[Willie Green]

I thought that the U.N. statistics showed that the U.S. is a net importer of food. Whats with this article?

From what I can see, this article neither affirms nor contradicts that information. It merely addresses how imports have increased their share of our domestic market. (Most likely at the expense of domestic production.)

It would not surprise me, however, to learn that we ARE a net importer of food. On of the goals of globalism is to render America helpless and dependent on foreign sources of production.

[contessa machiaveli]

i'm not too crazy about the importation of food from third world countries. think parasites, botulism, raw sewage, and all kinds of wonderful things.

[explodingspleen]

On of the goals of globalism is to render America helpless and dependent on foreign sources of production.

On the contrary, this is a danger of economic isolationism, not globalism. If, for example, we were to try and produce all of our own food, then when lo and behold the Great Dust Bowl II strikes, we're in pretty much the same situation we were seventy years ago. However, if we also have markets in Argentina, China, England, and Russia then we can simply shift production away from agriculture and trade for food. Diversity == dependable markets.

Yes, if you depend solely on one country for a resource, you may be in trouble if it decides not to trade with you anymore. But that's the same if you're depending on one domestric region, company, or factory. What makes most sense for America IMHO is to accept all the economic benefits of free trade and rely on precautionary measures (such as oil reserves) and a strong military to make sure she never becomes victim of trade blackmail.

[forester]

It would not surprise me, however, to learn that we ARE a net importer of food. On of the goals of globalism is to render America helpless and dependent on foreign sources of production.

A local Farm Bureau person told me several years ago that the U.S was a net importer of food. Carry Okie researched it and had a link to a web site ...United Nations if I remember right. The statistics included non-food agricultural commodities like cotton and tobacco, so the net tonnage was positive (ie we export more tons then we import). However, when one removes these non-food items, the U.S. is a net importer.

Regarding another commodity, U.S. lumber imports are over 40% from Canada alone, it would not surprise me if we now import half of the lumber utilized in this country. Not rocket science...all a government has to do is jack the cost of doing business here through the roof, and VIOLA! it is suddenly economically possible import lumber from New Zealand and Chili.

BTW, you are right about the goals of globalism.

[independentmind]

On(e) of the goals of globalism is to render America helpless and dependent on foreign sources of production.

Perhaps it's not a goal, but it most certainly is an effect.