The Shortages Begin

 

by Pa Rock

Cagey Consumer

I remember all too well Trump's first disastrous term in the White House, the one where he almost got us all killed through his inattention to the emerging COVID pandemic, and then his ceaseless promotion of bad medicine and quack cures.  I remember, too, the shortages we had to endure.  Who would have ever suspected that ordinary, hard-working Americans would so quickly be reduced to brawling in supermarkets over rolls of toilet paper?

This time, as Don the Con returned to the White House, I stocked up on toilet paper and have enough on hand to wipe my butt at least through the end of this calendar year.   But preparing for shortages is a bit like playing 'whack-a-mole,' and as you deal with one possibility, something entirely unexpected pops up. Yesterday, I got a heads-up on one item of emerging scarcity which I had not anticipated.

My good friend from college days in the 1960's, Xobekim, whom I shall be referring to a "Mike," is retired and living in the Kansas City area.  Mike, like a lot of us senior citizens, spends many of his days following a more-or-less fixed routine, and part of his daily circuit involves stopping by a neighborhood Quick Stop where he purchases an iced tea each morning.  I too, like a big iced tea during the morning hours which I sip on while typing this blog.  It keeps the old synapses firing.   I buy bottled tea at the store and then ice it at home, which keeps me from having to run into town every morning.   To each his own, I suppose.

Mike emailed yesterday to warn about what may be an impending tea shortage.  He said that his local Quick Stop was out of regular, unflavored iced tea - and that their warehouse was also out of tea.  There are many Quick Stops in the Kansas City area, so that indicates this has the potential to be a really big issue.  Mike also pointed out that much of the world's tea comes from China.

Coincidence?  Not likely.  Trump's stupid tariffs were initially and primarily aimed at China.

I will be heading into town this afternoon and stocking up on bottled tea - if there is any left - and if the prices have not already shot into the stratosphere.

Elect a clown, get a circus!