Tales from Corporate Welfare

[Clodfobble]

Hypothetically, if all major sources of food production were imported from other countries, that would be a very dangerous position for the US to be in, correct?

I have to agree with Clodfobble. In theory, anyhow, tariffs are meant to protect a nation's vital industries in case of war. If China cornered the steel market, for example, and we went to war with them, there would be a tad of a problem obtaining steel.

I don't know that oranges are so important to national security, but I do wonder about tw's characterization of Brazilian farmers being more efficient than Florida orange growers.

I traveled rather extensively in Brazil when I was young, and I loved much about its people and the beauty of the country. However, efficiency is not an attribute I would place on Brazil's list of charms.

What Brazil does have is large areas of land that are not subject to frost, far lower land prices than Florida, and an endless supply of labor who would be Brazilian millionaires if they got paid the wage of a migrant worker in the US.

Brazil does have the most amazing tropical fruits, however, including oranges. There are juiceria's where you can get fresh squeezed juice of every variety for only a few centavos. Every morning, we were woken up by the "cashew man" who peddled fresh cashew fruit (the cashew nut is only the tip of the tasty cashew fruit) for about 5 cents American each. Does this mean that American farmers are inefficient because I can't buy a cashew fruit for a nickle in Colorado?

[tw]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Hypothetically, if all major sources of food production were imported from other countries, that would be a very dangerous position for the US to be in, correct?

That position can only occur if America becomes so anti-innovative as to make food imports essential. America's agricultural industry is due to American innovations. After WWII, European farmers were brought to America - to even work for six months on American farms under the Marshall Plan - to learn why WWII Americans were such productive farmers. Dutch particularly prospered by learning from these innovative techniques.

Innovation means innovators must keep innovating every year. Otherwise countries with cheaper labor get those customers.

Putting up tariffs and restritions only for national security causes the anti-innovators to run those businesses - farms or factories. Greatest threat to American agriculture is to protect it and therefore stifle risk takers - the source of innovation. Don't tell that to politicians who are purchased by Archer Daniels Midland. Such politiicians know where their daily $50,000+ comes from.