slavery and enabled to consume the goods and services which they need and desire. Positive and sustainable economic growth will not occur until this situation is corrected. For the economy is driven by the work and consumption of the people and not by the stock market. All of the investment in the world will not and cannot rebuild the economy unless that investment is in these people who are the basis and backbone of America.
Part I
Pricing
At the beginning of 2000, the US national average for a gallon of gasoline was $1.25. Eight and a half years later, the national average was over $4.00 a gallon. That represents a 320% increase or an average of 38% per year. During this same period, food prices increased 40%, an average of almost 5% per year, while healthcare costs rose by approximately 35%, an average of 4% a year. In similar manners the prices of transportation, clothing, furniture, appliances, education, etc, rose far in excess of the 13% increase in household income during that same time period. Virtually every commodity traded on the various commodity exchanges experienced very significant price increases during that time. And while the price of gasoline dropped to an average of $3.60 a gallon in 2013 and $3.00 a gallon in 2018, the prices of most other things have continued to rise.
Because the economy is integrated, that is, the various elements are inter-connected with each other either directly or indirectly; an increase in one item such as petroleum causes corresponding price increases in most other goods and services. While minor increases are typically occurring and do not cause the economy to fall out of balance, significant increases as illustrated above cause severe disorder in the economy. The economy cannot absorb such extreme price increases because with every increase in prices there has to be a corresponding increase in wages to keep the economy in balance. These significant price increases which occurred between 2000 and 2008 were one of the causes of the Great Recession starting in 2008. It is obvious that such significant price increases are neither desirable nor beneficial to the economy. And yet they occurred. Why? They occurred because there are no controls on price increases. Corporations and markets can raise prices without warning, without limit, and without regard for the effect on the economy. Clearly, these elements of the economy, petroleum, food and healthcare, were out ‘out of control’ up to the Great Recession.
Christian economics holds that prices must be fair, both to buyer and to seller. Prices cannot be raised so high that it significantly impacts a person’s or a family’s ability to pay its other primary expenses. Sellers must sell goods and services at a reasonable price, that is, a price that covers operating expenses and allows for a modest profit. Unfortunately, most current economic theories focus on maximization of profits. The purpose and objective of the US economy is to satisfy in the most efficient and effective way the natural needs and desires of all Americans (all Americans and not just a privileged few) for food, clothing, housing, a livelihood, education, healthcare, disability care, old age care, communication, recreation/entertainment, social interaction, acceptance and respect. This objective can only be achieved within a balanced economic system. This balance needs to occur between suppliers and producers, and producers and consumers. In a complex economy, an attempt to maximize profits for one or a few organizations, causes an imbalance which if not corrected can have a domino effect. Maximizing profits for an organization by maximizing prices causes a minimization of buying potential for the consumer. This minimization of buying potential for the consumer results in the consumer not being able to buy other things or pay other expenses which impacts those organizations which provide those other goods and services.
Unfortunately, those current economic theories which promote the maximization of profits also promote the principal that corporations are artificial, and that morals do not apply to corporations ‘it is neither right nor wrong, it is just business’. This principal is the basis for placing profits before employees, profits before suppliers, profits before consumers, profits before the good of the economy and profits before the good, health and safety of people.
Everyone needs to understand the implications of excessive price changes, either increases or decreases, on the economy. This should be discussed in schools, at business conferences, by the media, and within the various branches and levels of government. Price management within the context of a balanced economy is first of all the responsibility of businesses themselves. Businesses can and must control prices. However, like driving on a highway where there are speed limits, there needs to be guidelines and regulations regarding price changes.
One of the primary purposes of government is to maintain the appropriate balance between the various elements in society. There needs to be equity and balance between people: the different age groups, the different ethnic groups, and the different economic groups. Individuals, groups, the interactions between individuals and groups, and the interactions between groups all need to be kept in balance. There needs to be balance between individuals, between individuals and businesses, between businesses, and between industries. Balance implies equilibrium, parity and harmony; it does not imply subordination or domination. Balance does not imply equality but rather the absence of extremes and excesses.
Price management is a necessary tactic which must be used by the government to maintain balance and stability within an economy. The government must oversee and limit prices when necessary, for there are no natural limits to prices. Supply-demand theory does not apply to food, energy, healthcare, education and the other basic necessities in life. The dynamics and focus of the modern corporation is to maximize prices and eliminate anything and everything that would attempt to constrain pricing. The modern corporation, which is a construct and instrument of the capitalist class, has as its sole objective the maximization of profits. Maximization of profits comes from maximizing prices while at the same time minimizing costs and expenses (especially material, labor and taxes). In addition, the corporation considers itself to be absolutely amoral. It considers all of its actions as being neither right nor wrong, neither moral nor immoral. Corporations are totally indifferent to the reality that their products may result in injury or even death. They are only concerned regarding the potential expense that they may incur through lawsuits resulting from the deaths that have occurred. Corporations are also indifferent to working conditions that may result in loss of life, limb or health of their employees. They are only concerned about the potential liability resulting from lawsuits involving employee damages. Corporations are indifferent to the facts of people losing their homes, people declaring bankruptcy, or people losing their jobs through their direct actions. And the owners of the corporations hide behind these amoral corporations and calm their consciences by rationalizing that they are not responsible for the wrong-doings of the corporation. They look upon the corporation like a robot, guiltless because it has no conscience and because it is not a moral being. The modern corporation is like the Trojan horse. Outwardly, it appears to be a gift to society. But inwardly, it is filled with people intent on economic conquer and domination.
Corporations constantly seek to increase profits by raising prices or reducing costs (primarily labor, materials and taxes) or both. The CEO and the executive team all have significant monetary incentives to raise prices and reduce costs without limit. When the company achieves record profits, the CEO’s next bonus is based on exceeding the record profits of the year before. The owners want more and more without limit—they want it all. Between 2000 and 2010 the oil oligopoly raised prices without any regard to the effect those price increases would have on the entire economy. They know that people need energy to drive to work and to heat or cool their homes. But they didn’t care. For their sole aim was to maximize profits. Because they hide behind the amoral person of the ‘corporation’, they are indifferent concerning the economic hardships (and in some cases economic ruin) resulting from their extreme prices increases. Over the past forty years, US corporations have been reducing costs by outsourcing jobs to lower wage countries and countries which have poor safeguards for workers. First it was manufacturing jobs and then office jobs: customer service, call centers, helpdesks, accounts payables, accounts receivable, human resources, payroll, and engineering,
Significant price
