Maybe Ramirez would like a nice Republican solution to the problem, ala Richard Nixon. Freeze wages. The Party of no government interference, except when it isn’t.
Lack of supply = increases demand = inflation. That seems to put republicans in a quandary, they would like shortages of goods to continue. Good times and a chicken in every pot are not good campaign slogans when you’re not the party that caused it.
But there’s a deeper structural reason for inflation, one that appears to be growing worse: the economic concentration of the American economy in the hands of a relative few corporate giants with the power to raise prices.
If markets were competitive, companies would keep their prices down in order to prevent competitors from grabbing away customers.
But they’re raising prices even as they rake in record profits. How can this be? They have so much market power they can raise prices with impunity.
And those price increases are increasing already record profits. Because they can. And then these corporations use those profits to buy back more stocks.
Why are gas prices going up? There is increased demand but producers are keeping production mostly flat — to increase prices, and profits. Because they can.
Why are natural gas prices going up? Record exports. Record exports reduce US inventory, which increases profits. Because they can.
It is almost as if there is a global corporate conspiracy to raise prices to impact the 2022 election — to protect their tax cuts.
Republican infinity loop: Inflation will be replaced next week by immigration which will be replaced the next week by mandates which will be replaced the next week by mayonnaise which will be replaced the next week by infrastructure which will be replaced the next week by raising taxes which will be replaced the next week by inflation which will be replaced the next week by immigration which will be replaced the next week by mandates which will be replaced the next week by…
Inflation creates more govt. tax revenue. 25%-33% revenue growth since 2019 in the states with the highest sales taxes. What incentive do politicians have to take actions that could reduce inflation? Instead they want to dispense more money to create more spending. Cutting inflation is currently unpopular.
Inflation is a constant. We are going through a bump. Those getting child tax credits likely won’t notice it that much. I won’t be intimidated into voting stupid, because some corporations are price gouging right now. The economy will settle eventually. It always does. Why? because if they keep prices artificially high too long, people start deciding they don’t need as much stuff after all.
I f anyone thinks the cost of goods will go back down, I would like to have some of whatever they are smoking. The best we can hope for is that prices will stabilize at some future time. And inflation will come back down to the 2%-3% the FED imagined nine months ago where it would be now.
Actually, this would be an accurate and prescient cartoon if the pot were labeled “United States Government” and identities of the characters were changed. The frog would be the Democrats who are decamping (perhaps into the fire) whilst the MAGAts are going to be boiled alive by GOP legislatures working hammer and tongs to gerrymander our republican form of government into oblivion by packing Congress with “Republicans” who will replace it with a dystopian autocracy (or plutocracy, which one remains to be seen). That, of course will devolve into a period anarchy augmented by the effects of climate change. Until the guns run dry, and then things will slow up as sticks and rocks are brought to bear as replacements.
Daeder over 2 years ago
Classic Qultservative viewpoint.
“Here’s an analogy about the biggest danger currently facing humanity!”
“How can we take that and make it about something far less important?”
dshans over 2 years ago
Just dictate wage and price controls as Nixon did. That should do the trick. The secret/magical hand of the market be damned.
William Bednar Premium Member over 2 years ago
Come on Mike! Don’t you get tired of being irrelevant?
GOGOPOWERANGERS over 2 years ago
And the stupidity award goes to….
NeedaChuckle Premium Member over 2 years ago
Yes, it is all Yellen’s fault that the WORLD is having a problem with the economy.
FrankErnesto over 2 years ago
Maybe Ramirez would like a nice Republican solution to the problem, ala Richard Nixon. Freeze wages. The Party of no government interference, except when it isn’t.
The Nodding Head over 2 years ago
I’m sure conservatives will cheer the Biden administration when inflation fades away early next year.
Alberta Oil Premium Member over 2 years ago
Lack of supply = increases demand = inflation. That seems to put republicans in a quandary, they would like shortages of goods to continue. Good times and a chicken in every pot are not good campaign slogans when you’re not the party that caused it.
