• Tinidril@midwest.social
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    12 days ago

    The Republicans have the House, the Senate, the Supreme Court, and the Presidency. Trump can either lead his party to deliver for the American people, or he can’t. If executive orders are all he can do, then he really is a failure.

    As for the powers of the executive, he may not have any direct ability to dictate prices, but tariffs and antitrust are pretty significant tools. If Trump’s FTC allows the Albertsons Kroger merger that Biden’s FTC blocked, then we’ll know he never intended to do anything about grocery prices.

    • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
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      12 days ago

      Currently, yes. Republicans have the trifecta. They could affect grocery prices, but I don’t see Republicans infringing on ‘free enterprise’ like that.

      The point I initially made is that the President alone cannot do anything to fix grocery costs without a systemic meltdown, so voters shouldn’t even be casting their presidential ballot on this topic.

      • Tinidril@midwest.social
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        11 days ago

        It’s laughable that you still think Republican politicians actually believe in anything as high minded as “free enterprise”. That’s just the grift dude. Maybe some Republicans, 50+ years ago, but that ended a long time ago. They believe in whatever vaguely conservative sounding rationalization will make the most money for their sponsors. It’s no coincidence that red states being home way more federal spending than blue states. Farm subsidies yo! You think that’s Democrats? Trump massively increased subsidies the last time his idiotic trade wars almost wiped out farmers.

        But, taking your naivete at face value, if Republicans don’t believe in distorting markets, then why the fuck did Trump promise to bring prices down? Why did he blame prices on Biden?

        Grocery prices have little to nothing to do with free enterprise. Between farm subsidies, fuel subsidies, American military interventions to secure foreign resources, and externalities, the whole thing is a very bloody racket.

        If you’re not sure if a Republican is being sincere or running a grift, they’re running a grift. If you’re sure they are sincere, you are wrong. Their job is to grift.

        • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
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          12 days ago

          Added scare quotes to clarify sarcasm. Yes, the valve only goes one way with Republicans. They won’t regulate private enterprise in a way that adversely impacts domestic businesses.