'There will be things that people can't get,' at Christmas, White House warns

[TheProle]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - White House officials, scrambling to relieve global supply bottlenecks choking U.S. ports, highways and railways, warn that Americans may face higher prices and some empty shelves this Christmas season.

The supply crisis, driven in part by the global COVID-19 pandemic, not only threatens to dampen U.S. spending at a critical time, it also poses a political risk for President Joe Biden.

The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll shows the economy continues to be the most important issue for Democrats and Republicans alike.

The White House has been trying to tackle inflation-inducing supply bottlenecks of everything from meat to semiconductors, and formed a task force in June that meets weekly and named a "bottleneck" czar to push private-sector companies to ease snarls.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/americans-may-not-get-some-christmas-treats-white-house-officials-warn-2021-10-12/

[underpants]

1. Unfortunately whomever in the White House gets this blame.

Fox is heavy on blaming him. The first 10 months nites I saw was about nothing but gas prices and empty shelves

[forthemiddle]

7. No matter who was in the White House

They would get the blame. Even though it’s not their fault, it’s the ups an downs of politics.
If the economy, and if life was great Biden would get the cudos.
It is the way of the world. Not going to change that.

[stillcool]

20. not the way of the world in media

those days are long gone.

[wnylib]

46. The blame goes to the fools who keep

the pandemic going, IMO.

[BlueIdaho]

2. With global supply bottlenecks stretching into the future

Maybe it’s time to start making things in the US again.

[jimfields33]

3. We had a "Made in America" program for awhile

I wonder what happened to it.

[BlueIdaho]

5. I think we were seduced by the cost of made in China

Without thinking about the total price of buying from China.

[jimfields33]

10. For sure. I'm surprised that so many do not realize that much of

China’s products are made by children. I’m of course guilty due to buying things but I’m surprised it doesn’t get more attention.

[BlueIdaho]

16. We are all guilty to some degree

But let’s face it, until recently work conditions in China have been hidden from the average consumer. Now would be a great time to look to our own country to make more of the stuff we consume.

[calimary]

41. My solution has always been "Made in my little craft room".

Handmade gifts have always struck me as the best kind. Besides, you never have to worry about duplication.

[jimfields33]

44. That's true and very good.

[OldBaldy1701E]

45. I agree

And, there is another benefit to that practice. If you wish to really see someone's true feelings, give them a nice, hand-made gift. If you get the 'OMGs, this is awesome!' or some exaggerated reply, or if you get that half-interested smile and thanks, keep it in mind. Because nothing says 'I want things that allow me to compensate for this tiny appendage so I can wave it in front of everyone!' like that half smile and dry thanks you get when you give them something that you put real time and effort into. But hey, you get to practice your hand-made card making skills then.

[calimary]

51. Well, it's "Pinecone World" around here so I'm really goin' to town!

I’ve collected bags of ‘em. And I’m well-armed with glue guns! And Christmas is coming!

If you make someone a handmade gift, you can always be pretty sure they’re not already gonna have one.

[Unwind Your Mind]

53. I have an auntie who makes things for all of us

Quilting mostly, she knows everyone’s colors and is so thoughtful.

I’m in evacuation land here in CA and my treasure box contains several of her creations.

It’s a wonderful thing 💕💕

[sprinkleeninow]

4. My recent thought also.

[BlueIdaho]

17. I think that is changing now that the workers are calling BS on that model.

Workers have real value and putting money into their hands feeds the nations economy. It’s not trickle down - it’s a bottom up economy. Always has been, always will be.

[BlueIdaho]

23. Maybe is time to shop small, shop local.

The things we used to think of as advantages of the big box store now seem not so great. Maybe starving the monster is possible, even necessary.

[BlueIdaho]

28. Not exactly a comforting thought, but I sure do get it.

FWIW - I have a washer/dryer that are made in America. Same goes for my dishwasher. My fridge was made in Canada I call that close enough. But I sure see you’re point. Tell people to shop local and they think sand candles. 😉

I have nothing against a global marketplace as long as it doesn’t get abused to drive down wages and worker rights. But there must be some way to reclaim some of our manufacturing base here at home. I see the idea of a global minimum corporate tax has been endorsed - maybe that will help.

