Economic conditions throughout Biden’s presidency have been challenging for both consumers and businesses amid persistent inflation that is straining budgets. Within the small business community, owners have struggled to cover their costs, sometimes taking on debt to stay afloat.
The owner of the Seattle coffee shop Pluto Organic Cafe, Maher Youssef, recently spoke to Fox News about his experience running his business under the Biden administration. He explained that he has been forced to utilize credit cards to cover his increasing costs amid an inflationary environment.
Yousseff voiced his discontent toward President Biden, imploring him to prioritize improving conditions in the United States or vacate the White House. “I think Biden should focus on that. If he can’t do it, he should resign,” he told the network.
The business owner further explained how the cost of his operating expenses is far outpacing the price increases he can pass along to his consumer base. He illustrated the problematic nature of trying to sufficiently hike the price of a coffee to keep up with his overhead.
“We’re a small business, a small corporation, a small cafe. I can’t raise the prices. I can’t put the coffee for, like, you know, a couple bucks more. The maximum we can raise the price is — what — 50 cents, a dollar? Because if you put the prices crazy, people are not going to buy from you,” he said.
Yousseff questioned why the country’s elected politicians are sending billions overseas to foreign interests such as Ukraine and Israel, a common question many Americans have had amid a litany of domestic struggles.
“I’m just wondering, where is the money? Where are the taxes we’re paying? Biden makes us like slaves in a circle, takes our money and just puts it in Ukraine, Israel and gives it to other countries instead of giving to our own people. As an American citizen, where is the money? Where is my money? Instead of helping small businesses, helping the people here, they just go give it to a different country?” the small business owner asked. Watch Yousseff discuss his predicament on Fox News below:
Yousseff emphasized that he believes Biden should either focus on improving conditions in America or allow someone more competent to take on the task. “I think Biden should instead of focusing on different countries, focus on this country and fix it. If he can’t do it, he should go. Let somebody else take care of it,” he said.
The Biden administration has given varying responses to the pessimistic outlook on the economy, claiming it’s not as bad as people think or shifting the blame to other actors, such as corporations, for raising their prices. In a speech earlier this year, the president slammed big business in America for “ripping people off.”
“But for all we’ve done to bring prices down, there are still too many corporations in America ripping people off: price gouging, junk fees, greedflation, shrinkflation,” Biden said. “Well, it’s going to stop. Americans, we’re tired of being played for suckers,” he continued. “And that’s why we’re going to keep these guys — keep on them and get the prices down.”
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