Ben Shapiro told young people that a burrito does not cost $20 and that anyone who is not independently wealthy paying that much is "doing life wrong."
The complaint originated with a college student whose comment was shared on X in August by Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet. "A burrito shouldn't cost $20," the student said, and Kolvet added that the lived experience was simpler. "It just feels like basic things cost too much."
Shapiro's post went further. "We have enough problems as a country without insane expectations that the government is going to provide us gourmet-quality burritos," he wrote.
In a follow-up he acknowledged prices are too high, tying the inflation surge to the pandemic and policies under President Joe Biden while noting the rate of increases has slowed since 2023. He argued consumers should not expect a return to 2019 prices without a severe downturn, and pointed to deregulation as a better lever.
Federal data explains why the frustration lands. Food away from home was 3.4% more expensive in June than a year earlier, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with limited-service meals up 3.1% and full-service meals up 3.7%.
The issue is less that every burrito costs $20 and more that eating out has grown expensive once extras, delivery, taxes and tips are added. That leaves familiar options, cook at home, compare restaurants, skip the add-ons, or decide the meal is not worth it.
https://vist.ly/5i9dh
The complaint originated with a college student whose comment was shared on X in August by Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet. "A burrito shouldn't cost $20," the student said, and Kolvet added that the lived experience was simpler. "It just feels like basic things cost too much."
Shapiro's post went further. "We have enough problems as a country without insane expectations that the government is going to provide us gourmet-quality burritos," he wrote.
In a follow-up he acknowledged prices are too high, tying the inflation surge to the pandemic and policies under President Joe Biden while noting the rate of increases has slowed since 2023. He argued consumers should not expect a return to 2019 prices without a severe downturn, and pointed to deregulation as a better lever.
Federal data explains why the frustration lands. Food away from home was 3.4% more expensive in June than a year earlier, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with limited-service meals up 3.1% and full-service meals up 3.7%.
The issue is less that every burrito costs $20 and more that eating out has grown expensive once extras, delivery, taxes and tips are added. That leaves familiar options, cook at home, compare restaurants, skip the add-ons, or decide the meal is not worth it.
https://vist.ly/5i9dh
