Supply Chain, Inflation & Other Economic Issues

[rrshock]

The railroads are playing a big part in the supply chain issues. They have bowed down to investors and gutted labor. Running much bigger trains and refusing to move empty intermodal cars to the ports to be loaded is a major problem.

The government has now decided to look into their practices, and hopefully will put in some restrictions that cause them to run smaller, more frequent trains out of the ports.

[wufan]

The railroads are playing a big part in the supply chain issues. They have bowed down to investors and gutted labor. Running much bigger trains and refusing to move empty intermodal cars to the ports to be loaded is a major problem.

The government has now decided to look into their practices, and hopefully will put in some restrictions that cause them to run smaller, more frequent trains out of the ports.

Yes, the supply chain issues caused by government can only be fixed by more government.

[1972Shocker]

Congress Gives Itself Double-Digit Raise While Americans Struggle to Make Ends Meet

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/spencerbrown/2022/03/15/congress-gives-itself-a-raise-n2604526

As RollCall explains, "the $5.9 billion fiscal 2022 Legislative Branch funding portion would substantially boost the office budgets of House members" and "would provide $774.4 million for the Members Representational Allowance, known as the MRA, which funds the House office budgets for lawmakers, including staffer salaries."

The increased taxpayer funding for congressional offices is $134.4 million more than was allocated in the last fiscal year — a 21 percent increase — according to the House Appropriations Committee summary. In addition, congressional offices on the House side get $18.2 million for paid internships.

[1972Shocker]

Producer Price Index Sets New Inflation Record

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/spencerbrown/2022/03/15/producer-price-index-sets-new-inflation-record-n2604579

The latest data released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that prices upstream from consumers continue to surge higher at record-setting levels, putting more pressure on American companies and manufacturers.

As the BLS release for February's data explains, "The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 0.8 percent in February, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This rise followed advances of 1.2 percent in January and 0.4 percent in December 2021. (See table A.) On an unadjusted basis, final demand prices moved up 10.0 percent for the 12 months ended in February."

Wholesale inflation is officially in double-digit territory: 10.0% for the year ending February 2022, the highest annual rate in the Producer Price Index's history.

[ShockerPrez]

Congress Gives Itself Double-Digit Raise While Americans Struggle to Make Ends Meet

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/spencerbrown/2022/03/15/congress-gives-itself-a-raise-n2604526

As RollCall explains, "the $5.9 billion fiscal 2022 Legislative Branch funding portion would substantially boost the office budgets of House members" and "would provide $774.4 million for the Members Representational Allowance, known as the MRA, which funds the House office budgets for lawmakers, including staffer salaries."

The increased taxpayer funding for congressional offices is $134.4 million more than was allocated in the last fiscal year — a 21 percent increase — according to the House Appropriations Committee summary. In addition, congressional offices on the House side get $18.2 million for paid internships.

Public servants

[1972Shocker]

Fertilizer Shortages Indicate an Even Bigger Crisis is Looming

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2022/03/15/fertilizer-shortages-indicate-an-even-bigger-crisis-is-looming-n2604553

Farmers are seeing a fertilizer shortage. Combined with high water and fuel prices, costs are set to soar as food becomes less available.

Fertilizer prices were already running red hot this year before a European energy crisis fanned the flames, potentially adding to a pinch on farmers in the U.S. and around the world and stoking worries about food inflation.

“It’s almost like a perfect storm of different reasons that probably has a lot of upside in price for different macronutrients,” said Samuel Taylor, Cleveland-based executive director of research at Rabobank, in a phone interview.

Natural gas is a key ingredient in the process used to make nitrogen-based fertilizers used on a range of crops, including corn and wheat. Natural gas accounts for 75% to 90% of operating costs in the production of nitrogen, Taylor noted.

Not to mention the fact that Russia is a major exporter of fertilizers.

[1972Shocker]

House liberals to urge Biden to declare climate emergency, ban drilling on federal lands

https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2022/03/house-liberals-to-urge-biden-to-declare-climate-emergency-ban-drilling-on-federal-lands-00017349?source=email

House progressives are planning to call onPresident Joe Biden this week to use his executive powerto declareclimate change a national emergency and to ban fossil fuel drilling on public lands.

The request from the Congressional Progressive Caucus comes as many Democratic clean energy priorities have stalled in Congress.

[shoxlax]

White House Talking Points Burn After Latest Eye-Watering Inflation Numbers

https://redstate.com/bonchie/2022/03/10/white-house-talking-points-burn-after-latest-eye-watering-inflation-numbers-n534152

On Wednesday, the White House’s Jen Psaki trotted out a new talking point to try to obfuscate from the crushing inflation hitting Americans. In doing so, she asserted that inflationary measures were actually going down, which would be news to those still paying exorbitant prices for groceries and gas, among many other common consumer items.

What the press secretary was doing was a too-clever-by-half sleight of hand. Yes, the rate of growth in inflation from month to month had somehow slowed (specifically last December and January), though it’s still far higher than normal levels.

The new inflation numbers have been released, and they clock in at an eye-watering 7.9 percent. That’s good for a 40-year-high and a new record for the Biden administration.

What does that number look like translated to the goods that Americans buy the most? It looks like an absolute house of horrors. In fact, that 7.9% number is incredibly misleading.

Price increases over last year (CPI report):
Used Cars: +41.2%
Gasoline: +38.0% Gas
Utilities: +23.8%
Meats/Fish/Eggs: +13.0%
New Cars: +12.4%
Electricity: +9.0%
Food at home: +8.6%
Overall CPI: +7.9%
Food away from home: +6.8%
Apparel: +6.6%
Transportation: +6.6%
Shelter: +4.7%

Shelter is the single biggest component of CPI (33% of Index) and is still being wildly understated (@ +4.7% YoY) with rents up 18% over the last year and home prices up 19%. Actual inflation rate is much higher than 7.9%.

