Uncle Jeff is screaming about inflation again...
Uncle Jeff is screaming about inflation again...
Here's a friendly conversation suggestion.
Words from John
Hello Hollerans,
I feel as if I’ve been run over by a dump truck. Something’s going around these hills and it decided to take up residence in my body. I had more planned for this edition, but all you get for now is a source-heavy suggestion for how to handle your drunk uncle who’s currently overstaying his welcome and can’t stop talking about inflation.
We don’t doubt that Uncle Jeff is paying through the wazoo for Vienna sausages right now. We just want him to know that whatever hideous corporation making Vienna sausages (probably Halliburton, let’s be honest) is the most likely culprit for the price hike.
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Holiday Politics Coach: Inflation
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Video Transcript:
Comment I’m responding to: “caution on this play, be prepared for the inflation rebuttal.”
Ok leftists, November with the family is down, let’s sprint through the New Year.
Inflation. Uncle Jeff hasn’t spewed it out in five or so minutes so you know it’s coming up soon. He’s been busy plastering every gas station across the midwest with Biden-flation stickers on his way to you.
First, sew doubt with the truth. “If this is Biden’s fault, how come countries all over the world have record inflation right now?”
There are all kinds of maps and sources about this in my free newsletter. It’s in the bio. (Hi newsletter people, so glad you’re here 🥰)
You made the stick, now make the move.
You say “here’s what I don’t get…” (you’re not arguing, you’re inviting them to help you understand).
“If inflation were really up, then profits would be down right?” Walk down this road with them.
“Inflation is a rise in prices. Let’s say your business buys oranges for $1 and sells them for $2. You profit $1. But now the oranges cost your business $1.50, because of inflation. So your profit is now $0.50, OR you pass the inflation on by raising the sale price from $2 to $2.50. Your price rises and your profit stays the same.”
Trust me uncles love simple thought experiments. It’s good for their brain.
“But that’s not what’s happening Uncle Jeff! Corporate profits have skyrocketed to 50-year highs. That’s not inflation. That’s price gouging because they can.”
“And it makes sense to me. Corporations can raise prices willy-nilly because there’s no competition you can go to.”
“What do you do when meat goes up? Four companies control 85% of the market. Want to catch a cheap flight? Four companies control almost 70%. Need life-saving medication? Five companies control the industry. Trying to get the internet? Three companies will be glad to screw you in all different positions in the Kama Sutra.”
“And here’s the kicker Uncle Jeff, It’s the same on Wall Street. Five banks finance all these industries where five or fewer companies run the show. And did you know that if these companies miss their earnings projections by a penny that their funding can just dry up?”
“That means to stay in business, they HAVE to cut wages, have to lay people off, have to move factories out of here, have to buy politicians to kill expensive regulations. This is the only way they can keep the money coming from Wall Street.”
“And again, profits are up across all these industries.”
Now, use his language.
“This isn’t capitalism uncle Jeff. Capitalism needs competition. It’s a package deal. And in my mind, people who want capitalism to work should be calling to break these companies up.”
Makes sense right?