As our minds meet in this written medium, somewhere in the US there is a citizen peering out his or her window with squinted eyes, standing as vanguard over a boldly displayed yard sign. It reads, “Vote My Way”, or something mostly to that effect.
If the quantity of such yard signs and bumper stickers is anything to go by, we must believe this blunt method of selling is quite effective. Curiously, I have never met anyone whose conviction was converted by the strategy. However, there are many on the other side of the marketing campaign whose property has been vandalized.
As families tread down their streets this Halloween in search of neighborly conversation, human connection and the tantalizing suspense of a trick or a treat, an uneasiness may befall the voting members. Moms and Dads discover, “Oh, they’re on that team.” Best keep guard up and check for razors.
They may even begin to believe that not all Butterfingers are the same after all. Suddenly, even the source of candy becomes the subject of paranoia and distress. One leg leads the other to the nearest handheld device for a dose of affirmation. “Ah, that’s better.” The group chat agrees it’s reasonable to discard the desecrated Butterfingers. Good.
But why stop there? Why not wrap an entire macroeconomic view around a social apparatus that brings us such brilliant ideas as political yard sign conversion therapy? That is sure to bring great success, both in terms of investment outcome and policy wins!
Every two years we enter this season of madness. Some years are worse than others but not everyone agrees which ones are the ‘worse’ ones. The informed will tell you 1860 but the party loyal will tell you the last one they sided with the minority power.
You may think I’m being crass, and I’ll grant you that I harbor a hint of cynicism when it comes to politics. But that is not why I am bringing this to the forefront in this issue. My interest is that you view me as a serious person when it comes to managing your finances and bettering your quality of life.
And it is in this interest that I remind you that this is another season of madness. Anger is one of the more irrational states of emotion, disqualifying a person under its spell from operating heavy machinery, hostage negotiation and portfolio management.
It can be tough to know when you are suffering from madness. The signs appear on a spectrum that ranges from slight agitation to full-blown, red-faced detonation. Before making any sudden shifts in investment policy, consult with your therapist or a close friend who possesses the quality of candor while preserving a #2 pencil for an assessment. A lack of willingness to do so tells you what you already know – you might be agitated.
But I have good news for you! When it comes to investing, this election alone, like many before it, does not mandate a change in strategy. That is, unless you are going long for the red team to win the House. That, my friends, is a long shot according to the prediction markets.