by Sennholz
[Author Biography and Introduction to Supermarket Boycotts]: This section introduces Hans Sennholz, Chairman of the Department of Economics at Grove City College, and provides the context for the 1966 supermarket boycotts. Sennholz argues that the boycotts are a reaction to inflation caused by the Kennedy-Johnson administration's policies, rather than the fault of food retailers. [The Political Exploitation of Inflation and Boycotts]: Sennholz details how the Johnson administration exploited the boycotts to shift blame for rising prices onto business owners. He highlights the involvement of government officials like Esther Peterson and the wives of federal employees in leading the protests, suggesting a coordinated effort to distract from federal spending and currency expansion. [Who Is Picketing? The Role of Federal Spending and Farm Policy]: The author critiques the boycotters for supporting the very federal spending programs—such as agricultural subsidies, welfare, and urban renewal—that cause inflation. He argues that if housewives were truly concerned about food prices, they would protest the Department of Agriculture's policies that restrict output and raise prices for domestic consumers while subsidizing foreign exports. [Taxes, Labor Unions, and the Reality of Food Industry Competition]: Sennholz explains how hidden taxes and labor union demands further drive up food prices by increasing production costs. He concludes by defending the supermarket industry as highly competitive and efficient, characterizing the boycotts as a misguided effort by a minority to harm businesses that actually benefit the majority of consumers through low margins.
This section introduces Hans Sennholz, Chairman of the Department of Economics at Grove City College, and provides the context for the 1966 supermarket boycotts. Sennholz argues that the boycotts are a reaction to inflation caused by the Kennedy-Johnson administration's policies, rather than the fault of food retailers.
Read full textSennholz details how the Johnson administration exploited the boycotts to shift blame for rising prices onto business owners. He highlights the involvement of government officials like Esther Peterson and the wives of federal employees in leading the protests, suggesting a coordinated effort to distract from federal spending and currency expansion.
Read full textThe author critiques the boycotters for supporting the very federal spending programs—such as agricultural subsidies, welfare, and urban renewal—that cause inflation. He argues that if housewives were truly concerned about food prices, they would protest the Department of Agriculture's policies that restrict output and raise prices for domestic consumers while subsidizing foreign exports.
Read full textSennholz explains how hidden taxes and labor union demands further drive up food prices by increasing production costs. He concludes by defending the supermarket industry as highly competitive and efficient, characterizing the boycotts as a misguided effort by a minority to harm businesses that actually benefit the majority of consumers through low margins.
Read full text