Opinion and Commentary by Donna Westfall – July 29, 2024

From 2022 to 2023, the Fed has increased interest rates 11 times, bringing them from a historic low of 0.08% to the highest rate in over 20 years. I read recently that they were probably going to lower interest rates but today found out they increased them from 5.25% to 5.50%. If you have a mortgage, you can expect another increase.

Unemployment – highest number of claims since September 2023. Here’s a question? Which state has the highest unemployment rates? Why our own, California! As of May 2024, it’s 5.2% I wonder what our actual unemployment rate is in Del Norte County? From 7.2% in January 2024 decreasing to 4.9% in May 2024. Sounds good. Wonder how accurate that is?

Inflation is not going anywhere except continuing to creep up. I would hope that if Trump is elected President one of the first things he does is to decrease gas prices. Then after that he certainly has my blessing to deport all those millions of illegal aliens that came into our country with Biden’s blessing.

And then there’s speculation about Biden trying to cram down our throats a nationwide rent control. That’s not going to happen. Another thing. Can you believe the Dems seem intent in trying to do away with cash and go to YIKES becoming a more digital society. Ever watched the SciFi Bruce Willis movie, The Fifth Element? Check it out.

I believe the only way our country is going to get better is to work together. Trump called Biden after the assassination attempt and they apparently agreed to stop bad-mouthing each other and focus on unity.

That’s definitely a step in the right direction.

Even better would be if Biden stepped down this weekend as the Democratic choice for the upcoming Presidential election. Let’s just hope that Gavin Newsom isn’t going to be the one to fill that void.