Why weren’t they doing that already?
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Let’s set the stage:
The ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, account for 40% of all shipping containers entering the U.S.
As of this Monday, there were 62 ships berthed at the two ports and 81 waiting to dock and unload, according to the Marine Exchange of Southern California.
No question, the LA ports are a bottleneck in the U.S. supply chain.
So, after “months of negotiations with unions and local politicos”, President Biden flipped on his teleprompter and read to the nation:
And, Biden boasted that the action is a “gamechanger” … and praised his crack team and his union vote-getters for their months of hard work making this bold action happen.
My initial reaction: Are you kidding me?
The broader consensus:
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Laggards playing catch-up
For openers, I was surprised that they’d been only doing two 8-hour shifts a day … Monday through Friday … no weekends.
Here’s my “anchoring point”…
One of my neighbors is a longshoreman at the Port of Baltimore.
He may be the hardest working guy I’ve ever met … always on call, lots of night shifts and 16 hour days, rugged physical work.
When I ask him why, his simple reply: “Gotta get the ships unloaded”.
I assumed that he was representative of all longshoremen.
Silly me.
To that point, WaPo reports that “the extended hours the administration is touting represent something less than the full around-the-clock operations that are typical of the world’s most advanced cargo-moving facilities.”
But, not to worry.
“Leaders of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union have agreed to work longer hours, provided individual terminal operators pay up.”
And, it only took Team Biden a few months to get them to that point.
My question: Given Joe’s proclivities, why didn’t he just mandate 24/7 months ago?
Obvious answer: The International Longshore and Warehouse Union
Say no more…
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Moving the mongoose thru the python
Port operators say that “operational details are being discussed and still need to be worked out with the supply chain stakeholders.”
English translation:
“Similar delays await freight once it reaches the shore, where docks, rail yards and warehouses are jammed with goods” and truckers are few and far between.
Until the “labor force participation rate” bumps up, specifically for truckers, the problem will persist.
“All you do is move the logjam from sea to shore – and that can potentially make matters worse.”
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Getting FedEx, Walmart & Home Depot off their asses
This is downright laughable!
Biden is even claiming credit for getting Walmart, Home Depot, etc. to start working 24/7.
What the hell does he think they’ve been doing since the dawn of creation. It’s their lifeblood.
All of those operations have business models that move goods 24/7.
For example: Ian Jefferies, president of the American Railroad Association says indignantly:
“Major railroads “have long been 24/7 operations.”
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Role Modeling
Biden says that:
“The giant companies will set an example that will spur others to follow.”
But, he didn’t personally commit to working full days or weekends … and, of course, he didn’t take questions.
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My questions::
Do Joe and his crack team of amateurs have any idea how the economy works?
I’m betting the under on that one.
Where are the “exceptionally successful” military logistics forces?
If they’re so good, shouldn’t they be working this problem?
And, can you imagine if these sluggards had been in charge of vaccine development?
We wouldn’t be tussling over vax mandates now … because we wouldn’t have any vaccines.
Heaven help us…
The Homa Files 
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