From USA Today, here is a partial list of expected shortages to come:
Carbonated drinks
Chicken
Coffee
Diapers
Fish sticks
Frozen meals
Heinz catchup packets
Marie Callander’s pot pies
But “why?”
Again from USA Today:
Supply chain concerns are a result of “record-level congestion at the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach that has spread to the East Coast, the widespread power outages across China, shortages of truck drivers and service workers, and COVID-19-fueled infections and restrictions,” Tinglong Dai, a business professor at Johns Hopkins University, told USA TODAY in an email.
There are some other answers to the question of “why.”
This was sent to me by a friend, and it implies that part of this problem is a California issue.
The NEWS says the California port situation is caused by a driver shortage. It is in part caused by a California Truck Ban which says all trucks must be 2011 or newer and a law called AB 5 which prohibits Owner Operators. Traditionally the ports have been served by Owner Operators (non union). California has now banned Owner Operators.
Long term, truckers in California are not investing in new trucks because California has a law that makes them illegal in 2035. The requirement is to purchase electric trucks which do not exist.
Carriers domiciled in California with trucks older than 2011 model, or using engines manufactured before 2010, will need to meet the Board’s new Truck and Bus Regulation beginning in 2020 or their vehicles will be blocked from registration with the state’s DMV, the state has said.
The new “health-based requirements” will need to be met before a driver is allowed to register his or her truck through the Department of Motor Vehicles, CARB says. A new enforcement tool used by the DMV beginning in 2020 will automatically block 2010 and older trucks from registration.
Transportation Secretary,Pete Buttigieg (who in the midst of this crisis is on “paternity leave”) had perhaps the most ludicrous answer to the “why” question.
During an interview with CNN’s “State of the Union,” the former South Bend mayor claimed supply chain disruptions are happening because of President Biden’s resounding success.
“Certainly a lot of the challenges that we’ve been experiencing this year will continue into next year,” Buttigieg said. “Look, part of what is happening isn’t just the supply side, it’s the demand side. Demand is off the charts. Retail sales are through the roof. And if you think about those images of ships, for example, waiting at anchor on the West Coast – every one of those ships is full of record amounts of goods that Americans are buying because demand is up because income is up because the president has successfully guided this economy out of the teeth of a terrifying recession.”
Any looney that buys what Buttigieg is selling deserves to be exiled to South Bend where Pete was mayor.
On Twitter, Tim Murtaugh summed up Buttigieg’s drivel:
“Basically they’re saying that everything sucks because Biden is so awesome.”
However, perhaps the best answer as to “why” comes from now President Joe B.
Back in May of 2020, then-candidate Biden released a video explaining his thinking. “We don’t have a food shortage problem, we have a leadership problem,” he declared.
“It’s not a food shortage, it’s a lack of leadership. A lack of leadership,” Biden said reinforcing his poorly-aged point. And the leadership goes across the board.”
Oh Joe! For once I agree with you!
www.californiacontrarian.com
10/27/21