OPINION:
Apparently, burritos are political fire.
When Turning Point USA’s Andrew Kolvet spoke of the problem of the $20 burrito, then the outgoing congressman from Texas, Dan Crenshaw, responded by telling burrito eaters to “stop whining” and “get a job,” and then Fox News contributor Marc Thiessen responded similarly, with a “cry me a river” quip,” and then none other than Vice President J.D. Vance weighed in by mocking Thiessen about his weight — well then, a new political hot topic was born. Bring on the pollsters, bring out the public relations experts. The debate may be “dumb,” as Crenshaw also said.
But with all the illegals from burrito-eating lands walking about America, searching for that Democrat Party-promised affordability, the debate is probably not disappearing any time soon.
Especially since it’s not really about burritos.
It’s about the free market, perception versus reality, the concept called “affordability” the leftists like to push, individual responsibility and accountability, and also, elitism.
Here’s the gossipy stuff: Kolvet shared a conversation he had with a college student who summarized the economy by saying, “A burrito shouldn’t cost $20.” Kolvet then went on to write online that a “lot of this is a hangover from COVID and Biden-era inflation, but the lived experience is the same. It just feels like basic things cost too much.”
Well, that may be.
That may also be a shared belief by generations past — and very likely, generations future. Who doesn’t think things cost too much?
But more to the point: Who’s paying $20 for a burrito in the first place? What’s in that burrito that costs $20? A quick Google search of A.I. generated data finds that “the median price for a burrito across the United States sits around $13.58.” Chipotle on average charges between $9 and $12 — depending on customer selections. However, as Google went on to helpfully explain: “Premium locations, custom loaded sizes or delivery apps frequently push totals past $15 to $20.”
Quit DoorDashing everything, and maybe the food won’t cost so much.
“According to a survey conducted for DoorDash by Wakefield Research, 70 percent of college students order food from a third-party delivery platform per week, ordering four times per week on average,” Supermarket News wrote.
College kids are such good DoorDash customers, the company created its own membership plan just for students, DoorPass for Students. The delivery fees are lower than for other customers — but they’re still substantial.
Save money.
Learn to cook.
Or — and now for Part Two of Burrito Gossip — as Crenshaw said, “quit whining” about it.
He posted on X: “Just hearing about this dumb $20 burrito debate so just thought I’d make the losers on social media angry before going to bed. Stop whining, get a job, eat Ramen like the rest of us did in college, on a budget with 4 roommates. The market doesn’t care what you think something ‘should’ cost.”
Let the manufactured outrage flow!
Thiessen later took a shot at Kolvet’s remarks, and added this to the discussion: “Cry me a river. The burritos in the college cafeteria are included in your meal plan.”
No doubt, true.
But that didn’t stop Vance from adding his own jab, via X: “I’m surprised to hear Mark [Thiessen] say this. If you’ve ever met him in person, it’s quite obvious the man has never missed a burrito.”
Ouch. Zing. That seems unduly harsh.
Anyway, Kolvet — so far — has provided the last word. On NewsNation’s “On Balance,” he said he was surprised the comments caused such widespread discussion, but then cautioned Republicans against dismissing concerns over food costs.
“I think it’s political malfeasance to ignore and deny the actual anxieties of voters, especially young voters,” Kolvet said.
And he’s right, of course.
But then again, if concerns are based on faulty logic, then it would be similar malfeasance for Republicans to play into the flaw.
Nobody has to buy a $20 burrito.
To turn that into a larger issue as if it’s reflective of the state of the entire national economy is lazy, deceptive, theatrical, hyperbolic and really, something Democrats do regularly but Republicans should despise.
Besides, the real issue here is the idiocy of paying $20 for a burrito when there are so many options to purchase it for far less.
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