Critics have questioned Harris’s track record in addressing inflation, noting that she has been part of the current administration for nearly four years.Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, pointedly asked, “What have you been doing the last four years?”
Collin Rugg, co-owner of Trending Politics, questioned the timing of Harris’s promise: “Day 1 was 3.5 years ago for you. What are you talking about?”
Jim Treacher, a Substacker, echoed the skepticism: “‘Day one.’ We’re supposed to vote for her because of the past four years, which we’re supposed to pretend never happened.”
Columnist Jon Gabriel criticised Harris’s approach, writing, “You’ve spent three-and-a-half years raising prices.”
Conservative writer Libby Emmons criticised Harris’s plan to institute price controls, stating, “Kamala Harris wants to institute price controls across key areas like food and housing just like they do in socialist nations. And then she wants to make it harder for big corporations to create new jobs by destroying tax cuts, incentives for investment in the US.”
Virginia Kruta, another conservative writer, warned of potential negative impacts on smaller businesses: “If you run a small grocery store or own one house/building for rent, you’re screwed and she doesn’t care. If she puts a price control on larger corporate stores and landlords, they will be forced to charge less than the little guys, and the little guys will lose.”
Strategist Yossi Gestetner noted the contradiction in Harris’s position, stating, “You are VP now. Your day one was almost 4 years ago. You are simultaneously running as the current VP while running against the administration that you are VP of. Price Controls reduce incentives to produce which rescues supply which leaves more people with less. Genius.”
Conservative commentator Paul Szypula argued that Harris is partially responsible for current economic issues: “Kamala Harris has been Vice President for four years and has brought up prices 20% on average. Prices are high because inflation is high. Harris cast the vote to make it that way.”
Finance and culture commentator Wall Street Silver criticised the policy’s feasibility, stating, “Price controls failed in the 1970s when Nixon tried them. Companies reduce production because they cannot make a profit at the govt ordered price. This results in shortages as companies respond to govt controls. Kamala is a socialist and will turn us into Venezuela.”
Harris unveiled her economic plan during a speech in Raleigh, North Carolina, saying, “When I am elected president, I will make it a top priority to bring down costs and increase economic security for all Americans. As president, I will take on the high costs that matter most to most Americans, like the cost of food.” She acknowledged the pandemic’s impact on prices but added, “Our supply chains have now improved and prices are still too high.”
Harris concluded her speech by addressing business practices, saying, “I know most businesses are creating jobs, contributing to our economy, and playing by the rules, but some are not, and that’s just not right, and we need to take action when that is the case.”