What if we told you there’s a war being fought behind the scenes…
…a war that started almost 50 years ago, when labor unions changed the laws in our country GUARANTEEING inflation and massive deficits.
Well if that were true, then it wouldn’t be wrong to say that labor unions are behind inflation.
But we’d be no more than an MSNBC newscaster if we threw out such ridiculous claims without backing them up.
So, let’s see if these facts help explain our position.
A Secret Plan
Until 1977, the Federal Reserve had one clear mandate — maintain a stable currency.
But with high unemployment and inflation spiraling out of control, a seedy agreement came together behind the scenes.
Not satisfied with destroying businesses from the inside, labor unions lobbied Congress to add the second leg to the Fed — maximum employment.
How ironic that very idea drove more income inequality, shifting money from the middle and lower class to the upper class, and guaranteeing they would saddle the next generation with exorbitant debt.
They hoped to stem a long-standing trend that started nearly 20 years earlier.
Union membership plunged from 35% in 1954 to 15% in 1985. Yet, for all their howling, the percentage of wealth earned by the top 10% never changed during that period.
Thankfully, that trend is still around.
In 2019, more than 2.1 million jobs were added, yet the number of unionized workers fell by 170,000, continuing a multi-decade trend.
Time to Set Industry on Fire
It’s 2023 and labor is once again flexing its collective muscle.
After decades of hamstringing the public sector, they rightly see an opportunity to put the screws on private businesses.
200…yes, 200 strikes have occurred in 2023 across the U.S. involving more than 320,000 workers.
Compare that to 116 strikes in 2021 and 27,000 workers.
And it’s hit a veritable who’s who of industries including:
- United Postal Services
- Amazon
- Starbucks
- Hollywood writers
Unions want you to believe they’re trying to make the world a better place, lifting up the livelihoods of the middle-class worker; the teacher, the steel welder, the such and such blue-collar worker.
But make no mistake. Unions are monopolists. They wish to remove competition, thus injecting inefficiencies into enterprise. Any gains they make come at the expense of the businesses and customers they serve.
Unions are far more entrenched into our economy and government than most people realize.
Yet, public opinion, driven by a populist revolt, is shifting in their favor once again.
Progressives love labor unions and loose money policies.
When interest rates are near rock bottom, it’s easy for them to point to low credit card and loan rates and exclaim, “Look at how wonderful this is for you.”
The worst part was the decade leading into the pandemic was marked by low interest rates and low inflation.
Any worries by traditional economists that our heavy debt loads would come back to bite us were shouted down by Modern Monetary Theorists.
What Everyone Gets Wrong
The Federal Reserve has far less power (should it stick to its actual limits) than people believe.
They can only change interest rates and act as a lender of last resort.
Rate adjustments flow through to banks, which should impact credit policy.
From there, consumers should choose to borrow more when rates are low and save when they’re high.
More money in the economy should increase inflation, and vice versa.
So, why didn’t that happen in the 10 years prior to the pandemic?
Because economies are not as static as they once were.
We live in an age of dynamic technology, capable of squeezing supply chain costs to remarkably low levels, achieving extraordinary efficiencies.
Essentially, supply kept pace with demand.
That’s not happening now for a variety of reasons.
And labor unions know this, which is why they’re choosing to hold the economy hostage in their negotiations.
You see, with supply tightly constrained, even the tiniest disruptions ripple through the economy.
A Paradigm Shift
Make no mistake, our country is at an inflection point.
Companies who refuse to bow to the whims of labor not only stand to enjoy higher profits, but ensure their future.
How can we cash in on this dynamic?
By betting against companies heavily exposed to labor unions and for the ones able to employ workers based on their talents, not strong-arm tactics.
In order to do that, we need to look at both the individual businesses while keeping a macroeconomic perspective.
And there’s no one better equipped for this task than Dr. Mark Skousen, a world-renowned economist and stock picker.
Dr. Skousen blends his high level analysis with individual equity insights to deliver trade and investment ideas unlike anything else available.
It’s the common-sense approach to the markets you’ve known was out there but could never find… until now.
