So all WTO protestors are rich, white people?

[Nubclear]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

There are indications that Australia, which needs such reductions for exporting less than we do, may actually get them as a "thank you" for supporting Bush in the Iraq invasion. Whereas NZ, for supporting the UN that we helped found decades ago and for peacekeeping efforts in the Pacific and East Asia is told our contributions are unimportant. Man I hate that guy.

That's what you get for supporting the UN. At least the Aussies were smart enough to figure out the wise course of action.

Yep. Stagnating trade and growth for political reasons.
Thats our Bush

[Drake Tungsten]

Thats our Bush

Isn't he great?

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

If farm subsidies of rich countries were to cease, farmers in Third World Countries will quickly get a boost because suddenly there's market for their produce. All of a sudden, these Nike factories don't look so attractive anymore.

Then the factory jobs magically pay even more! I mean, really, it'll still be cheaper there than in the West.

Conditions in the factories may even improve! So the economy of the whole country improves. Very good Irman

[:) Smiley]

Well, it seems like the WTO conference has come to an abrupt end, as delegates from the Third World walk out over the farm subsidy issue.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Ted Striker
You guys don't remember that whole, "Farm Aid," thing during the 80s?

The point of which was to save the family farm. Despite mopst farms still being family farms, most farmland, IIRC, is run by factory farms. Meanwhile, something like a quarter million farmers lose their farms every year.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Smiley
Well, it seems like the WTO conference has come to an abrupt end, as delegates from the Third World walk out over the farm subsidy issue.

In the end the 3rd world is up sh!t creek without a paddle. The 1st world just has to wait for a debt crisis or something and then the 3rd worlders will have no choice but to accept what ever deal the 1st world feels like giving them.

[chequita guevara]

The 3rd World could always collectively default. Since many of the loans were taken out by previous dictatorships, they could simply be declared odeous.

[Solly]

The 3rd world needs continuing Western investment, though Chegitz.

[chequita guevara]

1) they can legally declare a debt odeous if it was taken out by a dictator and looted.

2) If the entire 3rd world acts as one, then it won't hurt investment all that much. The profits will still draw 1st world investment, and banks will be more careful about their loans.

[Solly]

If it's so easy and beneficial, can you think of any reasons why they haven't done it yet?

[chequita guevara]

Because they can't act together as one.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

Well, it seems like the WTO conference has come to an abrupt end, as delegates from the Third World walk out over the farm subsidy issue.

I just love the hypocracy of America - we're for free trade, as long as it doesn't cost us. There should be a way of separating the department of economics from the rest of the government, so that way politics don't intervene.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Lawrence of Arabia
I just love the hypocracy of America - we're for free trade, as long as it doesn't cost us. There should be a way of separating the department of economics from the rest of the government, so that way politics don't intervene.

I'm sorry to have to inject actual facts into your little rant but the US actually removed all direct farm subsidies for three years during the 1990s. You see the EU said they'd remove their CAP if the US would just take the leadership to end it's subsidies first. The US took them up on the offer and the Republicans passed the Freedom to farm act which eliminated all federal subsidies to farmers. The result? The EU dramatically INCREASED the amount of subsidies they gave their farmers and absolutely refused to honor their side of the agreement to eliminate subsidies.

After three years of our farmers getting pelted by cheating Euros we decided the lieing jerks weren't going to make good on their promises so we reinstituted subsidies but at a lower level then before. As it stands a Euro farmer gets around twice the subsidy on a per unit bases as an American farmer does.

[Solly]

If only farmers could make cows produce water...

[Dinner]

Why would they want to? They already get paid when they produce nothing at all.