tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post7797672510885619597..comments2024-02-16T03:35:27.972-05:00Comments on The World According to Quinn: My Farm Subsidies EditorialMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-36829960799738971912010-04-16T18:11:40.036-04:002010-04-16T18:11:40.036-04:00I am not aware of the situation of the Third World...I am not aware of the situation of the Third World populations, although I do know that some countries (like Egypt) subsidize food and fuel to keep them happy.<br /><br />Thing is, if there's no more dumping of subsidized American food on them, domestic agriculture might be able to take up the slack.<br /><br />(This is in reference to the Mexican corn farmers, primarily.)Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-65020459581953563912010-04-16T17:20:30.906-04:002010-04-16T17:20:30.906-04:00What about the inhabitants of Third World cities t...What about the inhabitants of Third World cities though - aren't they dependent on cheap subsidized food?George Cartynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-89129792478906341602010-03-19T15:35:01.932-04:002010-03-19T15:35:01.932-04:00Abolishing the Senate might be a bit of an overrea...Abolishing the Senate might be a bit of an overreaction to the specific problem of farm subsidies, which is minor as things go. But let's not pretend that this is the only negative consequence of such an unrepresentative body. Things like the Cornhusker Kickback are only possible because the Senate structure gives so much power to individual Senators, and each state is given equal weight. This was a classic example of how the Senate structure allows the senator from a relatively inconsequential state like Nebraska to capture ridiculously outsize benefits for his constituents while the big states carry the cost. Now the Kickback ultimately was pulled from the bill, but I think we all know it would be much harder for something like that to even be plausible in the House.Derick Sohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15080301635392111479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-71933835085295637432010-03-18T22:54:37.747-04:002010-03-18T22:54:37.747-04:00Thanks for the lengthy and substantial comment, De...Thanks for the lengthy and substantial comment, Derick.<br /><br />Thing is, I think abolishing the Senate is a bit of an overreaction, particularly when there are less radical ways of dealing with the problem.<br /><br />For awhile a few years back, it was popular to criticize subsidies for "farmers" like Scottie Pippen or a magazine columnist who wrote a column criticizing farm subsidies (he said he got payments even though he engaged in no agriculture).<br /><br />Plus Obama did cut farm subsidies a fair bit in one of his budgets, although I'm not 100% sure if that budget passed in the form I found it in.<br /><br />It might be better to push one or both of the major parties to move their opening primary for Iowa to state with a larger population. It'd certainly be easier than convincing Congress to drastically reduce or eliminate farm subsidies.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04691270309993277160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-81724375018117817662010-02-20T11:48:02.145-05:002010-02-20T11:48:02.145-05:00This is yet another example of a policy that is cl...This is yet another example of a policy that is clearly economically unjustifiable and yet politically unfeasible to reverse. The inherent public choice problem of diffuse vs. concentrated benefits and costs is exacerbated by an anachronistic Senate that overwhelmingly favors small, rural states that are also overwhelmingly net recipients of federal funds, but also overwhelmingly supporters of the Republican party and of tax cuts.<br /><br />Our major political parties have inexplicably chosen to exacerbate this problem EVEN FURTHER by giving Iowa, the Corn Subsidy State, a permanently favored place in our primaries.<br /><br />Conclusion: American democracy is a failed experiment. Time for American Derickocracy?Derick Sohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15080301635392111479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-29128643657422175342010-02-15T23:27:50.417-05:002010-02-15T23:27:50.417-05:00Good article! I feel strongly about the corn subsi...Good article! I feel strongly about the corn subsidies, in particular, for the health repercussions you mentioned.Bubbleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09147981569275329364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000895280655907241.post-71099433903690430112010-02-15T22:22:37.614-05:002010-02-15T22:22:37.614-05:00dude im lovin your blog, keep it coming.
Daryldude im lovin your blog, keep it coming.<br /><br />DarylAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11730122527999931618noreply@blogger.com