1980 Misery By Charles Payne
Apr. 29, 2011 9:43 AM ET
Charles Payne's Blog
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Long/Short Equity, Portfolio Strategy
Seeking Alpha Analyst Since 2009
Wall Street Strategies has been providing independent stock market research since 1991 to individual, retail and institutional clients through a balanced approach to investing and trading.
Charles Payne, our founder and chief analyst, is routinely sought after for his stock market, political, and general opinions by several prestigious news organizations. Currently, Mr. Payne is a contributor to the Fox News Network and Fox Business Network. He also hosts his own radio show on KFIAM 640 every Saturday from 2-4pm PST. Mr. Payne recently released his first book entitled Be Smart Act Fast Get Rich.
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Brian Sozzi is an equity research analyst specializing in the softline/hardline goods sectors of the retail industry for Wall Street Strategies Inc. Mr. Sozzi graduated Summa Cum Laude from Dowling College, receiving his Bachelors of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Accounting. Routinely sought after as a trusted point of reference for opinions and insight on the global economy and retail sector stock evaluation, Mr. Sozzi is a frequent on air contributor to CNBC, Fox Business Network, and Bloomberg, and is cited regularly by online/print publications that include Forbes, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, Thestreet.com, CBS Marketwatch, Reuters, Seekingalpha, Associated Press, Crain’s NY Business, Fortune, Barron’s, AOL Finance, and the Financial Times. In 2009, Mr. Sozzi became recognized by Starmine as a top-ranked equity research analyst for stocks under coverage in such categories as EPS Estimate Accuracy and Industry Excess Return.
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Carlos Guillen is an Equity Research Analyst providing coverage of the technology sector for Wall Street Strategies, Inc. Mr. Guillen has had experience working in both the sell side and the buy side. Prior to working as an analyst, he was a Design Engineer for Lambda Electronics. Mr. Guillen holds an M.B.A. from NYU’s Stern School of Business, and he has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Manhattan College.
In 1980, I signed up for the US Air Force after graduation as a way of getting an education and getting out of the block. There was no doubt I had to move because it was like a black hole that could suck anyone in the wrong direction because all the overwhelming negative factors were simply too hard for most to escape. The 1970s were a disaster in so many ways, with one president resigning in disgrace and another so inept, it was easy to see America losing the Cold War, along with all its pride and determination. All the disappointments of that decade rolled into 1980 like a giant exclamation point.
The energy crisis of 1979 saw inflation spike to 11.3% that year and then reach 13.5% in 1980. Unemployment began to spike, and if prior methods ditched in 1980 were applied there would have been a double-digit rate. The homicide rate popped to an all-time high, and desperation was thick in the air and could be cut with a knife. But, it was the neighborhood where we saw the most pain and desperation. Murder and assaults were everyday occurrences as New York descended into a modern day Dodge City. The social fabric was changing rapidly as a result of years of unemployment and welfare not as a temporary aid, but solution of appeasement.
* In 1960, 51% of black women ages 15 to 44 were married.
* In 1988, 29% of black women aged 15 to 44 were married.
So, I sign up for the Air Force but there is a six month delay to actually go to boot camp. That was too big a window to not have a job, to be idle, to be bored in the worst part of Dodge City. I saw an ad for jobs at a McDonald's in midtown Manhattan, in fact there were three openings. The day of the interviews was here and I got off the subway train hoping I could land one of those three jobs, but turned the corner to find a crowd of more than 300 people. Yes, more than 300 people showed up for those three openings. Needless to say it was an all-day affair.
The interview process went in rounds, with each round eliminating 50% of applicants. I'm not sure what I said but after the first round of interviews the manager came over and whispered to me that I got the job so just sit in a remote spot and wait for the rest. It was a heartbreaking scene, and one I pray would never be the norm in this country again. I was a kid, going after the same job as grown men with families and single mothers with children. I needed that job, badly, too. I needed it for economic reasons, but also because I had to get off the block as often as possible.
Fast-forward to last week when McDonald's promoted an effort to hire 50,000 new workers in a single day. As it turns out, the 14,000 store restaurant chain got over 1,000,000 applicants and hired 62,000 people. McDonald's turned away 938,000. Imagine the unraveling of the social fabric beneath those numbers. Imagine the real desperation of the grown men and single mothers with children behind those numbers. Too bad the Administration didn't take a typical victory lap over the fact that 62,000 Americans got jobs on one day because that will be part of data used to promote the notion the country has turned the corner.
