Nixon gave us healthcare as a wealth engine – through deregulation. Nixon marks the turning point of republican identity, devolving steadily to Trump. Nixon's price freeze came when he took the US off the gold standard and it was only for 90-days. The free-for-all of prices went right on after the freeze ended; but wages flatlined. This was also when costs of living began to outpace income growth; a trend accelerated under Reagan and then every with repubilican control since.

What we see happening now is wages organically catching up a bit, pushing the likelyhood of finally getting that $15 minimum federal wage increase.

It's easy to blame politicians. And, there is definitely some blame they must share. But, the real culprit is corporate greed. For example, oil was $127 per barrel in March and gas was $3.20 a gallon; in June, oil is $120 a barrel but gas is $4.70 a gallon – even after Biden tapped the strategic reserves back in March. Grocery prices have ratched up with corporations blaming inflation – while those same corporations turn over record breaking profits. There are so many more examples of corporations weaponizing inflation for their outsized greed. To my mind, that is where politicians and institutional governing leadership should push back – that is where their blame lies, IME.