I don’t know about you, but I buy a lot of meat, gasoline, and utilities, and I’d guess so do most other Americans. That means the real inflation rate, as in what price hikes impact people the most, is somewhere closer to 20-30 percent.

These numbers also put to bed Psaki’s new spin. The month-to-month inflation rate rose to 0.8 percent from 0.6 percent January to February. In other words, no, the rate of growth is not going down.

Maybe part of the reason we can’t afford to pay three coaches?

[C0|dB|00ded]

Biden isn't any more responsible for the inflation than GWB, BO, or DJT.

Our irresponsibility in not balancing the budget (since Clinton/Gingrich), is why we are spiraling right now.

Covid + supply chain + Russia is the lynch pin.

It's time we act like adults, incrementally raise the interest rates back to the 5-7% range, balance the GD federal budget, and let Americans get back to being Americans by innovating and growing the economy.

P.S. We need to COMPLETELY overhaul the lower education system as well. Look at what the Scandinavian region is doing - creative learning systems designed for maximum effect. The Libtard documentary, "Where To Invade Next" by Michael Moore, actually had some very powerful accounts of what those folks are doing. American HS "graduates" are savages in comparison.

[ShockerPrez]

Biden isn't any more responsible for the inflation than GWB, BO, or DJT.

Our irresponsibility in not balancing the budget (since Clinton/Gingrich), is why we are spiraling right now.

Covid + supply chain + Russia is the lynch pin.

It's time we act like adults, incrementally raise the interest rates back to the 5-7% range, balance the GD federal budget, and let Americans get back to being Americans by innovating and growing the economy.

P.S. We need to COMPLETELY overhaul the lower education system as well. Look at what the Scandinavian region is doing - creative learning systems designed for maximum effect. The Libtard documentary, "Where To Invade Next" by Michael Moore, actually had some very powerful accounts of what those folks are doing. American HS "graduates" are savages in comparison.

Agree.

A thriving economy and innovation starts with cheap energy. As Americans, we could probably innovate alternative energy faster than anyone, while extracting fossil fuels cleaner than anyone. But we need our economy to be impeccable. And stop knee-capping ourselves to maximize this innovation.

Our education system is putrid. And it's not lack of funding. It's lack of priorities. The list on this could go on forever, but we need to start ripping out the rot in our schools fast while we still have a chance. Math, English, History and real skills in H.S. We need to get to a point where a H.S. degree could qualify someone for a lifetime job if they desire. But that would probably require a larger manufacturing industry, which is another problem.

[wufan]

Agree.

A thriving economy and innovation starts with cheap energy. As Americans, we could probably innovate alternative energy faster than anyone, while extracting fossil fuels cleaner than anyone. But we need our economy to be impeccable. And stop knee-capping ourselves to maximize this innovation.

Our education system is putrid. And it's not lack of funding. It's lack of priorities. The list on this could go on forever, but we need to start ripping out the rot in our schools fast while we still have a chance. Math, English, History and real skills in H.S. We need to get to a point where a H.S. degree could qualify someone for a lifetime job if they desire. But that would probably require a larger manufacturing industry, which is another problem.

Federal funding of school systems needs to stop.

Grants and tax write offs for clean energy and fossil fuels needs to stop.

A return to core education needs to be prioritized. Yes there is room for music and art, but make those extracurriculars like sports and plays.

[C0|dB|00ded]

Here's the excerpt from the film showing what Finland is doing with a "less is more" approach.

I think the problem with public education is the gearing towards the lowest common denominator. Let's separate the lower IQ students from the classrooms so learning can be optimized. Maybe put the slow kids in an exploratory program searching for a path that makes them feel happy and engaged. This could also be the time to discover and treat learning "disabilities" like dyslexia and such.

We can't do away with public schools though, that would only hurt the middle and lower class citizenry. Many great American leaders came from meager beginnings. Every young child in this country deserves a "fair shot" at exceptionalism. This means they shouldn't have to pay country club fees for solid, foundational education.

[wufan]

Here's the excerpt from the film showing what Finland is doing with a "less is more" approach.

I think the problem with public education is the gearing towards the lowest common denominator. Let's separate the lower IQ students from the classrooms so learning can be optimized. Maybe put the slow kids in an exploratory program searching for a path that makes them feel happy and engaged. This could also be the time to discover and treat learning "disabilities" like dyslexia and such.

We can't do away with public schools though, that would only hurt the middle and lower class citizenry. Many great American leaders came from meager beginnings. Every young child in this country deserves a "fair shot" at exceptionalism. This means they shouldn't have to pay country club fees for solid, foundational education.

W’s “no child left behind” program has been a disaster. People should be separated based on ability so they all have an opportunity to succeed at their level.

As for doing away with public schools, you absolutely can. Private schools give scholarships. I’m not insisting that private only schools would be better for everyone, but I have a hard time believing it would be worse.

[1972Shocker]

[wichshock65]

https://twitter.com/BiscuitMotor/status/1506430827248422920?t=zEVLDfQzZ4_WGSmBtOMZXg&s=19

Here is the IEA’s 10-point plan

1. Reduce speed limits on highways by at least 10 mph.
2. Work from home up to three days a week where possible.
3. Car-free Sundays in cities
4. Make the use of public transport cheaper and incentivize micromobility, walking, and cycling.
5. Alternate private car access to roads in large cities.
6. Increase car-sharing and adopt practices to reduce fuel use.
7. Promote efficient driving for freight trucks and delivery of goods.
8. Using high-speed and night trains instead of planes where possible.
9. Avoid business air travel where alternative options exist.
10. Reinforce the adoption of electric and more efficient vehicles.