Why? Because I am going to shatter your conventional wisdom as I have many times in previous columns about the lies that Wall Street continues to tell you. This time we are going to go deeper into the economy to unearth the truth about lies the politicians are telling you.
Let's understand from the beginning that few politicians understand basic economics. Just because they work in Washington does not make them experts about the laws that have been passed or those they vote upon. Politicians do not create jobs or wealth. Don't feel you are the only one who can't make head or tail out of government statistics.
The most misunderstood debate today is about OUTSOURCING. ? sending our jobs overseas. From March of 2001 to January of 2004 manufacturing jobs declined by 2.6 million ? a loss of 17%. BUT during that same period there was an increase of 17% in worker productivity and only a loss of 3% in jobs. More goods produced with fewer workers. Those jobs did not go overseas ? only 300,000 did. The majority were lost to better machines and will never reappear. If employment efficiency had not increased we would have even higher unemployment today.
That is why unions hate new machines. Loss of jobs. If a company wants to remain competitive they must be able to produce at the least cost or you won't have a job. Do you think you would have your job today if your company continued to operate they way they did 5 years ago? Employment continues to increase every quarter even though we lose about 7% or 8% of U.S. jobs every quarter.
Has anyone told you that thousands of foreign companies have opened plants in the U.S? We don't hear about the small ones only the BMWs, Toyotas and Hondas. According to Peter Drucker, management consultant, we import more jobs than we export. Jobs increased by millions after NAFTA and because of NAFTA.
Will these layoffs continue? It depends upon your industry sector. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there were more mass layoffs (50 or more) during this January than any previous January in history - 239,454 ? 1/3rd of those are in manufacturing.
The U.S. is still not producing enough new jobs to keep us even; that requires more than 150,000 new hires each month.
Political demagoguery blames everyone and anyone who is in office. Whoever the president is is the one to blame ? rightly or wrongly. Every industrialized country today has a problem with excess production capacity and is doing weird things to keep their workers on the production line. We are not the only ones with job losses. That does not make the guy in the unemployment line feel any better.
It is our productivity edge that has kept as many jobs as we have now or it would be a lot worse. Free trade is the answer and not tariffs on other country's goods. As I have written before tariffs are hidden taxes on the consumer and benefit no one. They have NEVER worked in all of history and make more problems than they solve.
Don't listen to the political rhetoric. You may not like what I have said, but maybe it will start you thinking.
Al Thomas' book, "If It Doesn't Go Up, Don't Buy It!" has helped thousands of people make money and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method. Read the first chapter at http://www.mutualfundmagic.com and discover why he's the man that Wall Street does not want you to know.
1-888-345-7870; http://www.mutualfundmagic.com
Money management starts with protecting your capital, realizing profits and... Read More
Carefully thinking through your goal as a trader is of... Read More
If you are serious about making and keeping money by... Read More
Mutual fund investing is a lot like Thai cooking. Everyone... Read More
Are you attracted to the idea of being in control... Read More
We all know that emotions control every decision that an... Read More
Peter is a professional trader, Paul is not. Peter has... Read More
One of the basic laws of physics is that a... Read More
Do you have a nest egg? You know, a place... Read More
Investing in long-term financial vehicles give you the most gains... Read More
One of the great truisms of Wall Street is "Don't... Read More
You have decided to buy some stock or mutual funds,... Read More
I continually hear from economists, talking heads, other market letter... Read More
On November 17 I bought 7 different mutual funds and... Read More
A recent cartoon in my daily newspaper showed two guys... Read More
As an investor you will want to check out any... Read More
The following are a list of nine things you want... Read More
Well maybe that's overstating it a little, but it's certainly... Read More
The Shadow knows. Remember him? It seems a shadow has... Read More
Index Fund Trading can be one of the most profitable...or... Read More
One of the main reasons many of us get into... Read More
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall and all the King's... Read More
In 1960 an engineer working for a watch company in... Read More
When you stand on the ocean shore and watch the... Read More
It looks like the market is ready to start up... Read More
high-end home cleaning Winnetka ...Alfred Winslow Jones started hedge funds in 1949. He was... Read More
Have you seen all those big full page ads for... Read More
To become a successful trader you must have some kind... Read More
Picture one of those clubs where only the real heavyweights... Read More
Money management starts with protecting your capital, realizing profits and... Read More
The trash business in its efforts to cook their books... Read More
For the year 2000 we have seen hundreds of mutual... Read More
There has been great condemnation recently because China has been... Read More
Profitable day traders recognize that momentum trading is among the... Read More
Its dinnertime and the phone rings. It's Joe Noname with... Read More
It takes a total mental commitment to the task. It... Read More
Everything you invest in has risk so you want to... Read More
Every broker and financial planner will tell you that you... Read More
To begin, you might look at playing the stock market... Read More
Professional stock options traders use the term lean to refer... Read More
If you are fed up with early redemption charges and... Read More
As an investor you will want to check out any... Read More
You've decided to try your luck at trading stocks or... Read More
Ever have one of those sample boxes of candy? Each... Read More
If you are serious about making and keeping money by... Read More
Do you have a nest egg? You know, a place... Read More
What the heck am I talking about?It is often said... Read More
If you haven't heard of the technical indicator with the... Read More
After the publication of the first part of this two... Read More
Investing in long-term financial vehicles give you the most gains... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |