U.S. slaps preliminary duties on Canadian wheat exports

The Globe and Mail ^ | 5-3-03

[MEG33]

I can't imagine what is causing problems.

[widowithfoursons]

Well, the steel dumping that Russia did certainly hurt our market. I guess we could just keep our own wheat instead of sending it overseas? You econs out there could probably explain this.

[cynicom]

If they do not like our prices, go elsewhere, France and Germany would love to have socialist grain.

[MEG33]

Farmers in Canada admit they've sold directly and skirted regs. I have no idea the amount.I think we will have to see.

[cynicom]

Sure do know that. I wish Bush would get us out of the farm business.

[cynicom]

By the way, I am conservative, not pub or dem. They are close enough in policy to be twins, cant tell em apart.

[MEG33]

Check out the posts this guy has made..

[Willie Green]

World Trade Organization dumps on country's farmers

China Rivals World's Top Corn Exporters

[Walkingfeather]

YO mapleleafs, looks like you can wilt in your socialist idealism....Boohooo ha ha

[MEG33]

Get over yourself,troll.

[Willie Green]

Farm subsidies and price supports are not corporate welfare.
Rather, they are a necessary intervention in the agricultural market to assure an abundant and reliable food supply. Previous experience with laissez-faire agriculture production has taught us that it is a natural feast or famine cycle. It is in our national interest (as it is for all nations) to bring production stability to this market so that it more closely matches the constant demand for food.

[CanadianFella]

Farm subsidies and price supports are not corporate welfare. Rather, they are a necessary intervention in the agricultural market to assure an abundant and reliable food supply

My BS meter is going off the chart

[Willie Green]

you are full of it

Abandoning your faux pleasantries when confronted with economic reality?
How characteristicly "liberal" of you!

Frankly, it is in every nation's best self-interest to be as independent and self-sufficient at food production as their own natural resources and climate permit. Those who would undermine another nation's food supply, be it for political or financial gain, are truly despicable.

[Willie Green]

My BS meter is going off the chart

That's because you're incapable of refuting economic reality as well.

[freeforall]

Health care subsidies and price supports are not socialism.
Rather, they are a necessary intervention in the medical market to assure an abundant and reliable health care supply. Previous experience with laissez-faire health care production has taught us that it is a natural feast or famine cycle. It is in our national interest (as it is for all nations) to bring production stability to this market so that it more closely matches the constant demand for health care.

[mikenola]

I dunno Willie, I'm split on this one.

On one hand, I understand Bush's reasoning on the wheat and steel tarrifs from a national security perspective.

On the other, I can see negative consequences of tarriffs on ancillary industries. We here in New Orleans are taking a big bite in the butt from the steel tarrif, due to the lost off traffic through the port of New Orleans.

Seems to me though that farm subsidies are another issue entirely. Considering the massive amount of cash piped into these programs, i think we are doing a disservice to the agriculture industry, by giving individual farmers little incentive to minimize costs and become competitive.

Bottom line, I'd go with using tarrifs to discourage dumping, but scale back the subsidy program, which you gotta admit has been a vote getter for many administrations.