In 2019, the average cost of gasoline was $2.11 a gallon. Today, we are averaging $3.36 a gallon. Our current administration says the unemployment rate is now lower, and that’s why we are having shortages of food, medicine and other essential items. Does anyone really believe this?

When I was a kid, almost everything was stamped “Made in America.” Today I see “Made in China,” “Made in Mexico,” “Made in Indonesia” and more. Have we come to rely too much on other countries? We had shortages of baby formula and women were told to breastfeed. What if a mother has AIDS and her breast milk could pass it on to her baby?

There are national shortages of insulin, heart medication and lifesaving drugs. What is our administration doing about it? If we produced more ourselves, we would not have such ridiculously high tariffs with other countries that hold essential items hostage. 

KATHRYN MROZOWSKI

Durham, North Carolina 

Copyright © 2026 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.