Wolfowitz Calls For End To Farm Subsidies(what's so free about "free trade?")

Free Internet Press ^ | October 24, 2005 | Intellpuke

[Toddsterpatriot]

Since the topic is the marxist rhetoric of "free trade",

Actually, the topic is ending farm subsidies. You're the one supporting government control of agriculture.

I knew you'd pitch in with a personal slur and an off topic comment.

Mentioning your lack of logic is no slur and is never off topic.

[hedgetrimmer]

And then they can start their own farm subsidies.

As you know, most if not all of them already do. No one in the World Bank or the WTO is calling for the third world to drop any of their subsidies.

[Swiss]

**it is preferable to "free market" conditions which are cyclicly subject to shortage conditions**

When was the last food shortage in the USA? Historically I say we never had one.

The idea that farmers is not going to plant if the government don't support them is foolish. The only way they make money is by growing and raising things. Now I grew up in a farm and my home county has about 4000 persons in it. For a long time the average income was about $15,000. Last I saw about $15 million in farm aid was going to that county. Most farmers got a hundred up to a couple of thousand from the program. A few well off connected farmers got the real money. Still they didn't keep the money. Ask any farmer who they really work for and it is the bankers.

The farm bill is just a big transfer from the government to the bankers when the day is done. Most farmers never made much of a living with the Government's help. Like welfare in the cities just enough to live on and vote for politicans to continue the farm subsidies.

If you like farm subsidies that much and think that they make things cheaper then support the same idea for health care, for housing, for manufacturing.

[hedgetrimmer]

Actually, if you read my comment on the article, the topic is the marxist rhetoric of "free trade". Why I even highlighted the class warfare rhetoric in the article. Tell us all how "rich countries" enduring hardship alleviates discomfort of "poor countries" in the words of neocon Wolfowitz?

Is the discomfort Wolfowitz alludes to the lowering of our own standard of living to third world levels? Does that make "free trade" morally justifiable in your mind?

[Toddsterpatriot]

Tell us all how "rich countries" enduring hardship alleviates discomfort of "poor countries" in the words of neocon Wolfowitz?

Please explain how cutting the billions in farm subsidies causes a hardship in rich countries.

Is the discomfort Wolfowitz alludes to the lowering of our own standard of living to third world levels?

Cutting subsidies, lowering taxes and buying less expensive food would raise our standard of living.

Does that make "free trade" morally justifiable in your mind?

Yes, raising our standard of living is morally and economically justifiable.

[hedgetrimmer]

Wolfowitz says that "rich countries" must endure hardship.

The topic, once again, is the marxist rhetoric of "free trade".

[Toddsterpatriot]

Wolfowitz says that "rich countries" must endure hardship.

Yes, cutting wasteful government spending is real hardship!! P.S. he didn't use the word hardship.

The topic, once again, is the marxist rhetoric of "free trade".

Your topic is marxist rhetoric. Wolfowitz's topic is cutting farm subsidies.

[Toddsterpatriot]

As you know, most if not all of them already do. No one in the World Bank or the WTO is calling for the third world to drop any of their subsidies.

Incorrect, New World Order breath!!

Wolfowitz, formerly a leading Pentagon official, called on the U.S. to step up efforts to cut farm subsidies and urged the European Union to do more on market access for products from poor countries. He added, however, that developing countries also had to open their services and manufacturing markets and lower their own agricultural protection.

[hedgetrimmer]

Wolfowitz Calls For End To Farm Subsidies in "rich countries" but only asks "poor countries to lower theirs.

Yep I'd say that was "free trade" alright, where the competition is based on the merit of the company and its product and not the favoratism of a global socialist organization like the World Bank or the WTO.

[Toddsterpatriot]

He didn't say lower their subsidies, he said lower their protection. He might mean lower to zero. You said "No one in the World Bank or the WTO is calling for the third world to drop any of their subsidies"

Even if he was only asking them to lower subsidies by 50%, that is still asking them to drop subsidies.

Maybe you should ask him what he meant.

[Major_Risktaker]

I don't want to see the entire US agriculture industry decimated so we all have to eat "DDT" imported 3rd world posioned food.

Great...Love Canel Food from the 3rd world!

From the The Economist:

Banning DDT is a great idea whose time has not yet come.

Although many countries already have such a ban in theory, poor enforcement means that it often leaks into agriculture. UNEP reckons that as much as half of the DDT used today is for purposes other than fighting malaria inside homes.

__________________

From Wikipedia:

Yummy C14H9Cl5

[hedgetrimmer]

He might mean lower to zero

Uhuh. Yeah... right...

[Sybeck1]

This farmer's son agrees. My dad was paid for land set aside or not produced. Terrible.

[AlaninSA]

Farm subsidies are not an indicator of an immoral society. Rather, they're an indicator of a society that does not respect the free market.

I despise farm subsidies.

What happens with subsidies?

Consumers pay twice! You pay higher taxes to support inefficient farming practices in places hundreds, if not thousands of miles from your home and then pay again in higher prices at the grocery store.

The era of the small family farm is OVER. Farm subsidies make me sick - especially the ones that pay people not go grow food.

This nation could easily feed everyone - even those who go hungry today - if we'd just fully open up the ag markets and eliminate these silly subsidies.

[Liberal Classic]

Pick up a copy of James Bovard's Farm Fiasco.

[Willie Green]

When was the last food shortage in the USA? Historically I say we never had one.

Plenty of bread lines and soup kitchens during the Dust Bowl / Great Depression.
So you obviously don't know American history.

[janetgreen]

We do not elect the WTO and they should NOT be driving ANY internal domestic policy.

Absolutely right!

[Toddsterpatriot]

Plenty of bread lines and soup kitchens during the Dust Bowl / Great Depression.

Was that a food shortage or a money shortage? Links please.