Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Three Presidents Email

I received an email yesterday regarding three presidents that deported illegal Mexicans. You can read it here...

http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/archive.cgi?noframes;read=148394

The email explains that the reason for this was to create jobs for the unemployed American citizens.

Will deportation suddenly create a wave of unemployed Americans to suddenly go back to work? Certainly not! It's not the illegals that are prohibiting people from going back to work. It's that people have grown accustomed to working for higher wages. The illegals are willing to work the jobs that our citizens refuse to do. They are willing to work and ours citizens are not! Do we have a problem with illegals in this country? Yes, we certainly do, but not when it comes to taking our jobs from us. If they are here to work, then they are being productive in our society and our standard of living will go up. Think about Robinson Caruso. When he got stranded on an island he had to hunt and farm for food, get wood for a fire, up-keep his shelter, and many other tasks. That's a lot of work for one person. Then along comes Friday and immediately his living standard went up. Why? because they could divide the work. By dividing the work they could create more free time to creating capital goods and for more leisure. The same applies to society and an economy as a whole. So, if the illegals want to come to this country and work and be productive, then by all means let them come.

In a free society (That is what we are right?) there is a job for everyone. Unemployment is a choice. The person who is unemployed values their free time more than they value working. If the person has saved his money, and can afford to do this, then I have no problem with this choice. If the person is doing this because he is getting "unemployment benefits", then I do have a problem with it. Why? Because the government is confiscating money from me to give to someone who refuses to go back to work for less pay. It's the fact that we have unemployment benefits that allows for the high unemployment we have. Take away this benefit and the person who is unemployed has to put food on the table. How will they do this? BY GOING BACK TO WORK! When we work we trade our labor for money, which we then use to buy the things we need. DON"T MAKE ME PAY FOR THEIR NEEDS.... Make them pay for their needs!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

What Mish Doesn't See-Inflation vs. Deflation

Mish recently recently wrote a post titled "Time for a Dollar Bounce." You can read the article here...

http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2010/07/time-for-dollar-bounce.html

It is well written. I have followed his posts. When it comes to money and credit he is spot on. I have a great deal of respect for his thoughts on economics. But, I really think he is missing the big picture when it comes to Inflation vs. Deflation. Are we currently in deflation? Well, it all depends on how you look at it. I don't want to get into technicalities on the issue. What I do wish to point out is that all signs point to inflation--not deflation. Maybe he understands this--I do not know. His focus is short term--I think. Maybe he should take a longer look into the future. Here is what it says...

1. Social Security... in it's current existence it is unsustainable.

2. Medicare... in it's current existence it is unsustainable.

3. Never ending wars... and the threat of a war with Iran.

4. Several States with huge deficits... do you really think the Federal Government will allow them to default?

5. A huge Federal Deficit... do you really think that the Federal Government will shrink in size? It hasn't since the creation of the Federal Reserve. And I don't think Obama has plans to change this.

6. A huge Federal Deficit part two... it's so big that it needs to be funded in two parts--through theft of its citizens (taxation) and through the selling of debt (theft of future generations). In order to sell debt, which is necessary to fund social programs and fight wars, there is no way our government will allow for a prolonged deflation.

7. Obama Care... how will this get paid for? I don't believe the Government's budget projections. This program was simply a necessity for funding short term liabilities (social security and medicare).

8. The Tea Party... just another disillusioned group. Will the Tea Party force the Governments hand? I think not. When they start saying let's get rid of social security and medicare, I'll start taking a closer look at the Tea Party.

I'm sure I could add to the list, but that's not necessary as I'm sure you can see where I'm going.
If you think only in terms of "nonintervention" economics (free markets), then yes, we would get prolonged deflation. But, in the USA, that is not what we have. What we have is a mixed economy (Government intervention to influence the free market). And unless that changes, then the Government is going to continue to find ways to influence the market. It's what people want. They want their Social Security... they want their Medicare. They want what they payed for. At least this is what they believe.

Remember, the printing press can be used to pay direct to the people too! Bush proved this early in 2008 when he mailed checks to everyone. Will this happen again? I don't know. What I do know is that there are many bills coming due. And, although our Government is slowing its intervention, it's only because they are thinking of their next strategy.