51; today $3.82; milk was $3.31 a gallon; today $4.02; and lettuce, which averaged $1.63 kg in 2020, now goes for between $1.97 to $3.94.
Hard to buy into a campaign that emphasizes protecting democracy, abortion rights, transgender acceptance, NATO, the Mid East and Ukraine, when you are struggling to feed your kids.
In fact, a CNN exit poll released Wednesday morning showed 67% described the condition of the US economy as “not good or poor”; and, only 32% saw its as “good or excellent”.
Add to that the growing fear of violent crime right across the US; more than 100,000 opioid deaths each year; millions of illegals crowding urban areas (eating up billions of dollars worth of public services, including housing, food support, free education, health care and welfare funds) … and you can see why Donald Trump scored a clear victory.
And there’s a lesson in that for Canada.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government have emphasized the need to fight climate change, addressed First Nations reconciliation, welcomed refugee claimants (72,000 in 2023 alone, plus 469,000 immigrants), and, introduced a national dental care program.
But when eggs cost $4.35 a dozen; milk (4 litres) is $5.95: butter (454 gms) is $6.79 and an iceberg lettuce is $3.99, it gets pretty expensive to feed a family here too!
Not to mention the current median monthly rent for an apartment in Vancouver is $2,829 per month; gasoline is $1.72 a litre, health care is a mess; crime is rampant in too many communities; the Courts are a disgrace; and many Canadians (including Liberals!) feel Trudeau has lost touch with Canadians.
Canada’s next scheduled federal election is October, 2025.
The results of the US vote (the recent BC vote too) convince me more than ever, as I wrote in June ( https://harveyoberfeld.ca/attention-politicians-the-middle-class-is-mad-as-hell-and-not-taking-it-anymore/) , taxpayers want change.
Polls continue to show that for most Canadians, the vote can’t come too soon, and Trudeau/Liberals will go the way of Biden/Harris/Democrats.
Get ready for Pierre Poilievre … despite his flaws.
Harv Oberfeld
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