Retired Georgian Jerry Prine: “The cost of my Christmas meal for my family is going to be 18% more than it was a year ago.”
Today, a group of Georgians gathered during the holiday season to speak out against Donald Trump’s failing economy that is hiking prices on groceries, slashing jobs, and making life harder for Georgians across the state.
While Georgians suffer, GOP U.S. Senate candidates “MAGA warrior” Buddy Carter, MAGA extremist Mike Collins, and failed and fired former Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley have all stood behind Trump’s agenda that is wrecking Georgia’s economy:
- Buddy Carter praised Trump for his tariffs and told Georgians to “be ready” for some “short-term pain.”
- Mike Collins told Georgians that “Trump’s tariff strategy works” despite the effects they’re having on hardworking families.
- Derek Dooley claimed that “we’ve gotten some great deals out of these tariffs” even as Georgians suffer from higher prices.
Reporting from WMAZ found that “grocery store prices continue to climb” in Georgia as a result of Trump’s tariffs. The AJC also recently reported that the tariff policies have “rattled” local small businesses and driven up costs.
KEY QUOTES:
- “I’ve been retired for about ten years, outside of Social Security I don’t have any other sources of income,” said retired Georgian Jerry Prine. “My kids are coming home for Christmas. We sat down and looked at the grocery bill…The cost of my Christmas meal for my family is going to be 18% more than it was a year ago.”
- “I ran a construction company, so I watched construction costs nearly double, and even in the last year, a specific example was lumber costs are up about 15% in the last year,” said Pat Wiver, Chatham County small business owner. “So we’re seeing a very direct impact in costs going up because of tariffs being implemented.”
- “Over the last year, due to multiple terrible policy decisions, our cost of living has increased,” said Rachael Gossetti, a Chatham County single mother and ACA enrollee. “Almost everyone I know, especially in our age range, the under 40 age range, is more cash strapped than they were in 2024 even though we’re all budgeting more and buying less, and we’re heading into the Christmas season.”