Free Republic

...The New York Times lectured Haiti on April 18 (2008) that “Haiti, its agriculture industry in shambles, needs to better feed itself.” Unfortunately, the article did not talk at all about one of the main causes of the shortages -- the fact that the U.S. and other international financial bodies destroyed Haitian rice farmers to create a major market for the heavily subsidized rice from U.S. farmers. This is not the only cause of hunger in Haiti and other poor countries, but it is a major force. Thirty years ago, Haiti raised nearly all the rice it needed. What happened?...

THIS WEEK, trade ministers from 148 nations are gathering in Hong Kong for negotiations hosted by the World Trade Organization, the latest in the so-called Doha development round that started in Doha, Qatar, four years ago. The aim of these negotiations has been to liberalize trade — especially to open the world's richest markets to the world's poorest producers of goods and services. And the crucial issue in Hong Kong is agriculture. The world community can look back at 2005 with some pride when it comes to helping its poorest citizens. Commitments were made to double aid for African countries...

PRESIDENT BUSH decided to turn the protectionist tide that has been rising for some months, during which time the protectionists have had a good run. They have forced the United States and the European Union to restrict apparel and textile imports from China, and managed to stall progress in reaching key trade-opening agreements before the crucial December meeting of the World Trade Organization in Hong Kong.So the president decided to make a dramatic offer--a major reduction in trade-distorting agricultural subsidies. America has offered to cut by 60 percent the $19.1 billion it spends on agricultural subsidies if the E.U. will...

Imagine government activism during the 11th Century in Europe. This would involve the Sheriff of Nottingham riding out with his men and trying to hang Robin Hood so that he could steal from the poor and give to his drinking buddies, the rich. The truly conservative believe that the essential nature of government activism hasn't changed a whole lot since back when things were rotten and Mel Brooks would have been pincushioned with arrows for having any part of Robin Hood: Men In Tights. No segment of America's overbloated and sometimes highly uncivil government service gives the conservative view of...

President Bush has "Lied to the American People" about his National Guard service during the Vietnam War, snarled U.S. Senator Tom Harkin at a September 9, 2004 press conference. Swift Boat veterans critical of John Kerry were also liars, Harkin claimed. Vice President Dick Cheney, said Harkin, was “a coward, who would not serve during the Vietnam War.” And those who brought up Kerry’s anti-war activities in the United States that encouraged the North Vietnamese Communists to continue fighting instead of negotiating peace, said Harkin, represent the “right-wing kooky fringe.” The hot-headed, gray-haired 65-year-old Harkin has lately become Democratic candidate...