January 21, 2025: Bye Bye Biden, Hello Donny

Yesterday, President #46 handed the reins to #47.  Two and Barbara talked about the 2020 and 2024 elections, issues polled voters claimed the most about and those the candidates focused on.  The economy was important in both election years and increased its importance in 2024, as did foreign policy, immigration and guns (Pew polls in 2020 and 2024).    Although most of these issues were discussed by the two campaigns, we noted that in the last 4 years, inflation increased and people were paying significantly higher prices for necessities like housing, food, and medical care,  During that time, there had been no increases in the federal minimum or tipped wage, and few people in the service or retail industries were earning living wages.

Poverty was one of Dr. Martin Luther King's highest priorities, along with racism and militarism.  It is most appropriate that we have this conversation the day after MLK Day when people gather for parades and community gatherings.    Time to remind our elected officials that poverty, houselessness, violence and lack of healthcare affect many of us while wars seem to take our resources.