Speak Out is a reader-generated column of opinions. If you there’s something you’d like to comment on in Elgin or beyond, send an email to [email protected]. Please include “speak out” in the subject line.
Zelenskyy betrayed: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy was used as a pawn by the Western powers to keep the Russian and the Chinese alliance all balanced. They told Zelenskyy to stand up to the Russians, we’ve got your back. Russia invaded, Zelenskyy’s left on his own. Got sold out. Another one of America’s allies gets sold out again.
Passing along costs: Unlike China, the U.S. has no higher-up structure that controls the entire economy. When energy and labor costs and taxes rise, a business has no choice but to pass that cost on to consumers.
Call it what it is: All of this talk about inflation. You don’t have inflation, what you have in this world is common, ordinary greed. Greed, greed, greed!
Ad music too loud: Who do you complain to about the loud background music on TV, wherein you can’t even hear what the actors are saying?
Don’t be fooled: Why is it that so many gas stations have a higher gas price by 20 cents than another? Very simple. There is one with a large sign that reads 20 cents off a gallon of gas with a car wash. The first time I fell for this scam, I got the lowest price car wash and there was no discount. The owner said it did not apply to the lower price car wash. On another visit, I increased my budget to the $8 car wash and what a surprise, the discount was not taken off. They said sometimes the pump messes up.
Consumers pay for unions: As the media and the Biden administration cheer on the unionization of entities like Amazon and Starbucks, guess who pays the added cost of their products? Yes, we the consumers. The unions have to prove their worth and the companies and their stockholders will not absorb these additions. Welcome to the real world of capitalism.
Sell them wider seats: Why don’t airlines have a section of the plane for extra heavy people. It would make all airline travelers more comfortable. These seats would be a little wider in the back of the plane, making everybody comfortable and happy.