Sometimes the irony in politics is often overlooked but seems to always be present. The past election is proof of this. According to “Wikipedia,” James Carville was credited with coining the term “The Economy, Stupid” as one of three points that were important in keeping then democratic candidate Bill Clinton’s campaign on course. These points were posted at the campaign headquarters. Another of the points was “Change vs. more of the same.” In various forms since that time, these phrases have been used by others who have often added “It’s” to the first term.

Ironically, the Democrats failed to take these two of Carville’s three points into consideration during the recent election. Throughout the campaign, most polls pointed to the economy as the major issue facing voters today. High prices, high interest rates, and inaction by the ruling party affected almost all working-class American’s. This was more important to voters than illegal immigration, which was also important, the rights of selected groups, or other issues. Yet the Democrats failed to address this issue or even offer a plan for addressing it in the future.  On the other hand, Republicans were quick to point out problems in the economy at every opportunity.

Given this, ignoring Carville’s first point left the door open for emphasizing the second. Do you, the voter, want to have more of the same or is change preferable? I don’t believe that Republicans have the magic wand that will automatically solve all problems in the nation’s economy, but I must look at what has been done in the last four years to make things better. What I see is little change has occurred and the Democratic candidates offered little other than to say they would change nothing. So, while the Democrats would have us believe that Carville’s words were correct in 1992, they want us to ignore these words in 2024.

I don’t understand this. If it was true then, why is it not true today? I believe Carville was correct in 1992 and he is still correct. Most of the other issues, while important, do not affect most of us directly. But when we go to the grocery store and walk out the door carrying $100 of groceries in two small plastic bags, see interest rates on loans climbing three, four, or more percent over the last four years, and seeing gas prices almost double in the same timeframe then the economy become exceedingly important to us. And even though celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg claim to be part of working America, it is difficult to accept that someone who can afford a car valued at over $1,000,000 is in any way part of the same group as a person who earns $800.00 a week.

Why not take the chance, or the risk, that something different might work? Maybe things won’t be better but maybe the reward may be great. We already know that staying the same would not work so let’s try something new.