Governments in the west spend over $300 billion a year on farm subsidies. Think about that figure. Imagine what could be done if that figure was invested in health care in the third world? But not also is it diverting finds that could be used for better means it also hurts people in poorer countries. These people can produce food cheaper then we can but because governments can subsidies their producers who subsequently dump their product on the global market lowering prices and dening these countries a way to trade their way out of poverty. We all know the argument and their is a large movement to reduce these and despite Ireland’s and France’s wishes eventually the EU will decided to reduce CAP and import subsidies. EU commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel recently said
“the only one direction in which import tariffs will move in future – sooner or later – and that is downwards”
So what do we do to prepare.
The first thing we do is ban GM crops. Yes I know it is a radical thing to say and yes I agree totally that it is perfectly safe and good. Some times resident here James McInerney and senior lecturer in Bioinformatics in NUI Maynooth has one or two good posts about the issue on his blog. So why then if I believe that it is good that I believe it should be banned. Basically for the same reason that mobile phone protests happen.
Mobile phone masts are safe. I have posted the reason here before it is basic physics. However hear the word radiation and people think Chernobyl and think of radiation burns they have seen in movies and TV, they see mutant turtles . There has been research done on this.
People care more and more about what they eat and choose organic food because it is healthier. Thing is there is little actual scientific evidence to prove that it is healtier. Indeed on whether the extra cost is merit for health reasons this paper from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture said
This paper examines whether the dollar value of health benefits that consumers derive from organic food could account for the price premiums they pay. Price and sales data from realized transactions are inadequate to reveal consumer preferences for health benefits. Our exploratory alternative method estimates the value of health benefits to a hypothetical consumer who assesses risks as risk assessors do and values a unit reduction in all fatal risks equally, regardless of the source of any risk. Under these assumptions, our estimates of the value of health benefits derived from substituting an organic diet for a conventionally produced diet approach zero.
Yet another report said that people are willing to pay up to 50% more for organic food. The majority of people do in fact believe it is better for them. The myth exists, is believed and has created a booming market. Reason is people read it in newspapers, see celebs talking about it and more importantly don’t really browse a scientific journal of an evening. So this gives us an opportunity for a wee bit of exploitation.
The various groups that go on about Frankenstein food can do Irish farmers a favour. In this weeks economist there is an article about Swiss Cheese. Basically their cheese was highly subsidies and protected and they have decided to stop all that and open it to the market. Why because they see it as beneficial. They are looking at the growing middle classes in India and China and see that there is a market for high class stuff. Instead of trying to sell Swiss people expense imitations of French cheese they would sell the Chinese up-market versions of there own cheese. People like the authentic, unusual and as I think Sarah Carey said there is status in expensive food. So these people are realising that the closed market in food cannot continue that the free market is coming and the only we to survive with our higher living standards is to have better more expensive products. And by better I mean what is thought to be better.
If we can market Ireland as the GM-Free organic isle then suddenly we can up the price of our produce. We will have well-off dinner parties in China and New York going (imagine posh accents) well I only ever use Irish food is just so much more natural loike (yes D4 is everywhere) . We can’t compete with the poorer nations indeed we probably should not. But there is no reason we can’t aim for the top.
) .Our breakdown rate is 3 times below the EU average. Or maybe to put into percentages the EU average is 300% bigger then the Irish average. Considering the boom time we have had for the past 10 years or so. The fact that we are far below the EU average tells me that it is not as big a deal as the rest of the EU. Despite what the Iona Institute would like you to think the fabric of society is not disappearing with the collapse of the catholic church.
I'll be on the blue side and my wife will be on the red side. Hopefully the two sides can hash out their differences in religion, corporate ownership of politicians, the environment, and just what the heck a Patriot really is. In isolated spots, it's already come to bloodshed, the real question is how to circumvent the next Civil War before Bush forces the issue.
The blue state voter represents a paternalistic government that will intrude on every aspect of a person's God-given freedoms. They do the work of Karl Marx and strongly believe that they should be in power SINCE they know hwat is best for the people. Bring it on.
I'll be on the red. And yes, I do believe this will occur. It's far too late to stop the slide. And no, Tom. I don't think we can hash this out. We're just oceans apart on the matters that do matter. Sad, but true.
I would fight blue, but you're crazy if you think it will be a cold war. People grow tired of watching and waiting.
Yep, this is going to happen but it will not be two governmental factions fighting. It will be the liberal government fighting the armed citizens representing the conservatives. Liberal citizens, after all, don't believe in private gun ownership. Yes, this is why the liberals want to take guns away from citizens.
No way around it...its cival war. I'll be on who's ever side wins. Whatever....it don't matter to me. Blue or Red or Green or what-ever. I may even ask those illeagles if i can stay in Mexico whiles I let the true patriots win. Who are the true patriots? The only ones who can call themself true patriots are the winners. The losers will lose their rigth to be called patriots. HURRAY! HURRAY! for the patriots....have fun!
