- "The next possible victims of the shutdown: Your food, flowers and toys" by Rob Wile, Miami Herald
- https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0120%21January%2B20&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/171121A936B566D0
- This article, written on January 20th, describes the issue of delayed inspections of imports in Miami International Airport resulting from the government shutdown. Given that government employees are currently working without pay, and the uncertainty these employees are facing with regards to their next paycheck-- employees are not working with the same productivity, and many are absent on the job. The imports most affected by these delays are food products and flowers, as Miami International Airport receives 69% of perishables and 89% of all flowers entering the United States of America.
- Problem: The problem presented is that the products being imported are mostly perishable, and should be inspected within a certain time period. A delay in inspection means many of these products can no longer be accepted, thus the supply becomes limited. A limit in supply provokes a spike in prices, which according to the article, is negatively impacting the demand.
- Who has the problem: The problem falls on both sides of the coin, both retailer and consumer. Retailers are purchasing products from suppliers and not receiving the profit they would most usually expect. Also, they are paying for a certain quantity that might not be fulfilled depending on the potential delay of inspection in customs. Consumers on the other hand are having to deal with a spike in prices of agricultural products, which can affect them economically and in health terms if they purchase alternative, cheaper and less healthy items.
- "POLITICS STALLS STUDY OF CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECT" by Kirby Wilson, Tampa Bay Times.
- https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3ASPTB%21Tampa%2BBay%2BTimes%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0124%21January%2B24&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/17127B121AF38558
- This article, written January 24th, describes the stall in reviewing a proposal submitted by scientist Yasin Elshorbany to study the potential climate change effects of Arctic ice cap melting. The scientist has a deadline set on February 14th to submit a request for government funding, and the government shutdown has led to politics being the only obstacle in his course as politicians are legally forbidden from reviewing the proposal during the government shutdown.
- Problem: The problem faced is the delay of studying climate change effects, which I would argue to be the most important issue of our time. The United States has already rejected certain proposals such as the Paris Agreement looking to limit the rise in global temperature. The proposal, which could provide new and significant insight on what we will experience in the future, is not being given importance due to the government shutdown.
- Who has the problem: We, as a human race, are ultimately the ones facing this problem. If importance is not given to research proposals such as this one, we may not know how to deal with or limit the effects of certain events caused by climate change.
"FRANCHISEES DING MCDONALD’S WALL" by Bloomberg, Tampa Bay Times.
- This article, written January 24th, remarks a strife that is being created between the McDonalds Corporation with US Franchisees, given their investment plans to build a wall between cashiers and kitchens in all stores.
- Problem: The problem created is essentially economic. US Franchisees, who own over 90% of locations, regard this investment as practically useless, saying it will provide no return and will not improve customer service. The US Franchisees would rather invest in areas that provide return, such as kitchens and drive thru's.
- Who has the problem: The ones facing this problem are the US Franchisees and the McDonalds Corporation, given an expensive and "one size fits all" investment in all 90,000 locations that will essentially not provide a return would be devastating for McDonalds business.
"FLORIDIANS EXPECT BETTER" by Tampa Bay Times.
- This article basically explains the unmeet needs and expectations resulting from the government shutdown. Now expanding past the 4 week mark, the government shutdown has had a huge impact on state farms and state crops. As remarked in this article, "those concerned with the wall should be equally concerned with defending our state, people and interests."
- Problem: There are many problems that arise with a poor domestic farming situation. Essentially all domestic food products are not receiving the financing they need, which creates a huge impact on supply and prices.
- Who has the problem: The people of the United States are the ones who feel the impact of this problem. As stated in the article, it could also potentially affect federal school and breakfast programs, which are securely funded only until March-- after this local funding will have to be requested.
"SHUTDOWN STALLS RESEARCH" by Tampa Bay Times.
- This articles explains the impact of the government shutdown on funding for general research and societal advancements. With the government shutdown, research is essentially stalled.
- Problem: The problem is that researchers across the state and nation are now in a limbo as they cannot continue with their advancements. All research is stalled until the government shutdown is over, and thus thousands of important projects are at a stop.
- Who has the problem: At first hand this problem affects researchers and organizations that carry out research and have historically created some of the world's most important advancements such as NASA. The general population is the indirect sufferer of this problem, as we are the ones who benefit from research.
Friday, January 25, 2019
5A – Identifying Local Opportunities
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Hey there Carlos! I dig the stories you were able to pull up for your opportunities.
ReplyDeleteIn the case of reviews of products and their delays, I'm not so sure the issue hits the retailer as much as the consumer. Since the situation reduces safety and time to access for consumers, they face more damages from things like faulty toys or infected food. In the case of retailers, the situation of the shutdown stopping the inspections means it is not a retail issue but a government issue, so the consumer has less to blame on corporations as they would work based off of guidelines and inspections so the majority of the backlash and pain is on the government employees and representatives who instigated it.
With your look at the research position, I feel you hit the nail that you didn't quite get with the food inspection one. The investment and support of these programs have created incredible ripple effects through their design and construction of technology, and the possibility of continuing support for these groups feels undercut even outside of the shutdown.
Keep on keeping an eye out and rocking it in the free world.
Carlos, I enjoyed reading your reflections on local opportunities. It’s interesting to see all of the different effects the government shutdown is having on the economy around us. I had no idea that so many of the country’s perishables and flowers came in through Miami International Airport! It makes me wonder how much money is being lost in the economy due to the shutdown. I also enjoyed reading the article about the dispute between McDonalds Corporation and its franchisees. I don’t understand the need for a wall between the cashiers and kitchen – it does seem like an unnecessary expense, and I’m sure the franchisees have much better ideas for use of the money.
ReplyDelete