I have no idea of how many furnace parts are on the warehouse shelves. But it is an example of supply chains breaking down causing discomfort to those of us isolating ourselves because our work is deemed “not essential.”

I will offer one example that is less lethargic. I visited a modern dairy farm about a year ago. This farm is highly mechanized with all sorts electronic and mechanical gizmos to milk cows and store the milk in sanitary conditions. But all gizmos break down. While a good dairy farmer probably has backup parts for the more frequent breakdowns, when he uses that part he needs to order a replacement. There is only one factory making these parts — in Holland. But that factory is shut down, the farmer can only hope for no more breakdowns. As dairy farms cannot deliver milk, there goes a part of our food supply — even though grocery stores and farmers are not shut down.

If one thinks one can live comfortably for a long time in lockdown — as long as food and money keep coming in — that is a naive assumption.