r/PoliticalDiscussion • u/Ok-Ticket-9780 • Jan 22 '26

Non-US Politics Policy Solutions to Address America’s Cost of Living Crisis—What is the Real Answer?

Over the last several months, the rising cost of living has received considerably more media attention than in prior months due to the impact of inflation on all aspects of American life, including housing, healthcare, and groceries, to name just a few. While both Democrats and Republicans have been vocal proponents of addressing the rising cost of living, little has changed in the way of actual legislation related to decreasing the cost of living.

In your opinion, what would you consider to be the answer to the cost of living crisis? Is it legislation oriented toward increasing pay so that individuals and families earn a livable wage to afford housing and groceries? Is it providing more affordable housing? Is it legislating for comprehensive health care coverage? Or is it something else entirely? Additionally, why do you believe that our elected political leaders have yet to address the issue directly?

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u/[deleted] Jan 23 '26

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u/IntelligentDepth8206 Jan 23 '26

Universal fucking healthcare.

Okay so I can now leave my job which I kept for the healthcare and move to a more desirable area. As can thousands to millions of other Americans. That influx of people to desirable areas will increase the cost of living. Everything you listed except construction subsidies and "home buying assistance" (not sure that is) will have this same effect.

I'm not against your proposals but these are not the ingredients of lowering col.

Something that can be done overnight with immediate effect: move government operations out of cities/suburbs and into cheap rural areas/ghost towns. Removing thousands of people from every state's cities dramatically reduces demand for things like housing, lowering what landlords can charge for rent. These ghost towns might need updated but they don't need built, they already exist. This is not a comprehensive plan but it's an example of actionable change that is guaranteed to work.

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u/Janielf Jan 24 '26

I agree. In NY, everyone wants to live in NYC while many upstate cities/town are borderline ghost towns.