I saw Biden's inflation speech on Monday. He blamed supply chain issues and Russia, but not government spending and previous Fed policy for their contribution to our current high inflation rates. Of note, US inflation data is to be reported tomorrow. I doubt Biden would hold a press conference on inflation the day before release of inflation data only to be embarrassed, if you catch my drift.
Personally, I am willing to give Biden a mulligan on the contribution of additional stimulus related spending to inflation rates because I perceived a need for economic caution when he took office even though I thought it would be inflationary. However, I took exception on a couple of Biden's talking points. Biden discussed "Reducing costs". If these "Cost reductions are a result of government subsidizing business to lower consumer costs but maintain corporate profit margins, that is budget busting crony capitalism. Crony capitalism can't hold a candle to a legitimate free market system and will lead to stagflation and worse in the long run. If Biden meant his administration would politically lean on businesses to reduce their prices, effectively denying management for achieving appropriate returns for risks taken, the incentive for entrepreneurs to create or expand job and innovation creating businesses are reduced. This will create an environment that will lead to economic stagnation and worse in the long run. If Biden meant there was specific evidence of price gouging and or illegal restraint of trade, additional specificity would have been helpful. The other point I had an issue with is Biden discussing increased ethanol use. Ethanol comes from corn and is an energy inefficient and geopolitically tone deaf way to utilize corn, especially in a increasingly hungry world.
Energy prices have a disproportionate effect on inflation. A multiplier effect, if you will. Rising energy prices are a combination of price, demand, and supply risk that flows through our supply chain. As costs and perceived risks go up, so does entrepreneur demand for higher returns. Therefore, Biden should not only be more business friendly, but more energy friendly, much more energy friendly to ensure energy supplies are ample, risks, including geopolitical ones are reduced, leading to increased investment while helping to achieve his stated goal of taming inflation.
If one makes the effort to visualize the chain of events that leads to gasoline at the pump, from exploration and its high costs to refining and distribution, through geologically and geopolitically challenging areas, with the energy industry noted for paying high wages through most of the cycle, only then can it be appreciated the value we receive in spite of perceived high prices. The highest returning capital investments involve utilizing significant amounts of productivity enhancing energy. As far as CO2 and other pollutants are concerned, let it be regulated. Energy, including fossil fuels are plentiful, although now involving large reserves of lower concentrations than seen previously. However innovation has led to the profitable recovery of that energy and fracking technology should be utilized to the fullest, along with nuclear and renewables while properly addressing environmental concerns.
The Biden Administration seems to be addressing the Ukrainian situation well, although I have concerns how efficiently our money is being spent. It is amazing how quickly our defense contractors find themselves at the government trough, again, with Afghanistan still fresh on many minds.
In the poll above, it looks like there are 3 more votes for Biden being a disaster since the last update. I currently rate Biden as an average president. As a reminder, the poll is open indefinitely and votes are changeable.
The current poll is
- Elite
3 vote(s)
12.0%
Above Average
2 vote(s)
8.0%
- *
Average
2 vote(s)
8.0%
Below Average
3 vote(s)
12.0%
Disaster
15 vote(s)
60.0%