[Marthe48]

34. I avoided shopping local since the 2020 election

79% of my county voted for traitor. I don't want to give them my money!

Staying home because of Covid is my 2nd reason for not going into local shops.

[BlueIdaho]

35. Buying American doesn't mean supporting Fascists but I hear you.

You describe my situation to a tee. But there are still options for buying American made stuff and avoiding the big box stores - which mostly also support right wing politicians.

[paleotn]

29. You forgot an important part of that....

American consumers are use to cheap prices and the near zero inflation driven by low and lower cost producers. Getting the average Jill and Joe to pony up more for the good of the country is a tough sell. Hell, we can't even get them to wear freaking masks during a pandemic.

[paleotn]

27. Sounds good, but extemely difficult to do.

Globalized production and supply chain systems took years to build and will take years to unravel. Lots of products and their component parts haven't been made anywhere in the US in decades, so the capital infrastructure would have to be rebuilt. That's difficult, expensive and time consuming even if you can get producers to go along. Biggest problem of all is getting Americans use to higher prices after decades of cheap and cheaper from leaned out supply chains connecting low cost producers. The "better quality" paradigm of the 90's and 00's doesn't work anymore as foreign producers in many industries churn out products just as good and sometimes better than their American counterparts from 40 years ago. It's a tangled web we've weaved all these year and won't get unwound anytime soon.

[Marthe48]

31. I was thinking about 'just in time' stocking too

There used to be warehouses and items were stocked way ahead. Then to save money, companies stopped having extensive warehouses, or stockrooms. I think that's another reason things are scarce. I wasn't crazy about that idea when I learned about it.

I live in Ohio and the number of closed factories and abandoned farms is a heartache.

I collect antiques and have learned a lot of history of production. Ohio is full of the clay and sand that made high quality glass. At one time, companies in Ohio made half of the world's supply of dinnerware. Most of the cities up and down the Ohio River, on both sides had glass, pottery and china factories. There were also places that made clothes. All gone. Towns also had brick makers, lumber yards, other specialized factories where you could actually buy useful local items.

Even when things were made in the U.S., people still bought the same exact item from somewhere else and had it shipped to the location they wanted. Even now, I see barges up and down the Ohio River all the time, literally shipping coal to Newcastle. River gravel from up around Wheeling WV sent down to a paving company in Marietta, which also has river gravel. From the same river :/

[paleotn]

33. Yep. JIT has been gospel for 30 years

It works well in stable conditions, but conditions are rarely stable for long.

[jpak]

8. I guess we've been naughty

And not nice

[cloudbase]

11. Perhaps this is a blessing.

Movement away from the huge commercial aspect of the holidays might not be such a bad thing.

[Aussie105]

12. Time to wind back on the holidays consumerism fever?

I approve!

Sometimes 'want' and 'need' are not the same. Most of the time, really.

[underpants]

14. Yes that would be.

But let’s remember that people had a free life saver and were manipulated to refuse it.

[BlueIdaho]

18. Read a great book back in the 90's

Called “Unplug the Christmas Machine” still an excellent read - it’s totally changed our family’s Christmas traditions.

[yaesu]

13. All I want for xmas is a steady supply of fuel and electricity during the hardest part of winter

with no outages, so people don't freeze to death.

[ananda]

36. That would certainly work for me after my experience..

with the Texas deep freeze last February.

[orleans]

40. and coffee. nt

[Unwind Your Mind]

58. And beer, lucky we do make that here, nt

[SWBTATTReg]

15. This is no surprise...I've been seeing shortages / shelves empty at the hardware store for quite ...

some time, like some have said, perhaps it's a good thing (kind of reduce the rampart commercialism) and if things were so critical to a business' operating mode/revenue, then perhaps they should have looked into other supply channels, perhaps developed in-house suppliers / manufacturing in the US, and/or other options that don't rely on so many factors in getting their merchandise into the hands of retailers in time for the holidays ... I think folks are going to give Biden a wide latitude being he's got so much to repair from the damages inflicted by rump's admin. (lack of adequate steps undertaken by the trump admin., tariffs right and left because rump had a temper fit, etc., etc., etc.).

