A supermarket sale flyer denying Maine customers a discount on a gallon of milk has lit a fire under free-market advocates.
What are we, chopped liver?
In Maine, yes we are, at least when it comes to taxpayer subsidies for dairy farmers.
Unfortunately for Maine consumers, the Pine Tree State is one of seven nationwide with a minimum price for a gallon of milk.
Though the policy is designed to keep farmers from losing money, it has triggered a firestorm on Reddit as being pure unabashed socialism.
“And it costs poor people 50% more than our neighboring states!” noted Standsaboxer. (Retailers in New Hampshire, which does not set minimums on milk pricing, are free to set their own prices.)
“I miss the days that low price milk was the hook to get you in quick stops and grocery stores,” said Alternative-Zebra311.
The Reddit debate over minimum milk pricing – socialism or not? – then branched into an argument over the differences between socialism, communism, Marxism, Stalinism and capitalism.
Whatever the differences, the bottom line is a gallon of milk in Maine is $4.72 – far higher than in states with no milk subsidies.
The only consumer who would claim to enjoy the state’s jacked milk prices is socialist Zohran Mamdani, the Bowdoin College grad and NYC mayor candidate advocating for government-owned grocery stores.
Maine has the second-highest milk prices in the country, next to Pennsylvania.
The supermarket chain advertisement in Maine featuring a gallon for $2.99 – marked down from $4.72 – contains a disclaimer: “Sale not valid in Maine.”
