Power to the people

Let’s talk about the real issue with inflation: corporate profits. Profits are at a 70-year high, yet corporations are inflating their prices dramatically – not because of rising costs, but because they can. Corporations face little competition. Four major meat packers supply 55-85% of all beef, pork and poultry – yet no competition. Kroegers, which owns City Market, is about to buy Albertsons for $25 billion, which will leave La Plata County residents with the mainstream choice of Kroegers, Kroegers, Kroegers or Walmart. No competition.

Republicans refused to rein in gas prices when they were so terrible this spring, even though oil companies thrived. The Democratic-controlled House passed a bill to combat gas price gouging; the Republicans in the Senate defeated it. The result? Exxon doubled its earnings. Chevron tripled them – $60 billion dollars in earnings for the same quarter we were all struggling to buy gas. Democrats are cutting taxes for working people and raising them on billionaires, because “trickle down” economics doesn’t work. Real people need a raise. Republicans are actively voting against us all. Want some hope of reining in costs? Of a livable minimum wage? Vote for the Democrats on this ballot.

– Anne Markward, Durango