• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Inflation as a political tool

Antiwar

Green Party progressive
Banned
DP Veteran
Joined
Nov 4, 2020
Messages
27,138
Reaction score
4,765
Gender
Undisclosed
Political Leaning
Undisclosed
Preface: One main part of inflation is the capability of price setters to set higher prices. Who sets prices? Those with purchasing power and those that can take the risk. Employees and smaller companies don't typically have those powers. Roughly but accurately enough: Big powerful corporations can profiteer, and profiteering is their stated mission.

How is inflation an American political tool? Blame the Biden administration for inflation. Why? Because the Republican "Troll" Party is much about anti-regulation and anti-government, so many big corporations would surely prefer them over Democrats.



Recap:

1. Bigger businesses raise prices during multiple crises to profiteer, and for political reasons.

2. The increased inflation that #1 causes hurts The People and the Democratic administration.

3. Republicans gain political power.


Note: It's probably both the corporate Democrats and Republicans that support vulture capitalism, and vulture capitalism is a nasty global affair.
 
Preface: One main part of inflation is the capability of price setters to set higher prices. Who sets prices? Those with purchasing power and those that can take the risk. Employees and smaller companies don't typically have those powers. Roughly but accurately enough: Big powerful corporations can profiteer, and profiteering is their stated mission.

How is inflation an American political tool? Blame the Biden administration for inflation. Why? Because the Republican "Troll" Party is much about anti-regulation and anti-government, so many big corporations would surely prefer them over Democrats.



Recap:

1. Bigger businesses raise prices during multiple crises to profiteer, and for political reasons.

2. The increased inflation that #1 causes hurts The People and the Democratic administration.

3. Republicans gain political power.


Note: It's probably both the corporate Democrats and Republicans that support vulture capitalism, and vulture capitalism is a nasty global affair.
The republican party is not about anti government. They just say that so they can justify allowing their big corporate donors to rape the public over and over.
 
The republican party is not about anti government. They just say that so they can justify allowing their big corporate donors to rape the public over and over.

Agreed, but in doing that they're essentially anti-government.
 
Preface: One main part of inflation is the capability of price setters to set higher prices. Who sets prices? Those with purchasing power and those that can take the risk. Employees and smaller companies don't typically have those powers. Roughly but accurately enough: Big powerful corporations can profiteer, and profiteering is their stated mission.

How is inflation an American political tool? Blame the Biden administration for inflation. Why? Because the Republican "Troll" Party is much about anti-regulation and anti-government, so many big corporations would surely prefer them over Democrats.



Recap:

1. Bigger businesses raise prices during multiple crises to profiteer, and for political reasons.

2. The increased inflation that #1 causes hurts The People and the Democratic administration.

3. Republicans gain political power.


Note: It's probably both the corporate Democrats and Republicans that support vulture capitalism, and vulture capitalism is a nasty global affair.
:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO: Aww. Is your hero getting blamed for inflation? You poor thing. Inflation is the result of government policy, not greedy corporations. If it was due to greedy corporations as you say, why do we not always have inflation?
 
Inflation numbers, both high and low, are used by politicians but more importantly the man/woman on the street cares deeply about those numbers. Most do not have COLA built into their salaries. As a wise man said;

“the arithmetic makes it plain that inflation is a far more devastating tax than anything that has been enacted by our legislature. - Warren Buffett​

 
Preface: One main part of inflation is the capability of price setters to set higher prices. Who sets prices? Those with purchasing power and those that can take the risk. Employees and smaller companies don't typically have those powers. Roughly but accurately enough: Big powerful corporations can profiteer, and profiteering is their stated mission.

How is inflation an American political tool? Blame the Biden administration for inflation. Why? Because the Republican "Troll" Party is much about anti-regulation and anti-government, so many big corporations would surely prefer them over Democrats.



Recap:

1. Bigger businesses raise prices during multiple crises to profiteer, and for political reasons.

2. The increased inflation that #1 causes hurts The People and the Democratic administration.

3. Republicans gain political power.


Note: It's probably both the corporate Democrats and Republicans that support vulture capitalism, and vulture capitalism is a nasty global affair.
Geez, I wonder why the cost of gas remains as high as it is? (my bold added)

"Energy companies in the S&P 500, like Occidental Petroleum (OXY), Marathon Oil (MRO) and Exxon Mobil (XOM), are seen making $7.7 billion more in collective profit this year than analysts thought just a month ago, says an Investor's Business Daily analysis of data from S&P Global Market Intelligence and MarketSmith. That's a 7% jump in expected profit in just four weeks by the 21 companies in the sector."
 
:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO: Aww. Is your hero getting blamed for inflation? You poor thing. Inflation is the result of government policy, not greedy corporations. If it was due to greedy corporations as you say, why do we not always have inflation?
You never answer this, care to try again?

If inflation is due to government policies, why are we seeing inflation globally?

p.s. We always have inflation. America's targeted rate is between 2-3%
 
Preface: One main part of inflation is the capability of price setters to set higher prices. Who sets prices? Those with purchasing power and those that can take the risk. Employees and smaller companies don't typically have those powers. Roughly but accurately enough: Big powerful corporations can profiteer, and profiteering is their stated mission.

How is inflation an American political tool? Blame the Biden administration for inflation. Why? Because the Republican "Troll" Party is much about anti-regulation and anti-government, so many big corporations would surely prefer them over Democrats.



Recap:

1. Bigger businesses raise prices during multiple crises to profiteer, and for political reasons.

2. The increased inflation that #1 causes hurts The People and the Democratic administration.

3. Republicans gain political power.


Note: It's probably both the corporate Democrats and Republicans that support vulture capitalism, and vulture capitalism is a nasty global affair.
While on the surface I agree with your position ........nonetheless consumers aka voters need to demonstrate some discipline by not responding according to how corporate executives and corporate elected officials on both sides of aisle expect.

WE THE PEOPLE CAN COTROL THIS BEHAVIOR by not spending. Become extreme fiscal conservatives and rein in spending then vote the corporate elected officials out of office ASAP no matter what rhetoric they bring to the campaigns. BIDEN cannot stop this UNLESS he wants to bring forward reinstating regulations which are disappearing.

Corporations frequently piss and main how regulations cost them too much money. WELL DEREGULATION is draining the wallets of we the voters..........screw that.
 
Geez, I wonder why the cost of gas remains as high as it is? (my bold added)

"Energy companies in the S&P 500, like Occidental Petroleum (OXY), Marathon Oil (MRO) and Exxon Mobil (XOM), are seen making $7.7 billion more in collective profit this year than analysts thought just a month ago, says an Investor's Business Daily analysis of data from S&P Global Market Intelligence and MarketSmith. That's a 7% jump in expected profit in just four weeks by the 21 companies in the sector."
can we say manipulation by white collar crooks.....?
 
It's not my job to see that all investors make a profit ...... that is the risk they assume when throwing money around. It is not the job of consumers to take care of investors reckless behavior.

I noticed for example some not special plywood going for $100 per sheet. That project went on the back burners STAT.
 
Last edited:
Recap:

1. Bigger businesses raise prices during multiple crises to profiteer, and for political reasons.

2. The increased inflation that #1 causes hurts The People and the Democratic administration.

3. Republicans gain political power.
It is not looking good for our President. While dealing with a barbaric war in Ukraine that promises to get worse, Biden must deal with crushing inflation at home.

Chris Cillizza writes, "The Consumer Price Index – a measure of inflation in the economy – hit a four-decade high in March, a brutal reminder for Democrats of the political headwinds facing them as they seek to keep their majorities in the House and Senate this fall.

"Prices rose 8.5% from March 2021 to March 2022, while they increased 1.2% from February to March. Half of the increase in the CPI was due to rising gas prices in March.

"The problem for Biden (and his party) is that it’s not at all clear that people care why everything they are trying to buy costs more. [Which explains why they blame the President] All they know is that gas prices are through the roof – although they are lower this week than last – and everything they want or need to buy costs more (a lot more) than it did a year ago.

"Inflation is such a powerful issue in politics because, unlike, say, foreign policy, it touches every person on a daily basis. You notice when it costs more to fill up your car. Or shop for groceries. Or buy just about anything."

Which explains why -- come November -- the Democrats are in trouble, although it is iffy the party responsible for Trump can do any better.
 
Preface: One main part of inflation is the capability of price setters to set higher prices. Who sets prices? Those with purchasing power and those that can take the risk. Employees and smaller companies don't typically have those powers. Roughly but accurately enough: Big powerful corporations can profiteer, and profiteering is their stated mission.

How is inflation an American political tool? Blame the Biden administration for inflation. Why? Because the Republican "Troll" Party is much about anti-regulation and anti-government, so many big corporations would surely prefer them over Democrats.



