Of Sacred Cows

Of Sacred Cows

Kevin Drum wonders: “Which is more important to the cause of free trade: (a) passage of the Colombian trade pact or (b) reining in the monstrosity that is U.S. farm policy?”

“The answer is (b) by several light years. So why do we hear so much about the dire consequences of failing to pass a piddling bilateral trade deal with a ruthless Latin American regime but almost nothing about the dire consequences of the hideous $300 billion distortion caused by the latest round of farm subsidies — most of which goes to big agribusiness, not struggling family farms?”

Heartily seconded. To compound the inanity still further, food prices have catapulted by 40% since last year alone.

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Kevin Drum wonders: “Which is more important to the cause of free trade: (a) passage of the Colombian trade pact or (b) reining in the monstrosity that is U.S. farm policy?”

“The answer is (b) by several light years. So why do we hear so much about the dire consequences of failing to pass a piddling bilateral trade deal with a ruthless Latin American regime but almost nothing about the dire consequences of the hideous $300 billion distortion caused by the latest round of farm subsidies — most of which goes to big agribusiness, not struggling family farms?”

Heartily seconded. To compound the inanity still further, food prices have catapulted by 40% since last year alone.

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Onwards,

Katrina vanden Heuvel
Editorial Director and Publisher, The Nation

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