Inflation and supply chain problems will only go away if we (make-)believe like Biden

The grocery store was out of cotton balls. Luckily, I didn’t need cotton balls – don’t believe I ever have – but the empty shelf looked odd. Maybe every other parent did a run on Santa-themed craft supplies.

I did need canned cat food for our nightly feedings of the neighborhood stray. Those shelves were empty too. About three neighbors feed the same feline so I figured they could pick up the slack.

Every week, the store is out of something else. Last week it was our favorite soft drink, three weeks ago it was paper towels, and before that it was pretzels – every brand was missing.

None of these shortages are a big deal. Even a carb addict like me can skip pretzels for a week. But the shortages are so random. It’s hard not to feel like something is off.

That economic uncertainty is only amplified when you see how much more you’re paying the cashier at the end of the visit.

Biden often says 'there's no problem to see here'

Addressing empty shelves and Amazon delays, the president assured Americans not to believe our lying eyes.

“If you’ve watched the news recently, you might think the shelves in all our stores are empty across the country,” Biden said. “The CEOs I met with this week reported that their inventories are up, shelves are well stocked, and they’re ready to meet the consumer demand for the holidays.”

After implying there are no shortages, he assured the nation that our current shortages are no big deal.

“Some of you moms and dads may remember Cabbage Patch Kids back in the ‘80s or Beanie Babies in the ‘90s, or other toys that have run out at Christmas time in past years when there was no supply chain problem,” Biden said.

In October, Press Secretary Jen Psaki mocked the pre-Christmas shortages of appliances, furniture and exercise equipment as “the tragedy of the treadmill that's delayed.” Chief of Staff Ron Klain dismissed them as “high-class problems” that Americans should stop complaining about.

Meanwhile, the first two items on my daughter’s Amazon wish list are unavailable, and I doubt a garage-sale Cabbage Patch Kid will suffice.

The White House communication strategy on everything, from Afghanistan to the border to the economy, has been “there isn’t a problem and even if there is, it’s fine.” No one should be surprised by Biden’s collapsing polls.

But shortages will be hard for voters to ignore

Voters might ignore Biden’s gaslighting on Afghanistan since they don’t know anyone stuck in Kabul that he promised to evacuate. Others can ignore gaslighting on the border since thousands of migrants aren’t camped under the nearest freeway bridge. But they can’t ignore the random shortages, missed deliveries and rising prices at the pump and the grocery store.

Insulting the intelligence of average voters is no way to win the midterms. Pretending massive supply chain issues don’t exist will only increase the backlash. And acting as if inflation isn’t pegged at 6.2% adds to the nation’s sour mood.

The Biden shortages are random but are mostly due to the broken supply chain. Canned cat food is blamed on more households with pets, an aluminum shortage and a dearth of workers. Pretzel-free aisles are likely due to strikes at several snack and cereal companies, along with slower shipping.

And a “cotton squeeze” has rocked world markets, leading to a 50% increase in the price. Kids across the country should keep their Santas clean shaven.

These are all real issues, certainly not disastrous but real. For the White House to pretend voters are just imagining them won’t help them win a news cycle, let alone elections in 2022 and 2024.

Jon Gabriel, a Mesa resident, is editor-in-chief of Ricochet.com and a contributor to The Republic and azcentral.com. On Twitter: @exjon.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Biden adds insult to injury by denying inflation, supply shortage