Recap:

1. Bigger businesses raise prices during multiple crises to profiteer, and for political reasons.

2. The increased inflation that #1 causes hurts The People and the Democratic administration.

3. Republicans gain political power.


Note: It's probably both the corporate Democrats and Republicans that support vulture capitalism, and vulture capitalism is a nasty global affair.
If one looks at the history of politics dealing with the economy and yes, inflation is part of that history. Presidents always get the blame for a sour economy, mainly in my opinion because they always take the credit when the economy is booming. There’s nothing new here. If presidents stopped taking the credit, perhaps then they wouldn’t get blamed. After all, they’re the one’s in charge.

Republicans blaming Carter for the misery index, Democrats blaming Reagan during his first two years in office of a terrible economy. Democrats blaming G.W. Bush for the recession and now Republicans blaming Biden. Normal historical politics or one could call it politics 101. Those in charge, the president is going to get a lot of credit when things are going good, he’ll also get most of blame when things turn sour. It comes with the job.

The economy is cyclic, it basically does what it wants to do regardless of who is president or how they tinker around the edges. If a president could control the economy, we’d have all good times, all ups, no downs or recessions or even depressions. Now since presidents love to take the credit for the good times, I repeat, they’re going to get the blame when times turn bad.

Can you ever imagine a president telling the American people during a very good, booming stretch of the economy he had nothing to do with it? I can’t. Both major parties use bad times to their political advantage, again politics 101. Excuses aside, neither party is ever going to stop doing that.

As for your note, both major parties owe their hearts and souls to corporations, wall street firms, lobbyist, special interest, super rich, mega individual money donors, etc. That's where the two major parties get their tens and hundreds of millions of dollars for their campaigns and to run their organizations. We have the best government money can buy. Did you know both major parties spent 14 billion on the 2020 elections which isn't counting the billion plus dollars spent on the two Georgia runoff senate elections in Jan 2021.

 
If inflation is due to government policies, why are we seeing inflation globally?

Because they are all devaluing their currencies, and why wouldn't they?

p.s. We always have inflation. America's targeted rate is between 2-3%

Lol, yes, the government devalues the dollar every year.
 
It is not looking good for our President. While dealing with a barbaric war in Ukraine that promises to get worse, Biden must deal with crushing inflation at home.

Chris Cillizza writes, "The Consumer Price Index – a measure of inflation in the economy – hit a four-decade high in March, a brutal reminder for Democrats of the political headwinds facing them as they seek to keep their majorities in the House and Senate this fall.

"Prices rose 8.5% from March 2021 to March 2022, while they increased 1.2% from February to March. Half of the increase in the CPI was due to rising gas prices in March.

"The problem for Biden (and his party) is that it’s not at all clear that people care why everything they are trying to buy costs more. [Which explains why they blame the President] All they know is that gas prices are through the roof – although they are lower this week than last – and everything they want or need to buy costs more (a lot more) than it did a year ago.

"Inflation is such a powerful issue in politics because, unlike, say, foreign policy, it touches every person on a daily basis. You notice when it costs more to fill up your car. Or shop for groceries. Or buy just about anything."

Which explains why -- come November -- the Democrats are in trouble, although it is iffy the party responsible for Trump can do any better.
Yes, the democrats are in trouble for this coming midterms. But in the eyes of the voter, especially independents which will decide this election. It isn’t that they expect the Republicans to do any better. The Republican Party is just the alternative to the Democratic Party. Like Biden was the alternative to Trump. Not that independents really wanted Biden as president, they just wanted Trump gone. Hence, they voted for Biden 54-41 over Trump.

This time, it seems at least as of today, independents just want the Democrats gone. Not in charge anymore basically because independents are under the impression Biden and company has ignored what they view as this nation’s number one problem. You got it, inflation, rising prices, empty shelves in stores, thinning wallets. Instead what they’ve got from Biden and company is Trump, the 1-6 hearings, the BBB, the voting rights acts, more Trump etc., but hardly anything dealing with thinning wallets. Independents think Biden and company has all the wrong priorities.


So, independents have left him. Not that they want the republicans in charge, they’re just the only alternative available. All they hope for is perhaps with a change of those in charge, things will get better. It hardly ever works that way, but by making a change, they feel they accomplished something.

If you look at the approval rating of congressional parties today, independents view congressional democrats with a 22% approval rating, Republicans with a 25% approval. That’s not anything positive for either one. But if you go back to June 2021, 38% of independents were giving the democrats their approval while 24% approved of GOP congressional critters. The Republicans haven’t improved, the democrats just came down to their level.
 
