Harris Can Win on the Economy, but She Needs a Stronger Message

The New York Times ^ | Sept. 12, 2024, 5:03 a.m. ET | Jedediah Britton-Purdy

[E. Pluribus Unum]

In Tuesday’s debate against Donald Trump, Kamala Harris emphasized her middle-class background, her admiration for small business owners and her plans for an “opportunity economy.” She promised tax credits for young families and support for first-time homeowners. Those attempts to put meat on the bones of her economic plan will not be enough to win the presidential election.

In the latest Times/Siena poll, Ms. Harris trailed Mr. Trump by 13 points on the economy, the issue that matters most to voters. It’s why she’s merely tied with Mr. Trump in the race overall, not crushing him.

Optimistic words and some admirable proposals aren’t enough to overcome the discontent and anger that large majorities of Americans feel about the economy. Ms. Harris must speak directly to this experience and advance a strong, coherent economic program for a freer, more fair economy.

Between broad phrases like “opportunity economy” and some policy talking points, she hasn’t found her footing on the economy yet. She sounded almost populist in North Carolina in August, mixing talk about the “dignity” of homeownership with denunciation of high prescription drug prices and calls for canceling medical debt. A few weeks later, in New Hampshire, she sounded more like the former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, promising to keep taxes on investment income significantly lower than President Biden recently proposed.

Ms. Harris needs a clearer economic message, one that can build a coalition big enough to win in November and break us out of our political stalemate. There is a way for her to do that, and she is already inching toward it.

[mass55th]

LOL...you are four years older than me and remember your high school clothes like yesterday."

LOL!! Just don't ask me what I had for supper last night.

When I was in high school, jeans weren't allowed. Boys had to wear slacks and buttoned shirts...no t-shirts unless they wore them under the buttoned shirts. Girls had to wear skirts and blouses or dresses. No culottes or slacks. It was believed back then, and rightly so, that good first impressions were a must, especially when it came to job interviews. Every-so-often we had "dress-up" day. Boys got to wear suits and ties if they wanted, and girls could wear heels of a modest nature with a dress or skirt and blouse. Girls could only wear heels on "dress-up" day.

[kabar]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/16/business/harris-price-gouging-ban-inflation/index.html

Food prices have surged by more than 20% under the Biden-Harris administration, leaving many voters eager to stretch their dollars further at the grocery store.

On Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris said she has a solution: a federal ban on price gouging across the food industry.

“My plan will include new penalties for opportunistic companies that exploit crises and break the rules,” Harris said at a campaign event.

There’s just one issue: Harris’ proposal could create more problems than the one it’s trying to solve, some economists say.

Gavin Roberts studied anti-price gouging laws some states passed during the pandemic. One of the biggest effects he observed, especially at grocery stores, was that these laws motivated people “to go buy goods more than they would if prices had risen.”

[230FMJ]

These people are delusional!

[Bookshelf]

Purdy writes on the need for a new constitutional politics that facilitates democratic self-rule
Professor Jedediah Britton-Purdy, Duke Law School
This essay was originally published in The Atlantic on Aug. 28, 2022...
We Can Be Framers Too
The Constitution doesn’t have to be something we merely inherit; it could be something we can change ourselves—starting with rewriting the too-stringent rules for making such changes. ...
Get the picture?

[SFConservative]

The Constitution doesn’t have to be something we merely inherit; it could be something we can change ourselves—starting with rewriting the too-stringent rules for making such changes

Unburdened by what has been ...

[Colt1851Navy]

Now I know where Walter Cronkite got all his bull.....

[Bratch]

[cowboyusa]

Translation: Crap, she blew it.”

[GaltAdonis]

Some food prices haven’t exactly “risen” - but about a year ago I bought a can of iced tea mix at the grocery store.
Same price, same size can as the previous time.
But after opening it, I found that the can was only about 2/3 full.

Shrinkflation - Be on the lookout for it.