So all WTO protestors are rich, white people?

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
I just had to pay ¥1980 for a five kilo bag of rice (and that was on sale). All of you anti-free-trade people can wrap around my ass.

It's not like there's no cheap rice out there, it's just that the Japanese government has a massive tariff against imported rice.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by dexters
But it's rather dumb and stupid, to protect outmoded farming practices so that a class of people can continue their livelihoods to the detriment of future generations.

The point here is farming corporations in the West can sell beneath their production cost (generally known as dumping) due to subsidies.

[Drake Tungsten]

It's not like there's no cheap rice out there, it's just that the Japanese government has a massive tariff against imported rice.

No ****.

What the hell did you think I was talking about? I'm against Japan's tariff on imported rice. Massive tariffs would be removed if free-trade were to go forward in agriculture, which would make me very happy. Not too hard to figure out...

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

It's not like there's no cheap rice out there, it's just that the Japanese government has a massive tariff against imported rice.

No ****.

What the hell did you think I was talking about? I'm against Japan's tariff on imported rice. Massive tariffs would be removed if free-trade were to go forward in agriculture, which would make me very happy. Not too hard to figure out...

There is free trade in ag produce, except for the rich countries that are powerful enough to impose their own way.

[dexters]

I think Japan's got it right with their rice policy, but they need to vastly reduce tariffs.

Removing all controls on rice and opening the Japanese market to open foreign competition would wipe out the Japanese farmer, which is as heavily subsidized as the American farmer. It's just the Japan's agriculture is heavily concentrated on rice, so it suddenly becomes an issue of subsidizing one crop.

Should rich countries reduce subsidies? I think so. But I'm a little hypocritical here since it's not my livelihood that will be affected.

The march of history however has shown us time and again that change can only be delayed. you can't fight change. Something will happen between now and the future that will make change stick.

There may be a world events that forces governments to remove subsidies, and once you do that, the new world order will take that as a given. Change wins. Anti-global nutsacks loses.

[Drake Tungsten]

There is free trade in ag produce, except for the rich countries that are powerful enough to impose their own way.

Like Japan? Jesus, are you really this dense, or are you just being quarrelsome?

[Alexander's Horse]

Anyway, I see signs the public is getting more informed on trade issues because they see the benefits in a lower cost of living, a higher standard of living, better quality goods and services, more choice of products etc.

The thing about farmers is there are ways to assist them that aren't trade distorting.

[dexters]

I just think farmers have to realize at some point that their way of farming once replaced other ways. large scale labour intensive farming. Did they give a hoot about that change and the millions of farmhands they displaced?

The real irony here of course is that those displaced farmhands likely went to the cities to work industrial jobs. Their grandchildren are probably one of those evil cold hearted capitalists sitting in an office, doing the work of change.

People should all realize that we are a point in a continuin and history doesn't give a fudge about it. change will happen.

That's my theme. Change will Happen. I think that's the bad news for all those white rich kids who went to Cancun to protest and not to have a vacation.

[Urban Ranger]

I'd say too the anti-globalisation protestors have brought a new level of awareness to the public.

[dexters]

Most third world countries hate them. Only rich affluent countries can afford to buy fair trade coffee and low yield organic foods farmed with horse manure.

Try peddling that logic in China and watch how fast the police shoot you.

That's actually one thing I admire about China. They can remove dissent. It's bad most of the time, but when you have a group of illogical leftists with an agenda of revolution, you need to wipe them out. And these no better way than a totalitarian communist state. And the irony factor is great too.

*sarcasm*

[Bereta_Eder]

These organizations sometimes work, sometimes they dont. Its not a clear cut situation. that they want the opening up of borders to foreign funds (like IMF) is a given however that this would automatically translate to a higher standard of living or just mean the "thieving" of a country's resources for nickles and dimes is to be seen.

Argentina decided to screw her banks in favor of social programs and give it to the IMF. Was that "bad financial policy"? Could be but for the moment and with millions under the poverty line it is propably best for the country. so they screwed the IMF's advices. its not an all cure affair.
in brazil OTOH the IMF's sponsored policies seem to work fine. each country knows its needs better and has varying levels of sucessfully implemening policies.

[Bereta_Eder]

and about the standard of living increasing... some studies show that the exploitation of africa by the west has increased by 300% the last decade...

[Bereta_Eder]

As for some of OECD's "proposals" about pension funds sctructural reforms and such... well let's not get into that
They just promote a very well known and simple economic model. That's all. Sometimes it can work, sometimes not. Sometimes it is even unapplicable and/or undesirable to certain countries.

[Ecthy]

your dog might be white, but is it rich?

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by dexters
Most third world countries hate them. Only rich affluent countries can afford to buy fair trade coffee and low yield organic foods farmed with horse manure.

Horse manure is cheaper than synthethic fertilisers, and it doesn't kill the soil like these petrochem stuff does.