The spread of American culture and values to Iraq

[Dinner]

I thought most of our subsidies actually end up going to corporate farms.

[Japher]

They do. What I am saying though, is that they should be phased out and not just taken away. These corporations are getting too big and killing the private farming sector through distribution controls.

[Hueij]

Originally posted by Japher
Cutting out farm subsidies altogether would be a bad idea as food production wold drop drastically unti the 3rd world farmer a) learned how to farm and b) managed up an actual supply...

A better idea might be to phase them out, which is actually happening as Corporations take over mom and pop farms...

Mom and Pop, though need the subsidies.

3rd world farmers DO know how to farm but they are unable to export to the 1st world markets because of the subsidies and trade barriers put up by the so called supporters of free trade. And what's the use of managing a supply when there is no place to sell it?

[Japher]

what's the use of a supply that won't meet demand? What's the use of supply that couldn't even make it to market if the trade restrictions were removed?

When be talk about getting rid of farm subsidies they say so matter of factly, like that would solve all the problems at the drop of a hat... IMO, it would be like deregulating a market. You need to phase it out and not cut it out, encourage free trade, remove barriers, and support competition.... Yes, it is not happening now, but killing the current supply in hopes that a new one will be sufficient is suicide... Besides, I am from California, and we will probably be hit the hardest by what is being suggested, so, I am biased.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Japher
I am biased.

no way

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Hueij
3rd world farmers DO know how to farm but they are unable to export to the 1st world markets because of the subsidies and trade barriers put up by the so called supporters of free trade. And what's the use of managing a supply when there is no place to sell it?

You're right but to be far to Japher's point the 3rd world lacks advanced pest controls and irrigation equipment which is why they periodically have crop failures. They do have market access currently but they can't compete against fat 1st world subsidies.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Japher
Besides, I am from California, and we will probably be hit the hardest by what is being suggested, so, I am biased.

We do get some decent subsidies but the Euros get about twice what our farmers get on a per unit basis. I believe Japan and Canada have roughly the same levels of subsidies as we do.

[Verto]

How is this the spread of American culture and value? The article itself says this sort of thing existed in Iraq under Hussein; it was simply oppressed.

[realpolitic]

Originally posted by Spiffor
Good for them.
The tide of pornography will abate at some point in the future anyway, and pornography will find its ordinary place in the society. Unless the ayatollahs manage enough support to oppress pornography once again, which will end up making the relationship between society and pornography unhealthy once again.

This, with the increase of beer imports, is the best news I've heard from Iraq yet. I'd love to see a society where people want to be "sinners", for they'll be less religious

Thank God!
I'm glad Iraq is not Nigeria, where hundreds were killed because they were upset that The Miss World contests were planned to be held there. If the people want porn, then I doubt fundumbentalist Islam can take hold.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Verto
How is this the spread of American culture and value? The article itself says this sort of thing existed in Iraq under Hussein; it was simply oppressed.

We own and operate the country now. Islamic social conservatives (and there's a hell of a lot of them) will (a) blame us, and (b) use it for propaganda value throughout the Islamic world.

How effective that will be is up for grabs, but far milder "decadent" "amoral" "western" "contamination" helped get rid of the Shah and bring in Khomeini.

[Dinner]

With luck we can addict the male population of Iraq to porn and liquor so that when the Imams come to take their porn from them they will resist.

[Dinner]

To be fair the Shah also had the nasty little habit of having political prisioners tortured and executed. This tends to rile up the natives.

[Japher]

Off with the Berkas! Iraqi Porn

[Dinner]

You're right. Iraqi porn might not be such a good idea with all of those hairy women with poor personal grooming habits.

[Bereta_Eder]

So far they've been banging americans