PEOPLE ARE STUPID!

I know that I'm restating the obvious, but PEOPLE ARE STUPID! I just got home from a trip to Wal-Mart for groceries and such, and PEOPLE ARE STUPID! Because of the on-going Longshoremen's strike folks are going ape-shit crazy and panic buying the strangest things, like toilet paper, eggs and bottled water! These items are completely gone from the shelves and stock rooms. I could understand if the TP and bottled water were going to areas affected by Helene, but eggs? TP, bottled water and eggs are produced here in America and are not affected by the Longshoremen's strike in any shape, form or fashion! I'm not hurting, I've got 4 dozen eggs in the fridge and some bottled water (plus the stuff flows from the tap), but I was running low on TP. I was able to get 12 rolls of the good 2-ply stuff, but I'm hoping folks come to their senses soon, before we have to endure another toilet paper shortage!

 

Sheesh.... here we go again.
I keep a couple cases of TP stashed just in case.

 

Yes they are stupid and panicy. Thankfully the strike is over.

 

Yeah.stupid Dee's stupid does. I went out yesterday and bought Kleenex and paper towels.simply because their needed. I'll buy toilet paper next month

 

Yeah but the stupidly isn't.... funny prior to the strike I told the Mrs. better go top off our supplies because panic buying is about to happen, she looked at our pantry, went to the store came back with one extra bag of sugar I just chuckled - yup no panic here. I called my 2 kids who live a state over from us to tell them to make sure they had the basics, they both responded we're good Dad no need to rush to a store that actually became a proud pappa moment

 

TP and most other paper products are US dominant - US is a big exporter >>> it's another sheeple panic without any real knowledge or thought ....

what they can't even begin to comprehend is the US being cut off almost permanently WHEN the US takes on China - whether it's coming from China or one of the other Asian Rims - it's gone for sure while the war is on - good chance the factory and supporting infrastructure gets dinged and gone for a good part of your lifetime ....

right now with this strike - good chance the majority of Christmas has arrived at the US warehouses - same same with the winter oriented gear >>> the US retail is in decent shape until Spring 2025 - US mfg is totally fucked of course - $$$ pricing on stuff like meds will increase but still come in by air freight ....

it's how the strike takes out manufacturing and starts massive layoffs - just before the election - that makes the biggest play of the game ....

 

"...what they can't even begin to comprehend is the US being cut off almost permanently WHEN the US takes on China - whether it's coming from China or one of the other Asian Rims - it's gone for sure while the war is on - good chance the factory and supporting infrastructure gets dinged and gone for a good part of your lifetime ...."

Good point but remember that is a double edge sword and probably what has kept the Chinese party in check all these years. The main two problems of China is to keep its 1+ billion population working and fed and doing so without a lot of necessary natural resources like oil. Oil is China's Achillies heel and is their third major problem.

 

During the Covid Craziness, I warned my Sister and BIL. Neither believed me. A few months into 2020 they are running out of paper products, and store shelves were generally empty. I gave them enough to get by til the craziness abated. Even after some "normalcy" returned, they still saw no need to stash away emergency preps. Some people just refuse to learn.

 

One would think that someone would recognize that "shipping all the jobs overseas" was a fundamentally flawed strategy to bankrupt the middle class. Seems obvious to me. DJT's tariffs would be a step in the right direction IF AND ONLY IF it was done "gently" (so as not to ignite a trade war) and strategically (focus on the key industries need in war time). Same with mergers and acquisitions approval. In the financial realm, TBIF (too big to fail) is TBTE (too big to exist). Balance sheets should be limited to a reasonable amount percentage relative to the national GDP. Unfunded liabilities should be outlawed. Also, executive compensation should be "taxed" to the extent that it exceeds what the President is paid and any other compensation should be "laddered" (i.e., vested non-transferable corporate bonds staggered in equal amounts over a long term time horizon) say thirty years to encourage long term decision making (i.e., no sacrificing long term survival for short term profitability).

 

Did anyone notice that the big panic for hospitals was the lack of drugs and medical supplies?

Yeah, 90% of the medicines used are made overseas- is yours?

I take a single med, long term - a blood thinner. It is made in PR and by the Swiss. Period. Why Porto Rico? Seems the FedGov laid out some very sweet tax breaks for Big Phara to move there in order to 'help the local economy'.

I have checked and have a 'natural' substitute should it be needed, but knowing the med - and most others - is made outside of CONUS is not a happy thing.

 

Gawd's country

 

I wish fentanyl came by boat.

 

Yeah, someday young people are gonna ask, "Why does Grandpa keep so much toilet paper on hand"?

 

Gramps will tell his grandkids.... " Let me tell y'all about the Great TP Famine of 2020!"

 

Toilet paper is made right here in the USA, same with bottled water

 

But with any emergency, or the hint of an emergency, many people stampede to the stores and buy out certain things. I used to enjoy, when a tropical storm/hurricane was approaching, going to the local WallyMart to watch "the floor show". It was hilarious to watch the Soccer Moms, Softball Dads and College Kids are literally fighting over TP, bottled water, canned food, flashlight batteries, bread, milk, etc. I mean literal fist fights! Then I'd go back home, didn't need to buy anything because I had already prepped.
I've read of people trying to return much of what they bought later when the storm passed, not realising there'll be another eventually. Then the game starts anew.

 

I got to agree with everything you stated. I also believe the biggest thing should be getting critical manufacturing to return to the states. For example, pharmaceuticals so by putting an import tax on certain products that are not made here I believe is probably the only way to provide the incentive for their return, that and other big tax incentives. I do understand and agree about 'free markets' however China still restricts American business in their country heavily, 'free market' is definitely not a 2-way street in China. Lastly, China needs us much more than we need them. China does not want a trade war which would be the catalyst for a massive manufacturing rebuild in this country and doing so they would be the actual implement of their own demise, their own destruction. So, in my mind, we need to get a backbone and do what is best for the country and if that means shortages in the short term for a better outcome in the long term then so be it. But...

Having said this, there is another possible rub to this that is not obvious. A huge return of manufacturing stateside leads to less reliance on China. Sounds good as we would improve every year while China takes the hit losing market share and money every year. However, this also would decrease our leverage with China on the world stage. Plus, the Western countries seem to follow the US in many endeavors so China's problems could even grow simply due to US influence. As China's global economy contracts their domestic problems increase and you can bet their cooperation in international affairs will be affected. How much will depend as the scales sway back and forth to even include that the invasion of Taiwan could become a reality because it would be seen as a necessity by China to prop up their government. The Great Game, as stated by Kipling, is a global balancing act.

 

Many of the drugs made here in CONUS depend on 'precursor' ingredients that come from....China.

Stack it deep or find a 'natural' replacement. It may require more of a 'dose' but at least consider what might be available - and ask the Doc for feedback,....

 

Yes, this is true, and I understand but this was not always the case. I mean, even precursors could be made here again or obtain from other sources... It is something we will have to do or we will suffer severe consequences someday, probably soon or when we can least tolerate it.

As far as my current needs, I've at least 6 months laid aside, more like 9 months, so I'm good as I can get.