Rising Prices a Crisis that Demands Greater Responses
Dr. Ernest E. Mackins, MDIV, GCDF
Higher costs are hitting families hard. ACA (Affordable Care Act) tax credits help thousands of South Carolinians afford health insurance. Democrats have pushed to extend this help. South Carolina’s two U.S. Senators voted against it, as did all six Republican members of the House. Elections matter because pocketbook issues matter. For many families, the most immediate stress today isn’t abstract—it’s personal. It shows up at the grocery store checkout, at the pharmacy, and on monthly bills that seem to grow even when incomes do not. Rising prices have created real pain in the pocketbook, forcing people to make difficult choices about what they can afford and what they must go without.
Grocery prices are surging, savings accounts are shrinking, and budgets are stretched to the limit. Rent, utilities, and insurance costs are climbing steadily, leaving little for emergencies. Even small price increases add up, creating a constant feeling of falling behind. One medical crisis or a major home or car repair can result in financial collapse for those already struggling to make ends meet. The vacations families once enjoyed are now out of reach.
Many companies, especially small businesses, will no longer be able to absorb the higher costs resulting from unnecessary tariffs, and consumer prices will reflect this even more in the coming year. We will probably have to say goodbye to some of our favorite local mom-and-pop establishments, because they won’t be able to stay open. Farmers are suffering, and their only lifeline will be a taxpayer bailout. Not only will the bailout be expensive, but the goods farmers produce will also cost more.
This financial pressure carries an emotional weight. Parents worry about providing for their families, retirees fear outliving their savings, and workers feel trapped between stagnant wages and rising expenses. Stress can strain relationships, health, and hope for the future.
In this crisis, character matters. It matters because a lack of character undermines trust and leads to unethical decisions. Good character includes kindness, compassion, and empathy, qualities Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott seem to be lacking. They either have no idea how their constituents live and how much they are suffering, or they choose to ignore it and care nothing for the suffering of the people they are supposed to represent. Do not listen to their false promises, watch what they do, and vote accordingly.
Dr. Ernest E. Mackins is chair of the Anderson County Republican Party