1BlackLivesMatter Premium Member over 2 years ago
Good ’toon, Mike!
Radish the wordsmith over 2 years ago
But there’s a deeper structural reason for inflation, one that appears to be growing worse: the economic concentration of the American economy in the hands of a relative few corporate giants with the power to raise prices.
If markets were competitive, companies would keep their prices down in order to prevent competitors from grabbing away customers.
But they’re raising prices even as they rake in record profits. How can this be? They have so much market power they can raise prices with impunity.
And those price increases are increasing already record profits. Because they can. And then these corporations use those profits to buy back more stocks.
Why are gas prices going up? There is increased demand but producers are keeping production mostly flat — to increase prices, and profits. Because they can.
Why are natural gas prices going up? Record exports. Record exports reduce US inventory, which increases profits. Because they can.
It is almost as if there is a global corporate conspiracy to raise prices to impact the 2022 election — to protect their tax cuts.
Robert Reich
codak over 2 years ago
tax the rich, cut the military
Zebrastripes over 2 years ago
And with the increase of COLA to seniors, the Government just announced Medicare is increasing so what’s the point?
There’s no such thing as getting ahead…its always spinning the wheels…
They giveth then taketh away…
librarylady59 over 2 years ago
Republican infinity loop: Inflation will be replaced next week by immigration which will be replaced the next week by mandates which will be replaced the next week by mayonnaise which will be replaced the next week by infrastructure which will be replaced the next week by raising taxes which will be replaced the next week by inflation which will be replaced the next week by immigration which will be replaced the next week by mandates which will be replaced the next week by…
thomaspryan over 2 years ago
Is that a toad or a frog?
Bendarling1 over 2 years ago
Tax any increases of profits. If no increased cost can be shown, like increased wages…
acellist Premium Member over 2 years ago
Raise the minimum wage to $23. per hour, then affix it inexorably to the index of inflation . . . just sayin’
Retrac Premium Member over 2 years ago
Inflation creates more govt. tax revenue. 25%-33% revenue growth since 2019 in the states with the highest sales taxes. What incentive do politicians have to take actions that could reduce inflation? Instead they want to dispense more money to create more spending. Cutting inflation is currently unpopular.
Ontman over 2 years ago
Inflation again? Yawn.
GiantShetlandPony over 2 years ago
Inflation is a constant. We are going through a bump. Those getting child tax credits likely won’t notice it that much. I won’t be intimidated into voting stupid, because some corporations are price gouging right now. The economy will settle eventually. It always does. Why? because if they keep prices artificially high too long, people start deciding they don’t need as much stuff after all.
Retrac Premium Member over 2 years ago
I f anyone thinks the cost of goods will go back down, I would like to have some of whatever they are smoking. The best we can hope for is that prices will stabilize at some future time. And inflation will come back down to the 2%-3% the FED imagined nine months ago where it would be now.
A# 466 over 2 years ago
Actually, this would be an accurate and prescient cartoon if the pot were labeled “United States Government” and identities of the characters were changed. The frog would be the Democrats who are decamping (perhaps into the fire) whilst the MAGAts are going to be boiled alive by GOP legislatures working hammer and tongs to gerrymander our republican form of government into oblivion by packing Congress with “Republicans” who will replace it with a dystopian autocracy (or plutocracy, which one remains to be seen). That, of course will devolve into a period anarchy augmented by the effects of climate change. Until the guns run dry, and then things will slow up as sticks and rocks are brought to bear as replacements.
Up Your's over 2 years ago
Brilliant.
chromosome Premium Member over 2 years ago
Nice art as usual. I come here for that even though I disagree with the message most of the time.
My First Premium Member over 2 years ago
#FJB. Let’s go, Brandon!
currysteph Premium Member over 2 years ago
Youre and amazing artist Michael.
UnklGene over 2 years ago
You tell ’em Yellen! We trust you!