As inflation squeezes our wallets, concerns over the cost of healthcare loom large for North Carolina families. A recent survey showed that 54% of state residents worry about affording medications, with nearly a third resorting to skipping doses or refusing to fill prescriptions to save money.
Kim Mackey, a Wake County social-studies teacher, put together a website called N.C. Teacher Tax, which calculates how much money teachers lose to inflation compared to the pay they “signed up for” when they started.
U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) issued the following statement on President Biden’s visit to North Carolina, where he is expected to deliver a speech about rising inflation.
Jennifer Pride, a language arts teacher in the Heritage Middle School, Wake Forest, can’t say enough good things about the WakeEd Partnership’s Tools4Schools store in Cary. “Things that I would normally have to pick up on my own or ask my school for, they are offering it to us free of charge,” she said. “Every teacher I know spends money out of pocket to support their classroom.”
President Biden’s State of the Union Address represents much of America today, a meandering belief in big government that’s woefully short on economic coherence. Yet, the state of the union is pretty evident to most.
Whether it is filling up at the pump, paying more for goods and services, or not finding your favorite item on the grocery store shelves, there is no denying that inflation and supply chain issues have affected everyone in one way or another. Mike Walden, professor emeritus in economics at North Carolina State University, said prices unfortunately look like they'll be getting worse before they get better.
As inflation continues to drive soaring costs across the U.S., Americans are in need of relief. Unfortunately, as Capitol Hill begins its mad dash to raise the debt limit prior to the New Year, credit card companies are yet again planning to hike swipe fees. This move will hit businesses and spike already high prices on everyday products for American consumers. North Carolinians are counting on our Congressman Patrick McHenry, as the ranking member of the House Committee on Financial Services, to oppose another swipe fee increase.
As we sit down to Thanksgiving dinner, many of us will give thanks for the chance to spend time with family and friends, and for the indulgent meal. But inflation will take the first bite, making Thanksgiving 2021 the most expensive in history.
Although the politicians in Washington almost never talk about the issue anymore, our entitlement programs are on a collision course with fiscal reality.