The true price of things: appreciating Trump's interest

Considering that I almost never write about politics, most readers would think I don’t care. There are two things I watch consistently on TV – sports and politics.

The political item that caught my attention recently is the criticism of Donald Trump for his comments about businesses or industries. They were bad, the opposition said, because they caused changes in stock prices.

So far, I like what Donald is doing. He has reduced the president’s pay during his term to $1 per year. I especially appreciate that he’s concerned about a $4 billion deal with Boeing for two new Air Force Ones. And I appreciate his interest in the high cost of medical drugs.

If a drop in stock prices follows every pronouncement Trump makes about an industry, then maybe the value of the stock was too high. Don’t worry. The stock market is always correcting.

The way the government has done things for years, there is no telling how much waste there has been of taxpayer funds. The government should not pay Boeing $4 billion if the planes are truly worth less.

If you go to the Internet, you can read about the billions of dollars the government wastes every year. The biggest theft of taxpayer money comes at the end of a year, when departments go on buying or employee bonus sprees so that their budgets won’t be cut to the level of true need the next year.

As much as cost to government, Trump is demonstrating a concern over the true value of consumer items for you and me. Drugs just happen to be a very important one.

I rely on several drugs nowadays, and I know other people who do. They are costly. I can manage thanks to the insurance Pat has through her employment.

But there is no way to know the true value of some drugs unless you have a doctor like mine. He dispenses a lot of the drugs he prescribes, and they cost only a small fraction of what they cost at a pharmacy. In most cases my cash payment is lower than my co-payment would be if I used the insurance.

The true value of some items is blurred by the way they are advertised. Pat and I laugh when we see some of the commercials.

We get a kick out of Sunset Awnings’ yearly return to TV. It’s the same couple offering the same $200 discount certificate. The price doesn’t matter. Getting your attention does.

The one that gives us a kick now is My Pillow. We love the founder and admire his efforts, and we may just buy. He offers a free pillow if you buy one.

The commercial leaves you wondering if the price you pay is really the true value of one pillow or two. Probably two. I can’t imagine a company pricing itself into bankruptcy.

Yes, I appreciate the fact Trump is concerned about the true value of goods and services the government and we may need.