Boots on the Ground - My Personal Observations

7-22-2022   By Tim Gamble

SouthernPrepper1 is doing an ongoing "Boots on the Ground" series on his You Tube channel, chronicling the ongoing supply chain problems, inflation, crime, and other issues we are facing. He is using reports from ordinary people - boots on the ground - about what they are actually experiencing in their everyday lives. This eliminates the propaganda of the government and the bias of the mainstream media to give a more honest and realistic assessment of what is happening. You can follow his reports on his You Tube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/southernprepper1

Here is my personal boots on the ground report of what I am seeing and experiencing in my area (small town in western North Carolina) over the last few weeks. Please feel free to leave your own reports in the new comments section (now unmoderated) of this website. 

First, some good news: Gas prices have dropped sharply in my area over the last few weeks. This morning, I paid $3.99 a gallon, down 50¢ from the high of $4.49 that I paid right before July 4th. Of course, this is still more than double the $1.84 a gallon I paid on Trump's last day in office. Let's go Brandon! 

Olive oil, any grade or brand, is almost impossible to find in my area. The Sam's Club I shop at had no olive oil whatsoever last week. My local Walmart grocery store had no olive oil when I was there earlier this week, and the large Walmart in the county just north of me had no Great Value brand olive oil yesterday, and only a handful of bottles of more expensive brands. 

Both my local Walmart grocery store and the large Walmart in the next county were completely out of Great Value brand loaf bread, both white and whole wheat, when I was at those stores this week. They were also out of Great Value hamburger and hot dog buns. 

Crime in my area is noticeably higher over the last few months, especially shop-lifting and vehicle break-ins. I've had conversations with a local law enforcement officer and a supermarket manager that confirm this fact. The vehicle break-ins are happening both overnight with vehicles parked in people's driveways, and during the day in parking lots. The LEO's suggestion is for people to always lock their doors, to have nothing of value be visible through the vehicle windows, and to park in highly visible areas. 

This may be a coincidence, or may point to a possible problem, but I have had serious problems with FedEx deliveries lately. A couple of weeks ago FedEx delivered a microwave oven I ordered from Target. The box it came in looked like it had been dropped and run over. Inside the box, the microwave had been crushed into hundreds of pieces. I cut my hand on broken glass inside the box. The box was left on my front porch (I wasn't home) with no note or explanation. Luckily, Target did refund my money. 

Earlier this week, FedEx delivered an oven broiler element I ordered for my Tappan oven. Again, an extremely crushed box was left on my front porch without note or explanation, and inside the oven element was badly bent and unusable.  Is this just coincidence and bad luck, or does it point to a problem with FedEx? Perhaps a worker shortage is leading to inexperienced and poorly trained loaders and drivers at FedEx? 

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