Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Formula for Disaster

One of the latest right-wing smear campaigns has involved blaming the Biden administration for a shortage of baby formula, with the main narrative partaking of the very same 'Great Replacement' bullsjit which inspired the Buffalo massacre- namely, accusations that the Biden administration is stockpiling  baby formula for undocumented immigrants while native-born white babies starve.

The reality is that GOP policies, such as deregulation and toleration of monopolies, are to blame for this problem, which has been exacerbated by Trump's MAGA-branded protectionism.  The main reason why baby formula is is short supply is because an Abbott Nutrition owned formula production facility in Sturgis, MI was shut down due to contamination by Cronobacter sakazakii and Salmonella NEWPORT bacteria.  The contamination resulted in one probable death and necessitated a recall.  The GOP is the party which views regulation as 'burdensome', and, in true Libertarian fashion, Abbott execs spent money which could have been used to modernize, or at least sanitize the Sturgis facility on stock buybacks.

Another major factor in the baby formula shortage is that 90% of the baby formula in the US is produced by four corporations.  This situation is exacerbated by Trump's vaunted North American trade agreement being disadvantageous to Canadian formula producers.

Once again, we see Republicans blaming Joe Biden for the deleterious effects of Republican governance, which is always a formula for disaster.

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