After a bruising primary season, we are left with two major party candidates still standing and a choice of whom to vote for this November. I’m often asked who is better for the economy and to which party I belong. As to the latter question, I generally quip that I am a Federalist and my party died with Hamilton’s demise on the banks of Weehawken, New Jersey. To the former question, I believe that though these matters are of vital importance to the direction of our nation, who is eventually chosen as President will have little long term impact on our resilient American economy.
Great American companies will continue to grow regardless of our country’s politicians – even should our nation move toward a European socialism. Terrific international companies such as Nestle, Unilever, Royal Dutch Shell, Diageo, Siemens, GlaxoSmithKline, and others, have performed exceptionally well under socialist rule as capitalism finds an outlet somewhere in the world under which companies may flourish.
As a patriot, I am concerned about political matters and the important issues of our time. However, as a capitalist, I don’t let my political opinions influence our investments understanding innovative companies will thrive somewhere in our global economy. As I often state at our investment committee meetings: “What impact does a Trump/Clinton victory (or any other exogenous event) have on how many McDonald’s hamburgers are consumed in China, Nestle chocolate or Intel chips in Latin America or Pepsi sodas (or Frito Lay chips) in Africa or India?”
My friend, Congressman Todd Young, with whom I went to school at the Naval Academy and served in the Marine Corps, is running for the United States Senate in Indiana. As much as I believe strongly in Todd’s honor, intelligence and passion to serve our country in helping to formulate laws for our nation, his election’s result will in reality have little long term impact on the global earnings of the companies in which we are invested.
So, don’t worry about the day to day tribulations of the upcoming campaign season. I believe firmly that the handwringing and worry associated with political elections often causes investors to make foolish decisions which are harmful to one’s health – and wealth. It is for this reason that I recommend doing everything possible to avoid watching news channels as study after study has displayed that investors perform poorly when acting on short term news. Better to enjoy a good economic or history book, or if you must, to at least enjoy the political season for the circus it is!
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