Two Schmuck awards this month

High profile individuals are the gift that keeps on giving

I am pleased to announce that I will be team teaching The Economics of Healthcare and Wellness—Focus on Transformative Solutions beginning on January 17^th.   

You can register by scrolling down to view the syllabus and course fee.  The course is sponsored by IPAK-EDU, an online education organization with dozens of courses taught by experts in various scientific and other fields.  Use coupon code JACKSAYS75 to get 25%off.

The first January Schmuck award goes to the country’s notorious race hustler, “Rev.” Al Sharpton, who fueled the Tawana Brawley hoax more than three decades ago.  But that is not why he richly deserves to be this month’s Schmuck awardee. 

Rev. Al is back stewing his racial BS.  This time because of the resignation of Harvard University present Claudine Gay.  Sharpton reminds me of what my high school physics teacher told my class occasionally, “It is better to appear dumb than open your mouth and remove all doubt.”

Given all the racial preferences for more than 50 years, widespread affirmative action programs, and the introduction of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion standards, people of color are held to lower standards than white people.  This is shameful.  If the goal of the civil rights movement is “equality,” then all people should be judged on their performance, merits, etc., not the color of their skin. 

Claudine Guy’s elevation to the presidency of Harvard was the epitome of an affirmative action appointment.  After her congressional testimony about allegations of antisemitism at Harvard, her resignation was inevitable.  Incredibly, Gay will join the faculty at a salary of $900,000 per year.  How does that make prolific scholars on Harvard faculty feel? 

The second Schmuck award goes to a lesser-known individual to the public, Robert Lighthizer, US trade representative, 2017-2021.  In a letter today in the WSJ, Lighthizer defends Trump’s high tariff policy and denigrates free trade. 

The case for trade restrictions, especially high tariffs, has been demolished for more than 200 years.

A free society is based on voluntary exchange—domestically and internationally.  Trade restrictions are coercion and tariffs tend to raise taxes and/or lower incomes of producers and importers.    

In short, trade intervention is at the heart of the statist philosophy behind big government. 

Trump supports high tariffs, which made him one of the most protectionist presidents in American history.   There is no surer way to reduce the American people’s living standards than interfering with their ability to purchase goods from anywhere in the world. 

If Trump wins the presidency this year and Lighthizer becomes US trade representative, hold on to your wallets. 

Trade restriction and higher tariffs will not Make America Great Again.  It will do the opposite.

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“There is a right way and a wrong way, always choose the right way.”  Abraham Sabrin (1914-2001) “Prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future!”  Niels Bohr

Every Wednesday at 11:05am talk show host Gary Nolan and I discuss the economy and politics.  The Fort Myers Mises Circle presentations are available online. 

Latest podcast on healthcare with host Johnathan Westover; Incentivizing wellness podcast with Bernadette Pajer; the Human Action podcast with Bob Murphy on my American journey; Joseph Cotto and I discuss Argentina and the US, and the Human podcast with Bob Murphy on healthcare. 

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Murray Sabrin, PhD, is emeritus professor of finance, Ramapo College of New Jersey. Dr. Sabrin is considered a “public intellectual” for writing about the economy in scholarly and popular publications. His new book, The Finance of Health Care: Wellness and Innovative Approaches to Employee Medical Insurance (Business Expert Press, Oct. 24, 2022), and his other BEP publication, Navigating the Boom/Bust Cycle: An Entrepreneur’s Survival Guide (October 2021), provides decision makers with tools needed to help manage their businesses during the business cycle.  Sabrin's autobiography, From Immigrant to Public Intellectual: An American Story, was published in November, 2022.