The elections are heating up.   You know, its the midterm,season- when most of the electorate fails to vote.

And, while adherents of both parties are guilty of falling short of their electoral responsibilities, it is the Democratic Party adherents that seem to fall shortest right now.

But, that’s not really the thrust of today’s post.

When President Biden won the election (Sorry, Donald, we don’t allow BS claims here)- as did the Democratic Party achieve a majority in the House and bare parity in the Senate, the opportunity- and the demand- existed to instill faith in our government institutions.  And, to be honest, for a New York minute, they did.

Of course, then, the Democrats proved that their history- the ability to create a circular firing squad that shoots one another effectively- was not to be abandoned.  Which is why the electorate has lost faith in the Democratic Party and their ability to lead America to new heights.  (Yes, that is despite the fact that the economy has turned around, that unemployment is at an all time low, etc.)

But, there is an existing problem that demonstrates clearly that staying on top of the need to provide government services to our populace does not seem to be of high enough priority.

Of what do I speak?

The current baby formula shortage.

With what management capability would anyone not respond- back in February 2022- with a plan to insure that no shortage of a critical need not be met?   Because back in February, it became evident that Abbott Laboratories dropped the ball; its production facility in Michigan was probably producing adulterated- and potentially dangerous- lots of baby formula.   Moreover, baby formula was already suffering from the general supply issue malaise (Reckitt had run out of raw materials and had been unable to maintain store shelf space) some 2 years earlier (early 2020).

No, it was not the failure of the Democratic Party to disallow Abbott (and its three competitors) from accumulating a dominant share of the baby formula marketplace.  (As I have often lamented, we do not have a capitalist society in the US; instead we “enjoy” crony capitalism, one where acquisitions and mergers allow firms to control major segments of our marketplaces.)

But, the second it was clear that we were going to shut down a manufacturer that supplied almost ½ the needs for American families, it should have been evident that we needed to lean on the other three producers to ramp up their production immediately.  Instead of waiting some 90 days to so consider such an action.

Or, to immediately allow formula from Europe, where health and safety standards are a match for our own, to be imported to fill the potential shortfall.  (We have disallowed most of those firms access to the US Market to “protect” American manufacturers, since special regulations were passed in 1980.  And, the FDA has been emulating the IRS in clearing its backlog of applications for new producers, having not approved a new one in all of 2021.  [Oh, wait, here’s that crony capitalism again.])  Instead of waiting almost 100 days to incorporate the Defense Production Act to import large quantities of foreign formula to American shores.  (And, not the hoopla concerning formula for 9000 families for a week, like was celebrated this past weekend.)

Those two acts- for an administration that desperately wants to demonstrate to the American populace that government works for the people– should have been authorized and implemented when the FDA shutdown of Abbot was to occur.  Not 90 days later.

Shame on them for leaving America at risk.

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