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We haven't reached shortages and such yet - and we also would have to have food scarcity for a long time to change the habits of Americans. This will be "real"

We haven't reached shortages and such yet - and we also would have to have food scarcity for a long time to change the habits of Americans. This will be "real" food scarcity, not the stuff manufactured by the left and the media, with food deserts and all. I haven't seen fresh beef or chicken and the grocery stores for two weeks now. I doubt we'll get to the point of our grandparents and great grandparents, where they didn't waste anything when it came to food because they grew up during the depression. But it will be a net positive for the country to go back to cooking their own meals, generally eating healthier, and eating less calories overall. The USA doesn't need to be in the top of the lists of obesity. There may be casualties in the food and restaurant industry. But in a way we reached peak food with how ridiculous some places and prices were becoming.

Swizec 7y ago
Here in SF everything is still fully stocked in the morning on a weekend at least. Fresh veggies, fresh meats, cans of stuff. There’s even some rationed toilet paper on the shelfs. But I only shop on Saturday mornings so maybe that’s why.
bostonpete 7y ago
I'm confused. You start off implying that it would take a lot more severe shortages to change American habits and then later seem to say the current (coming?) changes in habits "will be a net positive". Are you anticipating more severe shortages?
matwood 7y ago
> I haven't seen fresh beef or chicken and the grocery stores for two weeks now. I don't know where you are located, but beef and fish was never an issue here. Chicken and pork sold out, but have been getting restocked every other day. Can you explain what about COVID-19 is going to cause food scarcity in the US?
- PaulDavisThe1st 7y ago
  What could cause it would be a very high rate of infection that knocks out 20% of the workforce operating in food harvest, production and/or distribution. Even if they all recover (likely, it seems), that would make it hard to keep the supply chains running smoothly.
yowlingcat 7y ago
Casualties in "the food and restaurant industry" are ones you're applauding? How about casualties of those in economic precarity, full stop? A food supply chain shortage is not a good thing for society, and to purport that is laughable. I get the impulse to presume that constraints breed creativity, but when it comes to survival, constraints also breed death, suffering and starvation.

Swizec 7y ago

Here in SF everything is still fully stocked in the morning on a weekend at least. Fresh veggies, fresh meats, cans of stuff. There’s even some rationed toilet paper on the shelfs. But I only shop on Saturday mornings so maybe that’s why.

bostonpete 7y ago

I'm confused. You start off implying that it would take a lot more severe shortages to change American habits and then later seem to say the current (coming?) changes in habits "will be a net positive". Are you anticipating more severe shortages?

matwood 7y ago

> I haven't seen fresh beef or chicken and the grocery stores for two weeks now. I don't know where you are located, but beef and fish was never an issue here. Chicken and pork sold out, but have been getting restocked every other day. Can you explain what about COVID-19 is going to cause food scarcity in the US?

PaulDavisThe1st 7y ago
What could cause it would be a very high rate of infection that knocks out 20% of the workforce operating in food harvest, production and/or distribution. Even if they all recover (likely, it seems), that would make it hard to keep the supply chains running smoothly.

yowlingcat 7y ago

Casualties in "the food and restaurant industry" are ones you're applauding? How about casualties of those in economic precarity, full stop? A food supply chain shortage is not a good thing for society, and to purport that is laughable. I get the impulse to presume that constraints breed creativity, but when it comes to survival, constraints also breed death, suffering and starvation.