Ports all along the East Coast and all along the Gulf Coast are about to shut down, and that could throw U.S. supply chains into a state of chaos for an extended period of time.  Meanwhile, vast areas of the South are just starting to recover from a "once in a generation storm" that has done about 100 billion dollars in total damage.  Sadly, economic conditions in those states will not return to normal for the foreseeable future.  On top of everything else, we are less than 40 days away from a presidential election which threatens to absolutely rip this country apart.  If you can't see the storm clouds that are rapidly approaching at this point, you must have your head in the sand.

Tonight, 45,000 dockworkers from a total of 36 different U.S. ports are scheduled to go on strike…

US ports from Maine to Texas could shut down Monday night if a union representing about 45,000 dockworkers carries through with a threatened strike.

A lengthy shutdown of 36 ports – which handle half of America's cargo from ships – could raise cause shortages and price increases at big and small retailers alike as the holiday shopping season approaches.

Walmart, Home Depot, Ikea and Amazon – who import tens of thousands of containers a year through ports on the east coast – would be worst hit.

We haven't seen a strike of this magnitude in nearly 50 years.

Of course 50 years ago we made a lot more of the things that we buy on a regular basis in our own country.

It is being reported that the dockworkers are demanding a pay increase of close to 80 percent…

The International Longshoremen's Association is demanding a pay rise that works out at about 77 percent over six years. For union members on a typical rate, their wage would go from $81,120 to around $143,520.

Retail expert Neil Saunders of Global Data told DailyMail.om that the strike will cause two main problems – shoppers will face higher prices and empty shelves.