It is not looking good for our President. While dealing with a barbaric war in Ukraine that promises to get worse, Biden must deal with crushing inflation at home.

Chris Cillizza writes, "The Consumer Price Index – a measure of inflation in the economy – hit a four-decade high in March, a brutal reminder for Democrats of the political headwinds facing them as they seek to keep their majorities in the House and Senate this fall.

"Prices rose 8.5% from March 2021 to March 2022, while they increased 1.2% from February to March. Half of the increase in the CPI was due to rising gas prices in March.

"The problem for Biden (and his party) is that it’s not at all clear that people care why everything they are trying to buy costs more. [Which explains why they blame the President] All they know is that gas prices are through the roof – although they are lower this week than last – and everything they want or need to buy costs more (a lot more) than it did a year ago.

"Inflation is such a powerful issue in politics because, unlike, say, foreign policy, it touches every person on a daily basis. You notice when it costs more to fill up your car. Or shop for groceries. Or buy just about anything."

Which explains why -- come November -- the Democrats are in trouble, although it is iffy the party responsible for Trump can do any better.

INFLATED GASOLINE PRICES INCREASE THE PRICE ON EVERYTHING .....so why do the oil giants receives tax subsidies? what the hell. How many preferential tax dollar loopholes are they receiving?
 
Consumers declare a moratorium on shopping and quit spending = this will get the white collar bandits
attention. Elected officials won't do anything and rhetoric is not enough.

The lions share of elected officials are repeats/incumbents how can that be? Considering their crappy performance. VOTE OUT INCUMBENTS AND REPUBLICANS!!!!!!
 
You never answer this, care to try again?

If inflation is due to government policies, why are we seeing inflation globally?

p.s. We always have inflation. America's targeted rate is between 2-3%
I never answer this??? Ive never been asked. Perhaps that is why. No, we dont always have inflation. We were actually in a deflationary cycle following the crash of 2008. But inflation is caused by governments printing too much money. The FED trys to keep inflation in the 2-3% range through its monetary policy. The truth is, they are more at fault for inflation today than is the hapless Joe Biden, but so what. He is president so he gets the credit when things are good and the blame when things are bad.
 
Because they are all devaluing their currencies, and why wouldn't they?



Lol, yes, the government devalues the dollar every year.
Got a source for those fat ones?
 
I never answer this??? Ive never been asked. Perhaps that is why. No, we dont always have inflation. We were actually in a deflationary cycle following the crash of 2008. But inflation is caused by governments printing too much money. The FED trys to keep inflation in the 2-3% range through its monetary policy. The truth is, they are more at fault for inflation today than is the hapless Joe Biden, but so what. He is president so he gets the credit when things are good and the blame when things are bad.
Wow, you point out an economic disaster brought on by greed and use it to show there isn't always inflation. Brilliant!

Then you claim that the government is at fault for inflation by creating more money. Why didn't we see inflation after the 2018 tax cuts? Or do you have some particular level where it turns into inflation?

Third, why is inflation occurring globally if it is President Biden's (or the Fed's) fault?
 
Source for what? You wrote this 2 hours ago:
"Because they are all devaluing their currencies, and why wouldn't they?"
"Lol, yes, the government devalues the dollar every year."

Source for these two claims.
 
Agreed, but in doing that they're essentially anti-government.

No, they just favor fascism rather than democracy. They're anti-American-government. The cure, of course is an organized, unified public, so the fascists divide us to prevent that.

As long as there's two Americas, the fascists have the power.
 
It used to be that liberalism was far more interested in actual economic study than conservatism, now it turns out modern liberalism is far more interested in politics which ironically they will entirely blame on their opposition.

Case in point, the OP.
 
It used to be that liberalism was far more interested in actual economic study than conservatism, now it turns out modern liberalism is far more interested in politics which ironically they will entirely blame on their opposition.

Case in point, the OP.

I have no idea why you replied with your first sentence.

Can you actually make the case against #1?
 
Wow, you point out an economic disaster brought on by greed and use it to show there isn't always inflation. Brilliant!

Then you claim that the government is at fault for inflation by creating more money. Why didn't we see inflation after the 2018 tax cuts? Or do you have some particular level where it turns into inflation?

Third, why is inflation occurring globally if it is President Biden's (or the Fed's) fault?
Inflation is not brought on by greed. Cant you read? And it is occurring globally because central banks have all had basically the same policy for the last decade. Any other stupid questions youd like to get off your chest?
 
Back
Top Bottom