Farm subsidies: cotton

Randy Black says: "Christopher Jones  Jones may not be aware that the USA does not have a monopoly on farm subsidies when it comes to cotton. In fact, Greece and Spain subsidize cotton production at a rate that is five times than the US. Seven countries that together account for one-half of world cotton production offered direct income and price support in 2002/03, including the USA, China, Mexico, Greece, Spain and Turkey. During this period, the USA subsidized cotton production at the rate of 22 cents per pound while Greece and Spain offered subsidies of $1 per pound. Further, while the US is a major exporter of cotton, more than 70% of cotton fabric used in clothing in the US is imported from other countries.  The venue for the negotiation of reductions in government measures that distort cotton production and trade is the World Trade Organization (WTO). An agreement to reduce subsidies that distort production and trade in agriculture will not be easy. Cotton is important to the history and culture of the USA, and cotton production is also important to farmers in Greece and Spain. Within the USA, cotton farming occurs in some of the lower-income states and counties, often in areas where economic alternatives are not attractive. The impacts of farm spending on the regional economies of low-income states are substantial".
 
 
 

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From: Ronald Hilton [mailto:hilton@stanford.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2004 5:58 PM
To: hilton@stanford.edu
Subject: RE: Laws of History: Economic Determinism
 
Christopher Jones writes: "I couldn't disagree more with the opinions on globalization expressed by Robert Crow.To date, globalization's greatest success stories are the illegal trade in narcotics, al-Qaida and military hardware including landmines, not to mention some other, even more lethal "exports."  The effects of at least one of these sterling products of the global economy has been documented in a Michael Moore style documentary called "Supersize Me!"  The film examines the effects of one month of "fast food" consumption -- from McDonald's -- on the human body.  Director Morgan Spurlock volunteered to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at McDonald's and ended his 30 day investigation with stratospheric cholesterol values (+62 points), 25 additional pounds, bad skin and an insipient heart problem.  On top of that and just to confirm the "pusher" mentality of the global economy, Spurlock suffered "withdrawal" pain when his experiment came to an end. 
 
The first duty of any government is to protect its own people from perceived danger.  This is the essential raison d'être of the state.  It is government's primary duty to preserve jobs at home.  Any political system that tolerates the export of prosperity to please plutocrats is doomed.  Finally, while Americans whine about "Free Trade" they continue covert "protectionist" measures at home like massive farm subsidies in agricultural products like cotton.  Historically, the US has never had a good trading record and always ran a trade deficit.  Rather than promote true "free trade," America follows a "one way" free trade policy designed to keep foreign money rolling into the US to finance its deficits. When that ends, it will resemble the economic collapse of the Roman empire"

RH: Mohammed  boasted that he was the last of the prophets.  Obviously he was wrong..

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