The fact is it's beginning to feel like 1980 again. In many ways, it's more depressing. I went into the military for an education because we couldn't afford college and never pursued loan options. Since 1978, college tuition is up 900%. Moreover, there was no war when I enlisted; today there are two with one brewing*.
We are heading in the wrong direction, and that move is accelerating. America saved itself with the election of Ronald Reagan, who allowed the Fed to take non-accommodative actions that created even more short-term pain, but ushered in a long period of prosperity for all Americans.
We are at that inflation point again. A recent Gallup Poll on where Americans see the U.S. economy.
Scary.
Sad.
Today's Session
Last night, and this morning, we are seeing another round of good to great earnings reports that are nudging equities higher pre-open. It's an odd mix of winners, including old industrial companies, many that have been around decades, even longer than a century (GT will be a big winner today), and young whipper-snappers in tech like Ansectory.com (ACOM) and Shutterfly.com (SFLY). There is still hell to pay for companies that miss (except AMZN) or couldn't provide strong guidance.
Economic data came in better than expected, proving that those with jobs are still spending but at the sake of savings. Personal income was higher, but wages aren't keeping pace with inflation in the real world.
The energy crisis of 1979 saw inflation spike to 11.3% that year and then reach 13.5% in 1980. Unemployment began to spike, and if prior methods ditched in 1980 were applied there would have been a double-digit rate. The homicide rate popped to an all-time high, and desperation was thick in the air and could be cut with a knife. But, it was the neighborhood where we saw the most pain and desperation. Murder and assaults were everyday occurrences as New York descended into a modern day Dodge City. The social fabric was changing rapidly as a result of years of unemployment and welfare not as a temporary aid, but solution of appeasement.
* In 1960, 51% of black women ages 15 to 44 were married.
* In 1988, 29% of black women aged 15 to 44 were married.
So, I sign up for the Air Force but there is a six month delay to actually go to boot camp. That was too big a window to not have a job, to be idle, to be bored in the worst part of Dodge City. I saw an ad for jobs at a McDonald's in midtown Manhattan, in fact there were three openings. The day of the interviews was here and I got off the subway train hoping I could land one of those three jobs, but turned the corner to find a crowd of more than 300 people. Yes, more than 300 people showed up for those three openings. Needless to say it was an all-day affair.
The interview process went in rounds, with each round eliminating 50% of applicants. I'm not sure what I said but after the first round of interviews the manager came over and whispered to me that I got the job so just sit in a remote spot and wait for the rest. It was a heartbreaking scene, and one I pray would never be the norm in this country again. I was a kid, going after the same job as grown men with families and single mothers with children. I needed that job, badly, too. I needed it for economic reasons, but also because I had to get off the block as often as possible.
Fast-forward to last week when McDonald's promoted an effort to hire 50,000 new workers in a single day. As it turns out, the 14,000 store restaurant chain got over 1,000,000 applicants and hired 62,000 people. McDonald's turned away 938,000. Imagine the unraveling of the social fabric beneath those numbers. Imagine the real desperation of the grown men and single mothers with children behind those numbers. Too bad the Administration didn't take a typical victory lap over the fact that 62,000 Americans got jobs on one day because that will be part of data used to promote the notion the country has turned the corner.
We are heading in the wrong direction, and that move is accelerating. America saved itself with the election of Ronald Reagan, who allowed the Fed to take non-accommodative actions that created even more short-term pain, but ushered in a long period of prosperity for all Americans.
We are at that inflation point again. A recent Gallup Poll on where Americans see the U.S. economy.
Scary.
Sad.
Today's Session
Last night, and this morning, we are seeing another round of good to great earnings reports that are nudging equities higher pre-open. It's an odd mix of winners, including old industrial companies, many that have been around decades, even longer than a century (GT will be a big winner today), and young whipper-snappers in tech like Ansectory.com (ACOM) and Shutterfly.com (SFLY). There is still hell to pay for companies that miss (except AMZN) or couldn't provide strong guidance.
Economic data came in better than expected, proving that those with jobs are still spending but at the sake of savings. Personal income was higher, but wages aren't keeping pace with inflation in the real world.
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