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Harris babbles on about the ‘middle class’ and lawns when asked how to improve her life

Posted on by darion

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OPINION: This article may contain comments reflecting the opinion of the author.

In a Friday interview with 6ABC’s Action News in Philadelphia, anchor Brian Taff asked Vice President Kamala Harris about her plans to improve access to living for Americans, but her answer veered into a lengthy reflection on her middle-class upbringing and the importance of well-kept lawns.

Rather than address specific policy details, Harris spoke about her childhood, emphasizing her mother’s hard work and the aspirations of her community. She focused on the symbolic value of manicured lawns rather than laying out specific policies that would make life more affordable for the vast majority of Americans who have been struggling with record inflation and sky-high interest rates throughout the Biden-Harris administration.

“Let me start with this. I grew up middle-class. My mother raised my sister and me. She worked very hard, eventually saving enough money to buy our first house when I was a teenager. I grew up in a community of hard-working people, you know, construction workers and nurses and teachers,” Harris said in an interview.

“I was trying to explain to some people who may not have had the same experience, you know, a lot of people will relate to this. You know, I grew up in a neighborhood where people took a lot of pride in their lawn, you know. And I was raised to believe and to know that all people deserve dignity. And that we as Americans have a beautiful character,” she babbled.

Harris finally broached the “opportunity economy” in the interview, suggesting it as a way to support small startups. But she didn’t provide details on the mechanics or strategy for implementing the policy.

“So when I talk about building an economy of opportunity, I mean investing in the ambition and aspiration and incredible work ethic of Americans and creating opportunities for people, like starting small businesses,” Harris said.

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In an August 16 speech in North Carolina, Harris outlined a plan to introduce a federal cap on “excessive prices” to lower the cost of food and groceries. But critics, including some in her own party and various media commentators, dismissed the proposal as extreme and impractical, arguing that it resembles collectivist price controls and would only lead to higher, not lower, prices, as well as shortages.

Also earlier this week, Shark tank star Kevin O’Leary said Harris’ tax policies could seriously harm the US economy, particularly in terms of capital growth and sustaining the American dream.

The CEO of O’Leary Ventures has warned the Democratic presidential candidate about the “multiple impacts” her tax policies could have, warning they will have a negative impact not only on businesses but also on Americans on a personal level.

“Taxes are going to go up under their proposals,” he told FOX Business’ “The Big Money Show” on Thursday, adding: “She admits it, she doesn’t deny it. It’s a debate that’s played out in the classic ‘make the rich pay their fair share.’” He added: “That’s the narrative that comes up in every election cycle.”

Harris’ campaign website outlines several proposals, including quadrupling the tax on stock buybacks, imposing a 25% minimum tax on wealthy households, and increasing the capital gains and dividend tax rate for households earning more than $1 million from 20% to 28%. However, O’Leary, also known as “Mr. Wonderful”, has expressed serious concerns about the potential impact of setting the corporate tax rate at 28%.

“More troubling for the economy, not just personal taxes, are the corporate tax rates. That, at its proposed 28% level, would put the U.S. economy in an uncompetitive position.”

“The last time we did this to ourselves, we started seeing headquarters moving to places like Ireland and other lower-tax jurisdictions,” he explained. “We shouldn’t be doing that. It’s a mistake on all sides. It’s a huge mistake.”

“We’re right in the middle, right now, in the G7, the G20. So if we suddenly start taking (a) 28% corporate tax, plus state taxes added, in some cases, you’re in the 30th (percentile) and that’s just not competitive anymore with respect to the G20 or the G7,” he said. “That’s the scariest outcome to me, and I’m very concerned about that.”

“This is a politics-light election. I’m disappointed that Harris isn’t giving us more policy, specifically on taxes, specifically on corporate taxes. I need to know that,” he added.