I was driving along Rt 413 and stopped at a light behind a car that sported a bumper sticker that read, “Stay Poor. Vote Democrat.” Hmm. How’s that working for you? Or is this an example of there are none so blind as those who will not see? Consumer prices are up. Gas prices? Groceries? Food-at-home costs experienced the largest increase since 2022. David Ortega, food economist at Michigan State University noted, “Consumers aren’t facing one shock, they’re facing several simultaneously, and the energy impacts are likely to build over the coming months,” and, more worrisome, “price increases are outpacing wage growth.” One must assume that the driver of the aforementioned bumper-stickered car voted Republican. And here we are. Trump’s tariffs. Trump’s “excursion” in Iran. Trump’s prices. Trump’s ballroom, arch, sculpture garden. Trump. Not Biden. Not the Democrats. The Urban Institute’s American Affordability Tracker (and no, affordability is not a hoax) noted in April, “49% of people in American families don’t have the resources to cover expenses to live securely.” Do Republican politicians care? Ohio GOP Representative Jim Jordan, when asked about soaring gas prices, responded, “That’s life.” Trump’s response? “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody.” There are not enough bumper stickers out there to paper over the economic crisis that Trump and his Republican apologists have unleashed. When will reality-sticker shock overcome fantasy-bumper sticker blindness? How much harder do things need to get before you get it? You can always stay poor, my friend, or … you can vote Democrat. The choice is yours.