Comments on: Food for thought http://www.bthesite.com/archives/2008/05/food-for-all/ Baltimore, Maryland the daily conversation starts here. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:30:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Kevin M. http://www.bthesite.com/archives/2008/05/food-for-all/#comment-1061 Kevin M. Sat, 03 May 2008 02:24:17 +0000 http://www.bthesite.com/archives/2008/05/food-for-all/#comment-1061 With so much of the US economy dependent on petroleum and petroleum based products (like fertilizers, plastics and agricultural chemicals), it is no wonder food prices are rising here as well. Cheap fuel means cheap transport, but even biofuels would aggravte that scenario. In the wonderful world of global free markets corn and soy (as examples)are valued much more when grown to be processed rather than sold as food. So the growth usually follows the money. But between the mess in Iraq and the emergence of China and India (look at the potential consumer pool!) as regional economic powers it is no surprise that food prices are going up all over the world. Once again the current admin seems to be blindered by what they believe and what is reality. The US is now so involved by Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan that countries like China and India can devote more attention to growth. This is no slight to those countries, free market allows them to do it, and I am sure the growing middle class in Asia would agree that growth has benefits for them. The unfortunate side effect is just what we are seeing. It isn't just food, it's steel, cement, industrial metals, fuels, which have seen huge increases in prices. The worst part, of course, is the food. The people who can afford increases the least are the ones hit hardest. It would be nice if some other countries would help out. It is somewhat insulting for the food aid to be tied up with the Iraq funding. The two should have nothing to do with each other. The Bush administration has helped create this mess: instability in the Middle East always affects oil prices, and commodities markets are speculative. They beat the hell out of everyone with a stick and only now do they offer a carrot? Further proof they are clueless, arrogant and supremely blind to their own shortcomings. The timing of the aid package only heightens the feeling that it is more of a PR gesture in a frantic attempt to regain some legitimacy and credibility. Cynical, ugly and self-serving. The food aid should be offered, it can make a difference. It should have been done before now. Let it stand on its own if it is to really be effective. With so much of the US economy dependent on petroleum and petroleum based products (like fertilizers, plastics and agricultural chemicals), it is no wonder food prices are rising here as well. Cheap fuel means cheap transport, but even biofuels would aggravte that scenario. In the wonderful world of global free markets corn and soy (as examples)are valued much more when grown to be processed rather than sold as food. So the growth usually follows the money. But between the mess in Iraq and the emergence of China and India (look at the potential consumer pool!) as regional economic powers it is no surprise that food prices are going up all over the world. Once again the current admin seems to be blindered by what they believe and what is reality. The US is now so involved by Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan that countries like China and India can devote more attention to growth. This is no slight to those countries, free market allows them to do it, and I am sure the growing middle class in Asia would agree that growth has benefits for them.

The unfortunate side effect is just what we are seeing. It isn’t just food, it’s steel, cement, industrial metals, fuels, which have seen huge increases in prices. The worst part, of course, is the food. The people who can afford increases the least are the ones hit hardest. It would be nice if some other countries would help out.

It is somewhat insulting for the food aid to be tied up with the Iraq funding. The two should have nothing to do with each other. The Bush administration has helped create this mess: instability in the Middle East always affects oil prices, and commodities markets are speculative. They beat the hell out of everyone with a stick and only now do they offer a carrot? Further proof they are clueless, arrogant and supremely blind to their own shortcomings. The timing of the aid package only heightens the feeling that it is more of a PR gesture in a frantic attempt to regain some legitimacy and credibility. Cynical, ugly and self-serving.

The food aid should be offered, it can make a difference. It should have been done before now. Let it stand on its own if it is to really be effective.

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