Originally posted by KazetNagorraSo 'world agricultural free trade' was working ok in Venezuela until Chavez did what he did the other day?
The food crisis? It's caused in part by biofuels, in part by corrupt governments and in part by agricultural subsidies.
Tell me where 'world agricultural free trade' is working "exceptionally well"?
Originally posted by FMFIs there a chance the crisis in Venezuela is due to CIA related actions along with some economic sabotage by the local landlords and companies who are all in favor to bring Chavez down? To kill him will point fingers,so better to let him drown by his own people and this is one way to do it.
So 'world agricultural free trade' was working ok in Venezuela until Chavez did what he did the other day?
Tell me where 'world agricultural free trade' is working "exceptionally well"?
Have I proof? No. But I do believe there's a lot going on behind the news we will never know.
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Originally posted by FMFWell, it's relative to nationalization of agriculture, of course. Free (or fair, if you wish) world trade does not exist, unfortunately.
So 'world agricultural free trade' was working ok in Venezuela until Chavez did what he did the other day?
Tell me where 'world agricultural free trade' is working "exceptionally well"?
Originally posted by KazetNagorraSo where is your evidence to support this? :
Well, it's relative to nationalization of agriculture, of course. Free (or fair, if you wish) world trade does not exist, unfortunately.
Agriculture is one of few examples where the free market needs little regulation and works exceptionally well, considering the goods are homogeneous and producers are many.
Originally posted by KazetNagorraAs usual your faith in neoclassical economics gets in the way of you actually being aware of the facts.
Nationalizing agricuture is a particularly poor policy. Agriculture is one of few examples where the free market needs little regulation and works exceptionally well, considering the goods are homogeneous and producers are many.
Chavez hasn't "nationalized agriculture"; he might nationalize rice processing in Venezuela. There are only a few "producers" of rice processing in Venezuela and they have been under "producing" for years probably as a strategy to force up prices.
The rice milling industry in Venezuela operates 47 mills but only 35 are currently active.
http://www.gkcaracas.um.dk/da/menu/Eksportraadgivning/Markedsmuligheder/Landeinformation/Landbrug/GrainSector/
This is typical oligopolistic behavior. Do you think oligopolies "need little regulation and work exceptionally well"?
Originally posted by no1marauderIn that case I misunderstood, of course oligopolies need regulation, though not necessarily nationalization.
As usual your faith in neoclassical economics gets in the way of you actually being aware of the facts.
Chavez hasn't "nationalized agriculture"; he might nationalize rice processing in Venezuela. There are only a few "producers" of rice processing in Venezuela and they have been under "producing" for years probably as a strategy to forc ...[text shortened]... ehavior. Do you think oligopolies "need little regulation and work exceptionally well"?
Originally posted by FMFPlaces with high agricultural production tend to be more or less free market-driven, though they are still subsidized of course.
So where is your evidence to support this? :
[b]Agriculture is one of few examples where the free market needs little regulation and works exceptionally well, considering the goods are homogeneous and producers are many.[/b]
Originally posted by generalissimoThis way he can print the money on rice paper. That way when it becomes worthless and there's no food to buy, the people can eat it the money instead.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7917176.stm
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has ordered the army to take control of all rice processing plants in the country.
Mr Chavez accused some firms of overcharging by refusing to produce rice at prices set by the government.
He warned that some companies could be nationalised if they tried t ...[text shortened]... hortages of items such as rice and coffee, leading to hoarding and sale on the black market.
A while back on this very forum, we were discussing Oogo nationalizing another part of the agricultural sector because of chicken shortages.
The lefties on this site, with all their love for the Beautiful Bolivarian Revolution insisted the chicken shortage was the result of 'crooked businessmen' and refused to see that the chicken shortage could have been the result of price controls.
At the time, I stated that Hugo will discover he can't nationalize just part of agriculture, he's going to have to nationalize the entire sector.
Any lefties here willing to admit that they might not be correct about the nationalizations?
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Originally posted by FMFJust another gluten-free organic sprouts eatn' hippie whining about small US farms not being competitive.
Looks like something similar might be necessary in the USA and elsewhere soon.
[b]Nation's Food System Nearly Broke
Published on Friday, February 27, 2009 by The Capital Times (Wisconsin)
by John Kinsman
As our government enacts a stimulus package and President Barack Obama announces bold initiatives to stem home mortgage foreclosures, dis arm policy.
Whole article here:
http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/column/440669[/b]
Originally posted by FMFBecause food is more plentiful for a large plurarity of earths population than it has ever been. Therefore, far more people now have 'food security' than pre free-markets.
So 'world agricultural free trade' was working ok in Venezuela until Chavez did what he did the other day?
Tell me where 'world agricultural free trade' is working "exceptionally well"?
Originally posted by no1marauderThis, of course, presumes theres a market for the rice from those other dozen mills. Do the people have enough money to buy the additional rice that would be produced in those mills?
As usual your faith in neoclassical economics gets in the way of you actually being aware of the facts.
Chavez hasn't "nationalized agriculture"; he might nationalize rice processing in Venezuela. There are only a few "producers" of rice processing in Venezuela and they have been under "producing" for years probably as a strategy to forc ...[text shortened]... ehavior. Do you think oligopolies "need little regulation and work exceptionally well"?
Originally posted by MerkIncome for the people in Venezuela has risen sharply under Chavez. The problem here is restriction of supply by the oligopolies in food processing (the middlemen; rice production has risen), not lack of consumer demand.
This, of course, presumes theres a market for the rice from those other dozen mills. Do the people have enough money to buy the additional rice that would be produced in those mills?
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Originally posted by no1marauderAn income rise in the face of double digit inflation doesn't count for much.
Income for the people in Venezuela has risen sharply under Chavez. The problem here is restriction of supply by the oligopolies in food processing (the middlemen; rice production has risen), not lack of consumer demand.
Getting a sugar high from the rapid spike in oil prices and spending money like a drunken sailor on leave creates inflation, which will, in turn, raise peoples salaries.
The only questions at this point are, can he avoid firther inflation or deflation and which part of the agriculture sector will he nationalize next.
Originally posted by MerkNot true. Increasingly prevalent monoculture and agro-industrial systems increase quantities, and even create surpluses, in the developed world while destroying food security in the developing world where "a large plurarity of earths population" actually lives. You are probably counting European 'food mountains' as food theoretically on the tables of Third World working poor, and the 10-times-more-protein-consumption-than-necessary in the U.S. as protein theoretically available to anyone in Africa, say, if only they had the 'desire' and 'initiative' to summon up the purchasing power. etc. etc.
Because food is more plentiful for a large plurarity of earths population than it has ever been. Therefore, far more people now have 'food security' than pre free-markets.