The relative power balance of minority opinion versus the majority is the tipping point between successful democracy and future Brexits. Extreme Minority Rights The license plate in the District of Colombia, America’s capital, bears the label “Taxation without Representation.” As a federally-designated enclave, the power of its 600,000 citizens (0.17 percent of the U.S.) is constitutionally limited. Today the Walloons, a French-speaking people who represent one-third of Belgium but just 0.7 percent of the EU, have the power to block a major trade agreement (CETA) over the inclinations of the vast majority of their 500 million fellow European citizens; thus, the perversity of today’s major democracies. The EU’s CETA crisis is a microcosm o...
What You Need to Know Today: Russia rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, including a proposal to halt attacks on civilian shipping that could help restore grain flows from Ukrainian ports. Tyson Foods announced plans to permanently close its Joslin, Illinois, beef processing facili...
The big news in the cattle markets yesterday was Tyson Foods’ move to close two more beef plants. One of them, the Joslin, Illinois, plant was shuttered immediately after the announcement. The other, in Eagle Mountain, Utah, is a case-ready plant that does not slaughter cattle. Tyson also...
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday. In July, the CPI rose 0.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. The index for all items less food and energy, or the “core” infla...
From WPI Consulting
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.