The end of cheap food?

[Dinner]

That will be made up for by removing the tariffs and other protectionist measures.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Oerdin
That will be made up for by removing the tariffs and other protectionist measures.

If you remove the subsidies and you still have protectionist measures then the prices should rise though. Of course, that might not actually happen, but I think it's a risk.

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Kidicious


Subsidies should make food cheaper. Removing them would increase prices.

Ever seen studies on how much more expensive food would be without subsidies, and then have them compared to the amount we pay in tax to pay those subsidies?

[LordShiva]

Kid doesn't bother himself with facts

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Dauphin


Ever seen studies on how much more expensive food would be without subsidies, and then have them compared to the amount we pay in tax to pay those subsidies?

Do you think less land would be used today for farming without the subsidies when prices were low?

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by LordShiva
Kid doesn't bother himself with facts

Don't be an ass.

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Kidicious


Do you think less land would be used today for farming without the subsidies when prices were low?

What has that to do with the price of fish?

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Dauphin


What has that to do with the price of fish?

Fish and poultry are subsitute goods. Does that mean you believe that more farm land has been used because of farm subsidies?

edit: not that i think fish subsidies lower the price of fish

[David Floyd]

Looks like the Third World needs to actually look at reducing population growth. Birth control Religion that says you can't use birth control, thus causing people to live miserable lives

I haven't really noticed food prices going up significantly. Last time I went to the store, I think I spent around $150 (including booze), for a couple weeks worth of food, which isn't significantly more than I paid last year.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by David Floyd
Looks like the Third World needs to actually look at reducing population growth.

The market might do a better job than the government. I can't believe I said that to DF.

[David Floyd]

You're absolutely right, Kid. Of course, what I've said all along is that the Third World needs MORE freedom, not LESS. Get autocratic, corrupt governments out of there, and replace them with governments who will, among other things, promote secularism and attempt to limit the influence of the Catholic Church on society. When the government causes the problem to begin with, sometimes the government has to play some part in the solution, and the government has well and truly caused many of the problems in the Third World.

Of course, the Catholic Church could also show some compassion, and end its opposition to birth control - not even abortion, just basic birth control like condoms. I'm not holding my breath, though.

[Dinner]

I want to be a not farmer. That way I can get paid by the government to not farm.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Kidicious


Do you think less land would be used today for farming without the subsidies when prices were low?

Letting the land go back to nature.

True, some of it would become subdivisions but that would be a hard sell in a lot of hick towns in the midwest. More likely the land would go back to being grassland as god intended.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by David Floyd
You're absolutely right, Kid. Of course, what I've said all along is that the Third World needs MORE freedom, not LESS. Get autocratic, corrupt governments out of there, and replace them with governments who will, among other things, promote secularism and attempt to limit the influence of the Catholic Church on society.

I meant that higher food prices will discourage people from having large families. You might be suprised how fast people start using birth control when the price of food goes up.

[David Floyd]

Ehhh, religion is sometimes a greater motivator than "temporary" hunger. Weird, I know.