Right on schedule

Second rail union rejects deal with freight railroads, elevating chance of strike

When Biden’s appointed Presidential Emergency Board announced last September that a tentative agreement had been reached between the parties and the nationwide strike threatened for the next day had been averted, Biden took credit for the accomplishment, while cynics pointed out that the temporary deal only extended two months until November 15, safely past the elections, and predicted that the strike would arrive well in time for Christmas. As usual, the cynics were right.

Combined with the drought strangling barge traffic on the Mississippi — barges that carry almost half the nation's grain production to markets — we’re in for a fun fall and winter.

I’m beginning to wonder whether the Democrats won’t be delighted to lose in November and turn the entire mess over to the Republicans. They’ll have two years to blame their opponents for the disaster that awaits us, and then come back strong in 2024.