Banana Republic
The United States officially became a banana republic (and I don't mean the cargo-pant slinging clothier) on Monday August 8th, 2022. Couple the Trump Raid with the looming passage of the "Inflation Reduction Act" adding 87,000 armed "tax police" and we are there dear readers. As my good friend Jackie Chiles would say "Outrageous, Egregious, Preposterous!"
Under the auspices of non-compliance with an Archives Act violation (what is that anyway?) the FBI raided former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-lago home Monday August 8th, 2022 in the most brazen political hit job this country has ever witnessed. On the heels of this raid, Democrats have voted 51-50 to send arguably the most freedom destroying legislation to the House. The impact of creating an armed partisan tax police with 87,000 new recruits boggles the mind. This country is in trouble.
When justice is no longer blind to political affiliation or religious beliefs or the Bill of Rights truly storm clouds brew. Such is the case now as the country will undoubtedly become more polarized along political lines as the Constitution becomes a notion rather than an ideal.
What is a financial farmer to do? Oddly, the market continues to rally into the better-than-expected horrible inflation number (8.5% vs. 9.1% previously) so a crest in inflation may sling-shot us out of a Bear Market. But to a larger extent, the market is always forward-looking. How far forward is a matter of debate, but something along the lines of 6-9 months is a reasonable assumption. And based on inbound data from recent macro events it *appears* that with inflation peaking the Fed may only have to raise another couple points.
"Only have to raise another couple points" is a tricky proposition nonetheless, as mortgage rate increases tied to the 10-year Treasury Note dictate the housing market. Expect purchasing to slow, inventory to rise, mortgage payments to be missed, and a general malaise to hit the housing market. It is hard to believe housing will continue to rally into a near-doubling of rates. The one savior (economically speaking) of this economy is the unemployment rate.
With historically low unemployment and steady to higher wages, the consumer has some semblance of protection from inflation, protection in the sense that they can now get less for more; "grin and bear it" has become the signature economic policy of the Biden Administration.
That's where we're at now as a country, trying to shoulder the burdens of inflation without breaking our backs all the while watching the rule of law disintegrate. But keep faith dear readers, as so plainly spoken in "Unbroken": "If you can take it, you can make it."
