In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. Friedrich Nietzsche
The Superchargers seem to violate one of the basic rules of business and investment as outlined by Benjamin Graham: Don’t lose money! Graham, as value investors know, once famously said that “don’t lose money” was Rule #1 for investors; Rule #2 was see Rule #1. The Superchargers don’t make money—they cost money—and the disturbing thing is that they could make money.
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The bottom line is that the economy is not working for average Americans. Incomes are falling and destroying America’s economic health. Inequality is growing too as technology lets the affluent take advantage of opportunities such as the booming stock market while the average family has a hard time buying groceries.
Read MoreToday of course next generation payment solutions such as PayPal, Venmo and Apple Pay would make it easier to distribute founds directly to the poor without much bureaucracy or expense. Since most poor people have smartphones they could simply use payment apps to get the money that they need and spend it.
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The truth is that neither Dollar Tree nor Dollar General needs Family Dollar. Both chains are doing well and making money without Family Dollar and its problems. A far better strategy for these two companies would be to let Family Dollar collapse and pick over its carcass.
Read MoreNor would the increased wage necessarily raise people out of poverty. A working mother with two kids that earned Nebraska’s increased minimum wage of $9 an hour would make $17,280 a year if she worked full time (40 hours a week). That woman would still be below the federal poverty level. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has set the poverty level for a family of three at $19,790 a year.
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It looks as if Obamacare could be changing the retail landscape by expanding Medicaid. That expansion seems to be driving customers to stores with pharmacies and leaving traditional dollar stores high and dry. One wonders how long Walgreen can continue to profit from that upheaval and how long before Kroger, CVS Health, and Walmart Stores Inc. start expanding their Medicaid business.
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