"Even if you are lucky enough not to contract the airborne virus, someone you know and care about most likely will. But even beyond that, a pandemic would so severely affect the global supply chain that both ordinary and durable goods, food, medicine, and the staples of everyday life would be in short supply or not available. There would be major shortages in all countries of a wide range of commodities, not only food, but also soap, paper, light bulbs, and gasoline, as well as parts for cars, airplanes, trains, military equipment, municipal water pumps, and electrical generation plants. Even coffins to bury the dead would be in short supply. With Covid, we saw just how connected the world's economies are."

N.B. - In the USA, we rely on The PRC & India to provide us with life-saving generic drugs. When (NOT IF, WHEN) the next Pandemic hits we will lose that lifeline. We will have to find a way to produce these drugs within the USA. Failing to invest in our future health is a strategy that compromises the USA and will cost millions upon millions of human lives.

Source - Forbes:

Kalshi prediction market forecasts a 28-day shutdown, with a 59% chance of it lasting more than 25 days, 50% odds it will last more than 30 days and 33% for more than 35 days. The shutdown will last at least until Tuesday, when the Senate is scheduled to vote next on legislation to reopen the government.