Better leadership needed to fight inflation

Better leadership needed to fight inflation

During the past few months, inflationary pressures on American families have worsened considerably. While the causes are many, including an excessively easy money policy implemented by the Federal Reserve, trillions in government spending to combat COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine, those reasons are of no solace to consumers. A trip to the gas station and supermarket provides serious dilemmas for many families.

Fuel costs are a big contributing factor to inflation, yet the response from the Biden administration of releasing oil from the stra- tegic petroleum reserves has proven inadequate.

The administration also failed to open federal lands to manufacture natural gas, a key component of fertiliz- er. The huge increase in the cost of fertilizer, therefore, contributes to the cost of food. Agriculture groups have requested the govern- ment to open unused feder- al lands to manufacture components for fertilizer, but Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has refused.

A shortage of domestic truckers also increases food costs and localized supply problems. Current law requires truckers to be at least 21 years old to cross state lines. However, a three-year federal pilot program allows 18- to 20year-olds to drive big rigs on long hauls.

This situation also requires more development of domestic fuel sources. We should reopen the Key- stone pipeline, and also drill in Alaska.This crisis requires political leadership that uses proven economic solutions to alleviate inflation. Such leadership requires transcending polit- ical partisanship and using some common sense.