I could talk about the many triangle patterns in the charts. They generally mean continuation of trend. This fits our forecast that seasonality will prevail in the marketplace until January. I could mention that we see the worst possible outcome for retail, especially small business. All those unloaded shipping containers will eventually be unloaded and delivered. The problem is timing. When retail receives the merchandise, the Christmas buying season will be over. There is also the return aspect for all companies, whether online or brick and mortar. In both cases, seasonal layoffs will result in dissatisfied customers. Many firms will lose money due to inflation, labor shortages and product shortages. Our call for a market correction in January is looking better and better. So, let us hope that we are wrong and enjoy each other while we can. However, our nation needs someone to challenge both political parties and their "yes-men" who run our government agencies. The following replay is an example of what I mean. Enjoy...
As promised, a Christmas present to you. It is from the 1930s. The comic genius of Abbot and Costello was true then as it is today. Politicians came up with this lie for many reasons. You might want to forgive them under one aspect in that it is skewed for a positive feeling in the news about unemployment. Today, it is out and out corruption to hide the fact that the best jobs along with their wages in our economy have been outsourced to foreign lands. Politicians are bought! Producers may be free in our society, but government should be looking out for the welfare of the nation. Tariffs should have been the standard reply for any outsourced product. It doesn't happen because politicians are weak, bought off, spineless souls who have no character or conscious. This is what is wrong within our democracy. Now, forgive my rant and enjoy this truthful, comic genius.
Costello: I want to talk about the unemployment in America.
Bud: Good subject. Terrible times. It is 7.8%.
Costello: That many people are out of work?
Abbot: No, that's 14.7%.
Costello: You just said 7.8%.
Abbot: 7.8% unemployed.
Costello: Right - 7.8% out of work.
Abbot: No, that's 14.7%.
Costello: WAIT A MINUTE! Is it 7.8% or 14.7%?
Abbot: 7.8% are unemployed. 14.7% are out of work.
Costello: If you are out of work, you are unemployed.
Abbot: No. Government said you can't count the "Out of Work" as the unemployed. You have to look for work to be unemployed.
Costello: BUT THEY ARE ALL OUT OF WORK!!!
Abbot: You miss the point.
Costello: What point?
Abbot: Someone who doesn't look for work can't be counted with those who look for work. It wouldn't be fair.
Costello: To whom?
Abbot: The unemployed.
Costello: But ALL of them are out of work.
Abbot: No, the unemployed are actively looking for work. Those who are out of work gave up looking, and if you give up looking, you are no longer in the ranks of the unemployed.
Costello: So, if you're off the unemployment roles that counts as less unemployment?
Abbot: Unemployment would go down. Absolutely!
Costello: The unemployment just goes down because you don't look for work?
Abbot: Absolutely, it goes down. That's how it gets to 7.8%. Otherwise, it would be 14.7%.
Costello: Wait! I got a question for you. That means there are two ways to bring down the unemployment number.
Abbot: Two ways is correct.
Costello: Unemployment can go down if someone gets a job?
Abbot: Correct.
Costello: And it can also go down if you stop looking for a job?
Abbot: Bingo.
Costello: So, there are two ways to bring unemployment down, and the easier of the two, is to have people stop looking for work.
Abbot: Now, you're thinking like an Economist.
Costello: I don't even know what the hell I just said.
Abbot: Now, you're thinking like a Politician.
You can clearly see that nothing has really changed since the Great Depression. At one time you could argue that the Democrats were for the working people, but that is no longer true. It is why I suggest that we need a new third political party that is for the people. The "Liberty Party" would promote the general welfare and end all foreign entanglements.
The next short piece reveals current problems in America. within it is hope, just like the Christ-child offers hope at Christmas time. Jacob Blake, a black man, was stopped by the police with his three children in his car. The stop became a tragedy as Blake was shot seven times in the back. A riot followed. His mother, Julia Jackson said, "Her son would not be happy with the damage to the community or by the actions of its residence." She continues by saying that she is praying for healing. She goes on to say, "We are the United States, but we are losing our ability to be united. A house against each other cannot stand!" She is praying for the police, the community and the nation. She ends in tears by saying, "America is great when we behave greatly."
She is a reflection of love, and this is God's gift to us at Christmas. Merry Christmas! Peace.