Its coming - to late - sides have been chosen - and their stances have hardened. Blue all the way!
I'm ready to blast any red wanna-be.
Don't worry. We'll be waiting for you too show!!!
It't not going to be a war between the red and the blue. On one side we are going to have the Poor and the Middle Class and on the other side we are going to have the Rich Corporations and their mercs. Most people don't care enough about politics to actually fight about red and blue BS!
"It't not going to be a war between the red and the blue. On one side we are going to have the Poor and the Middle Class and on the other side we are going to have the Rich Corporations and their mercs." In order for that to be true you'd have to get the Red rank & file to recognize that they have aligned themselves with the folks who are eating their lunches. See "What's Wrong with Kansas" and "Don't Think of an Elephant" for details. As much sense as it makes that the Red regulars will "get it" all the time I've spent talking to/blogging with them I see no signs they will recognize their leaders as economic overlords who could care less about any of the issues the average Red does; all the elites want is more and bigger tax breaks and corporate welfare than everyone else. So it seems the divide will not be along strict class lines. It will be those who recognize and are willing to fight against the warfare being conducted by the rich through the Republican Party and those who are rich, those who knowingly support the rich and those who don't understand that they are supporting those who would steal from them if they got half a chance. (I say this from many years experience in corporate boardrooms, FYI).
Hah, I can no longer even LOOK at a leftist without extreme hatred welling up inside me. If I were you, I'd be planning to leave US soil...
leaving U.S soil , we were the ones who stood up n fought the British. The radical liberals founded this country you ignorant fool. educate yourself and then come to a better conclusion. seriously how do people like you even have the ability to read or write?.. liberals would unite and the reds would only care about themselves in the end , its true , its the message they send.
Go red all the way. The next civil war will not be republicans against liberals. It will indeed be the revived Confederate States of America fighting the North.
and what exactly do the revived red states stand for you fool. we pay for all of your shit anyway you poor bastard for every dollar you contribute to federal taxes you get around a dollar and change back...lol, get a college education and then come to me when you can defend yourself. the north including cali wouldn't waste its time with people like you, honestly what do people like you contribute to the good of America. The North should have let you go along time ago.. good luck with that..
Nobody is going to fight anyone because you cant pull yourselves away from cable news and the internet. If you could you would see your in a pretty darn good place to be.And besides red would whomp a not on blues head and we all know it.So relax and drive carfull folks.
It's coming. I think it will be more of a revolution than a civil war. Illegal immigration may be a catalyst or more gun control. Who knows what will spark it?, but the powder keg is ready. Those targeted by the red states will include left wing journalists, wacked out educators, and various do-gooder activists. Our country was not founded on socialism, and that will be the reason we will fight. The Blue staters will take one step too many, and we will finally rise up against their ridiculous demands. If a civil war is going to be prevented, the liberals will finally have to respect our freedom, but they won't. They feel they know better. So it war will come. Government of benevolent dictators will have to get out of our wallets, gun cabinets, doctors' offices, kids' classrooms, refrigerators, cars, medicine cabinets, churches and faces. The person who said the USA was founded by radical liberals was talking of today's liberal who have implemented speech codes on college campuses.
so maybe its ok to yell fire in the next movie theater you go to .. ..rather than have a civil war we should just let all the red states go for a year of two and see how they do by themselves with as little government as possible.I know the blue states wouldn't mind not having to pay for people that resist the things that help them.So you can all hang your m-16's from your back window and pick your rotten teeth because going to the doctor once a year is just another way of the government trying to pull a fast one on you right?..so now that you have that extra 200$ you can buy some fake teeth and maybe a new gun rack too! make sure you sit on your porch and keep away the gays and woman who think twice about your morals too! don't want them around ..
Wow, you guys realy hate each other. As a foreign observer though, if I had to pick a side I wanted to win it would have to be the Blue states. Rednecks are kind of ignorant, repulsive and emotionaly and intellectualy stunted so having them win would not be a good thing for America. On the plus side a civil war would certainly pick the spirits up of the Iraqi people who would be all over your misery and suffering through the internet. A taste of your own medicine would do them and you a lot good. Not many of you can plead innocent on this one because as I recall your nation's support for war was pretty overwhelming out of fear of defying the wise one Mr. Bush and also of being called anti-american. I guess in the land of the Brave its best to abandon your pprinciples and hide behind your blanket, I mean your flag where its warm, cozy and safe. After all, the war with Iraq was a pretty easy thing to support since the only civilian blood to be spilt would be Iraqi blood since all of the fighting was going to be done on Iraqi soil. I Wonder how much support for the war there would have been if the war was to be fought on American soil with American blood being spilt? I have a pretty good idea that the yellow streak inside of you would have prevailed and the possibility of WMD's inside of Iraq would would become spinelessly insignificant. If there is to be a civil war in the states, it would not be the tradegy that it once would have been. Your nation has lost its way. Time to tear down and rebuild. I believe this is best.