Put Our Best Detectives on the Case of Runaway Inflation

   The latest, biggest, nastiest thing needing to be investigated by the FBI? Inflation, of course.

   See, we don't know exactly what is causing our inflation. Some say it is government spending. But, then along comes studies suggesting that the historical link between government spending and inflation is tenuous. Some say inflation comes from corporate greed -- corporation owners jacking up the prices so they can profit more. Others say it's simply a matter of demand outstripping supply; if there's a shortage of product, the cost goes up. Everyone knows that. Others will tell you the rising minimum wage is a definite factor.

   Here's one interesting tidbit about inflation: It doesn't carry over to the stock market. When car prices, and gas prices, and housing prices and grocery prices rise -- stock prices generally do not. Generally, it's opposite -- they fall. Why? Your guess is as good as mine, but it's something the FBI ought to be taking a look at.

   OK, maybe not the FBI, itself, but we need an investigation. We need snoops snooping around and interrogators interrogating retailers and corporate officials and salespeople and maybe even janitors. We need to consider what's going on as a crime, of sorts, and send detectives out to solve the crime.

   Let our sleuths go into the stores, asking who told them to raise the prices.  When they say, corporate did, go to the corporate leaders and ask them why they raised prices. Interview CEOs and those on the boards of directors. 

  But, then there's the problem of people not telling the truth. They probably aren't going to say they raised the prices so they could make a bigger profit. So, seek out witnesses; secretaries, clerks, and sales representatives. Watergate had its Deep Throat; inflation can have the same.

 Yes, listen to the studies. And, do some of your own. But, this goes beyond the need for studies; it requires a full, blooming, deep, searing investigation. The average price of a new car is more than $40,000; the going price of a gallon of gas is $4.09. It's a crime, and it demands an investigation.