Inflation hit a 40-year high in June, slowing slightly in July. Simply put, people are getting poorer. All America is hurting, but especially rural residents and the America farmer. Rural America is facing a heftier impact by inflation of the cost of used cars and trucks; they’re paying more for fuel, housing, food, feed, and even veterinary fees.
In the rural Southwest, the cost of inflation is evident. A once strong, local Cowbelles organization has struggled to maintain membership. Ranchers who live far from town can no longer make the drive to meetings, and younger members are working extra jobs to make up for increased expenses and don’t have the time. The historic women’s agricultural organization will fold if the organization can’t figure out how to increase membership and involvement. Staying involved with local and state politics is essential in these times. The mid-term elections are coming up in November and if we want to end all this excessive spending and inflation, we have to stay in contact with others to encourage a massive turn-out for election day. Don’t be fooled by the media, it might not be a red wave unless we get out! We need to be willing to give rides to people who did not chose to use a mail-in ballot. |
Inflation’s most notable standout for rural Americans has been the increased cost of transportation — $2,470 more than it was two years ago. Most of rural America does not live in areas where groceries are easily accessible, and some families travel considerable distances for work, school, and shopping. These increased prices are not going to go down as long as the present party is in office. They are blocking oil, gas, fracking and coal because of their insistence on electric cars.
Other trending and increasing costs for rural America besides fuel and fertilizer would be the decision to homeschool and the expense of acquiring materials . (Our Homeschool page has suggestions for free or less expensive materials.) In addition, the cost of health insurance which has risen by a sizable $603 since 2020 for rural families.
Rural students already struggle with traveling long distances to attend classes, and with already low enrollment in those districts, public school funding is limited. When I went to school, we had a lunchroom with hot meals. I always looked forward to the great peanut butter cookies! These days most rural schools do not have a budget that covers lunch or buses for excursions.
The long distances covered by school districts and parents mean increased costs in fuel, resulting in a more significant percentage of budgets being used to transport students. Despite the challenges of rural internet, some online programs — initially funded to provide educational opportunities during the pandemic — are now being utilized by students who struggle to make the long, daily commute to school.
The $740 billion Inflation Reduction Act, signed by President Joe Biden on August 17, will supposedly help rural families with the growing challenges of inflation by lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, health insurance premiums, and energy costs.
The bill would spend about $433 billion to address climate change and shift the country away from fossil fuels. It would be paid for with new taxes on corporations, but also by beefing up enforcement of the existing tax code. Democrats claim that there is $124 billion in unpaid taxes to offset the cost of the bill.
Other trending and increasing costs for rural America besides fuel and fertilizer would be the decision to homeschool and the expense of acquiring materials . (Our Homeschool page has suggestions for free or less expensive materials.) In addition, the cost of health insurance which has risen by a sizable $603 since 2020 for rural families.
Rural students already struggle with traveling long distances to attend classes, and with already low enrollment in those districts, public school funding is limited. When I went to school, we had a lunchroom with hot meals. I always looked forward to the great peanut butter cookies! These days most rural schools do not have a budget that covers lunch or buses for excursions.
The long distances covered by school districts and parents mean increased costs in fuel, resulting in a more significant percentage of budgets being used to transport students. Despite the challenges of rural internet, some online programs — initially funded to provide educational opportunities during the pandemic — are now being utilized by students who struggle to make the long, daily commute to school.
The $740 billion Inflation Reduction Act, signed by President Joe Biden on August 17, will supposedly help rural families with the growing challenges of inflation by lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, health insurance premiums, and energy costs.
The bill would spend about $433 billion to address climate change and shift the country away from fossil fuels. It would be paid for with new taxes on corporations, but also by beefing up enforcement of the existing tax code. Democrats claim that there is $124 billion in unpaid taxes to offset the cost of the bill.
The bill includes some $80 billion to boost IRS, by hiring 87,000 agents (SEE COMMENT AT BOTTOM) to audit people and corporations. Supporters of the bill say that new workforce will be aimed at ensuring wealthy people and businesses aren’t avoiding their tax obligations. Republicans argue it and other measures will amount to more tax enforcement against the middle class. Colorado Senate candidate Joe O’Dea said of the IRA. “I don't know why they're calling it an Inflation Reduction Act … It’s a tax.”
Truly, I don’t know how spending $433 billion on “Green” policies will reduce inflation. The Biden government has already committed to $10.1 trillion of spending in 2021 and $6.8 trillion as of May 31, 2022. We are then expected to believe that they KNOW there is about $124 billion of unpaid taxes that will come from corporations and the wealthy. Does this mean that they are going to audit all of their wealthy contributors from Hollywood and Silicon Valley to their biggest contributor, George Soros? I doubt it. |
Colorado Conservatives must be aware of what the present party is doing. This “Inflation Bill” is considered “not enough” by many economic experts, but rather another waste of money on left-wing “green polices” and tax enforcement on the middle class. Be ensured, the people with the big money will not be touched.
NOTE: When job postings were made for these positions, the "key requirement" for applicants is that they have to be "legally allowed to carry a firearm," and "major duties" include "Carry a firearm and be willing to use deadly force, if necessary" and "Be willing and able to participate in arrests, execution of search warrants, and other dangerous assignments," according to the job posting. (Kind of like raiding Trump’s home.) The Democrats say that this only applies to agents. "The majority of hires will be for answering phone calls and upgrading computer systems,” Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said in a statement this month. Wow, I wonder what a receptionist or computer tech gets paid at the IRS? Eighty billion divided by 10 years----divide by 87,000 jobs---------hmmm. Got to find a calculator that goes that high. That’s an average of $92,000 per person! The average salary for a school teacher in Colorado is approximately $55,000. Guess conservatives could apply for a job and carry their gun without restraints. |