Harris’ implementation of authoritarian price controls accelerates the transition to socialism.
According to Jill Lawrence of The Bulwark, Kamala Harris Is No Communist, Socialist, or Nixon, as she assures us.
Despite accusations of being “commies” from progressives, it seems that many voters are getting the wrong idea.
Having self-professed socialists like Bernie Sanders and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez with prime-time slots at the Democratic National Convention may send mixed signals to independent voters.
Nominating a vice-presidential candidate who honeymooned in Red China and once taught high school kids about the Maoist system could also contribute to the confusion.
It’s not a good idea to make price controls a pillar of your economic plan, as history has shown that price caps lead to shortages, hoarding, black markets, and other negative outcomes.
While Kamala Harris may not be the first to suggest controlling prices, evidence shows that price spikes are driven by inflation rather than collusion.
Despite claims that price gouging exists, the grocery industry operates on thin profit margins and is highly competitive.
In an Axios defense of Kamala’s plan, it is suggested that her proposals aim to help middle-class Americans cope with a higher cost of living.
Some experts defend anti “price gouging” laws as innocuous, but economists may not be willing to support price caps.
The New York Times’ Paul Krugman argues that Kamala isn’t backing price controls, but rather a ban on “price gouging on groceries.”
Although Kamala’s plan may be seen as a populist political gesture, implementing policies like the Price Gouging Prevention Act could give federal agencies broad authority to dictate prices.
It’s concerning that Kamala intends to fight inflation using socialist policies, especially given the administration’s previous actions to exacerbate inflation.
While Harris may not be a Marxist, her embrace of collectivist economic thinking could be a sign of authoritarian tendencies.
David Harsanyi is a senior editor at the Federalist. Twitter @davidharsanyi
