It's worse than Atlas Shrugged, if that's possible. It's heading toward "Anthem".

Maybe they don't want to work because they don't want to support the looting scum who tax them (in Sacramento and DC.)
I know I don't. In fact, I won't. The elite looters are getting nothing from me that I have any control over.
Maybe it's time for 75 million people to stop paying.

Not only what you described, but also the specific items that one used to get at various retailers is diminishing. For instance, yesterday I needed to replace the wick on my kerosene heater so I ventured out to where I purchased it (local hardware store) several years ago. As you guessed, they not only did not carry kerosene heaters, they did not even carry replacement wicks. So after trying several other hardware and farm and ranch stores, I gave up. Finally found a hardware store via the internet on the east coast that carried what I desired. (I refuse to use amazonia !

The point is: Not only do people not want to work, but finding items that one used to be able to find in the local retail stores everywhere is getting to be more difficult also. all this is not going in a good direction.

1957: a novel, a made-up story
2021: like reading today's headlines

The company I work for is short handed and we’ve been slammed with orders. We are an essential business. We can’t get people to come to work. We tried to hire a guy but he said “I’ve still got 57weeks of unemployment. And I’m making the equivalent of $22 an hour on it. My health coverage is handled by the VA. So, No, Thank You! I’m taking a year off.” I’m not exaggerating. Those were his EXACT words. I’m feeling a little shruggish myself.
Props to the Fahrenheit 451 reference. Most of the “college educated” millennials probably don’t even know what that is.

After seeing the rolling blackouts in CA and the total loss of grid in texas, I can't think of a reason why green energy would skip Ohio. So, we had an auxiliary generator installed to cover the entire house. We're old and infirm, we need heat and air. And security. If the greenies put a cap on natural gas to go along with electricity, I've already confirmed it can be converted to lpg.

The government wants our way of life. I'm not in the mood to cave in on anything. I'll keep my rental homes business, my guns, my ability to travel, and if needed my ability to live without the grid.

"Producers" and "Moochers." It's easier to tell them apart.

I sense something like this too. In healthcare the lack of market forces is completely outrageous, but that's another topic.

My speculation is electronic payment has something to do with it. It separates the work from the money. Paychecks are auto deposited. Credit cards are paid by auto draft. You can buy something by pressing a dash button, by clicking on your phone, or by asking a computer for it by voice. It's difficult even for an astute consumer using these devices to keep track of their work and spending. So many people have money flying around, and it's not nearly as obvious if they need to work OT or a second job if they want to afford some product or service. They end up struggling and being open to the argument the "capitalist system doesn't work." It really doesn't work if you don't pay attention.

I also think in the contracting world there are some people who go into because they can't hold jobs because they're disorganized. You also have E-Myth people who liked a job function and decided to start a business around it, but they're not that good at or excited about running a business, which involves tracking projects through leads, estimates, SOW, PO, deliverables, invoicing, and collections. This E-Myth figure was me, BTW.

The result of all this is with home repair contractors, I find it better to go through a larger company that has people dedicated to managing the business rather than smaller orgs where a few people try to juggle responsibilities, often without a clear plan of how their process should work

I wear my Atlas Shrugged now non fiction sweatshirt at least 2x week. I love the confused looks I get !

I think its the result of the "great reset" philosophy on the part of the collectivists. Whenever you disrupt the way people are accustomed to interacting with each other, supply lines get screwed up. They left wants a reset- what that means is that the current way of doing things is STOPPED, and then a new way is found. Kind of like when you want to stop the Titanic- you dont just throw it into reverse- you have to stop the engines before you can reverse them.

Of course, with collectivists, they have no problem stopping things, BUT they have no idea how to start them again- hence the shortages.

On the contractor matter I can tell you they come out to size YOU up not the work. In these times they are looking for easy to ripoff homeowners. CA is a magnet for victims and predator's sad to say.

It feels it is more like Anthem at times though with the cancel culture

Pretty much sums it up. Hopefully they will overlook my valley...

We are in much worse shape because there are no real capitalists anymore to restart our country after it falls. At least I don't see them. The big businesses, shakers and doers are of the likes of Jeff Bezos and tech giants that have no real love of our US Constitution.

Every time my wife and I venture out to do any kind of shopping we notice more and more empty shelves. Not only shelves, but all those annoying displays crowding the aisles in the local grocery stores are disappearing - those goods are now being used to fill empty shelves.

Edit add: Agree about the contractors. I need a roof repair and have put in calls to roofers. Any calls returned? Not yet!

Dawn and clear your fraudulent COVID protection Identifier, ensure it is moist to allow all moist mucus viruses passage.
Put on the Blue Clown Suit and make sure your neck ruffles don't cover your facial indentifier!
Put on the crazy clown wig, again, make sure your facial prophylaxis identifier is clearly seen from above.
Inflate your shoes so that you can have your toes stepped on at every turn, enraging your Social Justice Warrior.

I have been watching this crap since they drove Nixon from office.
Apparently, the Dummycants really love Ayn Rand, she has given them the blueprint and plans on how to succeed in destroying capitalism and all it has brought us.
After all, the elites can not stay above the masses without proper planning and execution of all the woes that rand was pointing out in her work!
Let's get back to the world of production of capital, not the production of these high morals that are only there to keep these criminals in the lifestyle they have come to enjoy!
I say term limits or no pay & benefits, their jobs were voluntary, remember??!!!

For Goodness Sakes! Shipley's Donuts closed in our little city! What will we do?

there is no question in my mind that the US is heading down the slippery slope into "1984"/"Anthem". Here in north central Arizona the vaccine is only being given to tribal members, hospital employees, & first responders. In Maricopa County you have to wait in hours long car lines. Some friends of mine who have immune disorders are getting conflicting information from municipal health depts, & one who is a naval vet and author who has a slow case of MS can't get a straight answer from the VA whether it's safe for him to get the injection. Also, the Republican governor here as of this evening on local Fox affiliate stated that more vaccine is coming to the state. But, so how I'm believe that Arizona is being penalized because it's a Republican run state.

Goodbye welfareI have a theory on the $15 minimum wage. If a person's salary goes to $32k plus they won't be getting Medicaid for the kids. No food stamps. No subsidized rent and/or utilities. In other words add all this up and it's beyond $32K. Once again, the Govt. wins!