[SWBTATTReg]

47. Perhaps Mexico and/or Canada could but I doubt that they have the infrastructure to ...

handle such volumes, otherwise wouldn't the powers that be, have already done this? Sure, transport costs would have gone up (shipping via trucks to the USA if offloaded in Canada or Mexico), but when the retailers are getting 5 or 6 times what they paid for the Chinese goods (or other such countries) for resale in the USA, they have plenty of margin to cost these additional costs, I would think.

Of course w/ COVID and border restrictions, even this option may be up in the air.

[EarthFirst]

21. Maybe we just gather at the holidays...

Share a meal; conversation; and relish in the moment of being in good company without the corporate leash?

[Marthe48]

57. Would love that!

Last year it was all done remotely

[PSPS]

24. OMG!!111!! WOn't someone please think of the children!!???/11?/)

This is exhibit one of "first world problems" if any were ever needed. Geesh.

[Rebl2]

26. It's all

trumps fault-everything!

[bucolic_frolic]

30. Demand might not be as robust as a normal holiday season because

large parts of the populace has been at home and shopping online for 18 months. Only mitigating factor I can think of is inheritance money from all the COVID fatalities. MAGA doesn't mourn much, I would think. I mean if they have no empathy for us, what do they think of their own?

[Marthe48]

32. We should remember antique shops, flea markets and thrift stores

and other sources of pre-owned items that might make gifts for Christmas. My family is okay getting vintage items as gifts. It would be hard to find small appliances or electronics in good condition, but it's a thought.

I have seen advice for the last month to shop early. My daughter bought Christmas presents to send along with a relative, first so she had gifts, second so she didn't have to rely on USPS to get them there. That was a nightmare last year and it won't be any better this year. BTW, if anyone wants to get me a present, I'll take dejoy in prison, please.

[SWBTATTReg]

48. Good idea! One that should gain more acceptance, since it solves several problems, IMHO.

Also another alternative is simply cash or a gift card (one w/ no expiration date) that could be used at one's pleasure (when they finally find the good(s) they want.

[Marthe48]

52. I thought of gift cards, too

I usually get in-laws gift cards, which they seem to prefer.

I have things in the basement I might give my daughters as prank gifts. I have a new in box hand mixer in avocado green from the 70's and a n-i-b curling iron, which would bring back many funny stories about big hair

[SWBTATTReg]

56. That's a good idea, a kind of a 'gag gift' for XMAS event, so you'll still have fun over the ...

holidays, and re-purpose old gifts for new purposes that actually find good homes! Thanks for the laugh and suggestion.

[Historic NY]

37. What no fruitcake.

[BigmanPigman]

38. I want tRump and his corrupt pals to go directly to jail...

that doesn't require any supply chain. Pleeeeeease Santa, please. I have been very, very good this year.

[Bristlecone]

39. The GQP will blame Dems and claim we are once again waging a war on Xmas

Just how the circle goes round and round.

[Vinca]

42. How will we possibly survive without our plastic Christmas trees and flammable stockings

from China to hang by the fireplace? Will the Trump toilet paper joke gift be available again this year? Oh, the horror of it all.

[Deminpenn]

43. Local Home Depot

already has its xmas section set up and stocked.

Think Walmart does too.

[Aussie105]

50. Any Xmas jingles over the store music yet?

Only a matter of time if not.

We have abandoned Xmas here.
It's meant to be a religious observance thing.
And we aren't religious.

Vegetarians, so no ham and turkey either.
Skip the hot food.
Just salads - weather gets hot here in Australia at Xmas.

[Deminpenn]

59. LOL. Not yet

That will happen right after Halloween.

[maryellen99]

54. They've done that since before Covid though nt

My husband texted me a picture of the Christmas display at Lowes in September 2019.

[Deminpenn]

60. True

Xmas displays have gotten earlier and earlier over time. Just pointing out that there's xmas stuff available and it's either already out or being put out.

[ruet]

55. "'bottleneck' czar"?

Can we put this tired colloquialism out to pasture? ...please?