THE FIRST THANKSGIVING DINNER WAS POTLUCK.

That might be one way to help the host or hostess spend less on preparation.  The past few years, the price of the traditional dinner has become a political football to go with the televised football viewed through a food coma, dimly.

It is difficult to take this presidency seriously any more.  Seriously, though, "dial back Thanksgiving" or "live more like Europeans" is consistent with what we experience elsewhere, such as putting up with less dependable electricity even if the solar and wind capacity isn't yet on line, or putting up with higher fuel prices to induce substitution to electric cars not yet safely available at scale.

The current president is often difficult to take seriously either, and the tradition of playing political football with the price of the traditional dinner goes on.

The 40th annual American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Thanksgiving dinner survey found that a traditional dinner for ten people this holiday is going to run around $55.18, which is down five percent from the previous year. That counts for the price of items like turkey and cranberries going down, while the price of sweet potatoes and whipping cream went up.

Predictably, Trump-favorable outlets such as Red State are spiking the football.  "So, enjoy your upcoming Thanksgiving dinner - and enjoy walking away from it, stuffed with turkey, feeling that tryptophan-induced food coma coming on, and with a few extra coins jingling in your pocket."

Also predictably, Trump-skeptical outlets including Reason are counting pennies.

"Thanksgiving dinner under Trump is 25 percent lower than 2024 Thanksgiving dinner under Biden, according to Walmart," he declared on Truth Social. "My cost(s) are lower than the Democrats on everything, especially oil and gas! So the Democrats' 'affordability' issue is DEAD!"

Trump's referring to Walmart's "inflation-free Thanksgiving meal," said to feed 10 people for $40, plus fees. This year's standard basket is less expensive than last year's eight-person bundle, but it no longer contains pecan pie, whipped topping, muffin mix, poultry seasoning, chicken broth, sweet potatoes, onions, and celery, all of which have been quietly dropped.

The 2025 food basket is a perfect metaphor for the broader economy. The president insists that "every price is down," but that's incorrect. While chicken breasts cost a bit less than a year ago, eggs, bacon, orange juice, and beef are all more expensive. Trump's policies didn't trigger these price hikes, but they sure do perpetuate them.

Relative price changes are what matters, and perhaps it is the quintessential First World problem to carp about pecan pie or whipping cream or yams being dropped from the Wal-Mart budget bundle.  This morning, though, one of the television news programs was tackling the price of a Thanksgiving feast and raising the possibility of the host or hostess asking guests to bring dessert or an appetizer.  Nobody went so far as to suggest that somebody bring a dressed-out deer for roasting, this being deer season.

A long time ago, that might have been the pattern, in a family gathering those coming from afar might have brought the pie or cookies.