Free Republic

Now that Russia has invaded Ukraine, there is full-scale war in Europe. Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and possibly also Moldova are fully engaged, with other nearby countries on alert, involving themselves in a way that sometimes appears to push the envelope of neutrality. We all know what this means in terms of the human cost to people and geography. Shelling, bombing, firing on individuals, businesses, population centers, industrial centers, and other targets, both military and civilian. Thousands of people have already been killed, and many thousands more, most likely, will die in the weeks and months ahead. That is of course...

"Sorry, ma'am, we've been out for months. They're on order from Asia." "Yes, sir, I know we're out of them. They've been shipped from Asia, sir; they're on their way... but it's taking forever. No, sir, I don't know why." Most retailers have had to make the above statement dozens of times each day for the past six to nine months. Sadder still is that even American-made goods are also unavailable, because so many American-made products are dependent on components or raw materials from Asia. Why? Why on earth does international shipping take so long nowadays? THE MAGIC OF INTERMODAL...