codeorama Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Originally posted by Yusuf06 I think you missed the point of his post code. What Ignatius was trying to say is that we're taking away $1 with one hand and giving back .50 cents with the other. That is, we take away local food production capability and the livelyhoods of 3rd world farmers via the subsidies we pay American farmers then send the food they've produced to the 3rd world as food aid. The American farmer gets fat on artificially high commodity prices while the 3rd world farmer is run out of business. The money we use to artificially inflate commodity prices would be much better for all concerned (except the American farmers of course) if it were used instead to pay down the deficit, improve roads, improve affordable housing...or just about anything else besides keeping American agribusiness fat. There's an excellent article about this here I understand, I'm not even talking about giving handouts to Americans. Specifically, I would use the money to help people find jobs, or help with daycare etc... I don't think handouts are productive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Yusuf, Foundation for Economic Education is a great site. I remember absorbing their articles years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sisko Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Originally posted by redman Summary: "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." See also, American welfare system. Agreed....as long as you include corporate welfare as well. Unfortunately in the real world, it's a lot easier to cut food stamps or welfare checks than it is to cut subsidies to big sugar, Wal-Mart etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Originally posted by Yusuf06 Agreed....as long as you include corporate welfare as well. Unfortunately in the real world, it's a lot easier to cut food stamps or welfare checks than it is to cut subsidies to big sugar, Wal-Mart etc. This is true. It's funny that despite the perception, Hayek was actually not completely against very basic welfare(esp for invalids) but regarded with contempt corporate welfare or subsidy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Tater Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Originally posted by Ignatius J. I'm not sure that anything we do is going to help. The single best way we could possibly help these nations is to end our subsidies of domestic agriculture. Everything else is just there to make us feel better about ourselves. The single best way to help is to end farm subsidies and our outrageous protectionism of industries we do not have comparitive advantage in. Of course, how much this helps would depend on how serious Europe is about helping (since they need to eliminate such travesties as the CAP). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renegade7 Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 I got an idea: get rid of the corrupt governments in Africa. Shoot, that's the problem in Africa, all the aid is going to the most powerful people, and all their doing is stocking it up for themselves or spending the money on a lavish lifestyle. :2cents: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Tater Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Originally posted by Ancalagon the Black Please clarify. LD seemed pretty clear to me. He is simply stating an obvious fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riggo-toni Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Originally posted by Darth Tater The single best way to help is to end farm subsidies and our outrageous protectionism of industries we do not have comparitive advantage in. Of course, how much this helps would depend on how serious Europe is about helping (since they need to eliminate such travesties as the CAP). BINGO!!! Trade, NOT Aid!!!:notworthy :notworthy No way will the French relent on the CAP, though; nor are they likely to resist their own temptation to continue meddling in former colonies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ignatius J. Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Hey Riggo, I said that first. where's my BINGO! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cdowwe Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Good read, someone send it to Bono. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sisko Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Originally posted by Ignatius J. Hey Riggo, I said that first. where's my BINGO! BINGO! How's that? Bigger and in color to boot:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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