Accountability Needed in Washington to Provide Affordability for Most Americans

Dr. Ernest Mackins/Candidate for U.S. Senate

There is a crisis happening in America—not a singular crisis. A silent crisis. Americans are struggling to afford life as prices soar at the pump, the pharmacy, the grocery store, and at home. Millions of Americans work tirelessly every day to make ends meet. Affordability should never be a political issue; it’s a reality. But when your average, everyday American is working their hardest to keep up with the rising costs of living and prices don't seem to be going down, we are facing a second crisis: accountability.

Americans are working harder than ever. Many hold second jobs. Many are cutting back on necessities. Many are waiting to have children or are choosing not to have children at all. Yet, here we are. Despite Americans working more hours than ever before, their wages aren't going as far as they used to. With the global pandemic, corporations buying out the competition, and issues with our leaders' decisions, Americans are finding it increasingly hard to keep up.

Gas prices are at an all-time high. For most Americans, driving isn't a luxury—it's a necessity. Many Americans don't have access to public transportation, live farther from many jobs, and, if they don't have enough gas, can't get to work. When gas prices increase, everything else rises with it—commuting to work costs more and goods cost more to transport to stores. Small businesses struggle to keep delivery prices low. Yes, there are global components to oil production that we can't control. But often, gas prices drop or rise inexplicably, with Americans having no control over them. Again, who is accountable for making sure these prices don't become unfair?

Prescription medications are another struggle. If you need certain medications to live and they increase in price, you are forced to pay whatever they cost. Many nurses and doctors have told me their patients have to choose between buying groceries and buying their medications. Many of these same nurses and doctors said their patients' medication costs are much higher than in other developed countries. Where there is insurance, there are loopholes and fine print. Where there aren’t insurance options, there are ridiculously priced medications that nearly everyone should have access to. Many politicians and pharmaceutical companies will say they're "working on it." But why does it have to be "working ON" instead of "WORKING"?

Grocery prices are increasing as well. Inflation doesn't only affect gasoline; it also took my ability to feed my family like I used to. Milk, bread, eggs, fruit, and vegetables all cost so much more. I have to clip coupons now. I plan my grocery trips weeks in advance. I skip meals so my kids can eat. Our family nutrition has suffered because we can't afford the healthy foods that we used to buy.

Housing is another issue. Whether you rent or own, everyone is feeling the squeeze. Rent is going up. Owning a home is something many American workers tell me they'll never be able to do. There's a limited housing supply, people are investing in homes rather than renting them out to tenants, and we have terrible zoning laws that make it difficult to build anywhere new. People are struggling to stay in their homes because they can't afford the monthly rent.

But why should you care about all of these things? How are they connected? High gas prices make it hard to transport groceries to stores at an affordable rate. If you're spending too much money on gas and medications, you won't be able to afford your rent or mortgage. We're all connected, and until prices come down across the board, Americans will continue to suffer.

Let's talk about accountability. Markets work differently depending on the regulations imposed on them. And regulations are put in place by leaders. If leaders responsible for these failing industries care about improving the country they administer, they'll do better by those who allow them to do their jobs: You, the American people.

First, we need transparency. We need to understand how gas prices keep rising and what's actually being done about it. We don't want to hear that "someone" is working on it. We want to know who "someone" is. If leaders make a change, they should tell us about it. If there's legislation being passed to help make groceries, housing, and medications more affordable, you should be able to read about it online. We shouldn't have to dig for this information. Too often, mechanisms are hidden behind places like Congress or Big Pharma, and we have no idea what's actually going on to help us. There is no excuse for this.

Beyond telling us what's going on, leaders can do better by enforcing antitrust regulations to prevent monopolies, negotiating prescription drug prices, and working on legislation to build more affordable housing. How can we build more affordable housing if there isn't transparency into why housing costs are so high? Leaders can and should do more than that.

Leaders should think long-term. We've been talking about building more affordable housing for decades, and it's still not done. We can't solve these issues overnight, but we can find solutions if our leaders are willing to put in the work. We can reduce our dependence on foreign oil by investing in our own energy sources and updating our infrastructure. Trust me, Americans are willing to wait if leaders are just willing to do something.

Leaders should care. They should hear what you have to say. They should know that every day, people suffer from issues that could be fixed with the right intentions. Don't just listen to numbers and studies. Listen to your neighbors.

And while I'm looking at leaders, let's hold large corporations accountable, too. Sure, businesses are out to make a profit, but they are run by Americans. Leaders should start holding these big guys accountable for the prices they're setting. Stop oversaturating markets to drive smaller companies out. Pay your employees a livable wage instead of sticking them on government assistance. Shape the market you want to be in. Stop trying to rob us.

America has the opportunity to be great again. But if everyday life is unaffordable for everyday Americans, we cannot survive, let alone thrive. The American dream is out of reach for most Americans. People are suffering, and it's not okay. We deserve better. And if our leaders and these big companies aren't going to hold themselves accountable, we will. If you want a leader you can trust to help hold people accountable and address affordability, I ask that you research Dr. Ernest Mackins for U.S. House District 3. Let's talk!