Posted on 02/21/2009 5:17:52 AM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
Ethanol
Chicago used to be the candy(sugar) capital of the world (Mars, Brachs, Wrigley, Frangos, high end, low end, all types). But we could not compete due to the high price of sugar, not the high price of labor. Some of the candy factories moved to Canada, which has the same high labor cost, but no tariff on sugar.
The sugar tariff benefit is said to go to 3 states (LA 70%, UT 25%, ID 5%). But a close examination might show it actually goes to less than a dozen businesses and less than a couple hundred workers.
So thousands of candy (and other sugar) workers are put out of business for the sake of propping up a few who want protection from the marketplace.
Due to the lack of competition in sugar, sugar production is inefficient and has not improved technologically like corn, beans and wheat have have.
Another unintended consequence. When there are manufacturing jobs in Mexico, fewer illegals come here. But when there are no jobs in Mexico, then they come here and (allegedly) drive down wages here. So if you want high wages here, send manufacturing jobs to Mexico.
In 93-94 Mexico’s ruling PRI took an offer they couldn’t refuse from Bill Clinton’s treasury secretary. That advice totally destroyed the Mexican economy and drove all the maquiladora jobs to Asia. That destruction of jobs in Mexico by Clinton’s goons drove the increase in immigration to the USA.
It also destroyed the traditional leftist PRI political party in Mexico to the benefit of the capitalist PAN party and the extreme Marxist PRD party.
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