Affordability seems to be the up and coming political buzzword of the 2026 campaign season. A starting point for this might be about thirteen months ago when President Trump was inaugurated and the price of eggs was astronomically high and just hours –maybe a day or two- later the new President was roasted for not lowering the price of eggs.

To better understand affordability we should consider some terms and definitions. One source stated “the ability to be afforded, inexpensive” but I was always told not to define a word with the same word! Another said that affordability meant the price was low enough that most people could buy it; reasonably priced”. Synonyms of affordability are cheap and economical while antonyms are costly, expensive, pricey, and unaffordable.

Reflecting back to President Trump’s problem of failing to solve the affordability of eggs in the first few days of his new administration, there is much to ponder. Eggs are animal made and perishable. The cause of high prices was low supply. To get more eggs, the nation needed more laying hens. To get more hens you need fertilized eggs which would reduce the number of eggs on the market; and then take time for the eggs to hatch and the chicks to grow into laying hens. Do you begin to see that “Rome wasn’t built in a day” and the President couldn’t just instantly resolve the situation?

Considering the bigger picture of the economy, President Trump inherited the results of “Bidenflation”. Yahoo Finance stated the overall inflation was 21.2% during the four years President Biden was in office. Texas A&M University reported a rise in wages of 19.9% and a rise in prices of 21.5% for the same period. Another source stated the Consumer Price Index was up 21.5% in the same period. With that information, the inflation under President Trump hovering just under 3% sounds really good, until we are reminded that is 3% compounded on top of Biden’s 21.5%!

Mixing the affordability issues with political concerns and one must wonder what “we the people” are thinking. A couple of AMAC (Association of Mature American Citizens) polls might help provide an answer. A November 25, 2025 poll asked “How does the economy feel to you right now, after nearly a year under the Trump administration?” With nearly 34,000 participants, the results were: Feel the impact of Biden’s inflation – 16%; Early stages of improvement under Trump – 48%; Feel more stable as my economic outlook has improved – 15%; Long-term damage from Biden’s inflation will take years to unwind – 17%; and Other – 4%.

A January 2, 2026 poll asked “As we look ahead to 2026, which statement best reflects your outlook on America’s future? With over 31,000 participants, the results were: Mostly optimistic – 45%; Mostly concerned – 9%; Both hopeful and concerned - 44%; Uncertain / Other 2%.

Crunching the numbers, a common sense conservative patriotic American could and should have a sense of optimism about Election Day – but with caution! One point sticks out – that 33% on the November poll identify Biden’s inflation and policies as the problem even after almost a year out of office. This reminds me of the large campaign signs scattered around the 3rd District in 2022: BIDEN & EVERS = INFLATION followed by INFLATION HURTS EVERYONE. While President Biden and Governor Evers names will not be on the ballot in November, their leadership –or lack of leadership – will be!

There are other significant impacts to “affordability” in 2026. One is highly negative when you think of the costs to the American taxpayer to replace the $7 billion plus worth of military equipment and supplies the Biden administration left in Afghanistan. Another should be highly positive when you think of the saved expenses projected by President Trump and his EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin when they removed volumes of regulations affecting the automobile and energy industries a few weeks ago.

Bill O’Reilly, host of “The O’Reilly Update” on over 100 radio stations, shared a talking point in a recent Newsmax magazine titled “Getting Grip on Affordability”. His opening point was when he was a kid, he shoveled driveways for $6 but now guys with plows do it and ask $150! He then comments that today’s kids are inside playing video games and use “debit cards” for their purchases, needed or not. Later in the article he states “In New York City, Mayor Mamdani is a phony.”

Get informed – especially about affordability – and get involved. Look at your own economic indicators such as property taxes. (My property taxes went up 9% last year.) Share your economic or affordability story. Ask the candidates the tough questions like the definition of affordability and be ready with follow up questions. Hold Biden and Evers and their Democratic Party accountable. Write letters to the editor and share on social media. Talk to your neighbors.