The problem with some of the theories espousedhere is that we import a large amount of corn and now for the first time ever wheat as well as other crops. These countries that sell to the U.S. are receiving top dollar for their crops. It's not that they are not willing to feed themselves. It's basic economics of supply and demand. If you were a farmer and you had someone offering you 6 dollars a bushel for corn versus 4 dollars to a domestic buyer who are you going to sell to? It's easy for you to take the high road here when you're not struggling to feed your family and say you'd only sell domestically .
When the U.S. artificially inflates the price of food by consuming more than the current market can reasonably supply as well as offering subsidies to domestic producers, which further inflates the cost of food... than yes, we are starving other nations. No country is an island. trade is a basic function between nations as well as price indexing. The sophomoric view of these matters by some is really sad.
I agree that Africa as a whole needs to stop warring, but it's much harder than you make it out to be. When there are people in this world committing systematic genocide while the rest of the world turns a blind eye, it tends to complicate your one line view. It's very easy to turn food into a weapon when you control the government.
The problems here are not with the "big bad oil companies making record profits while sticking it to the little guy" There really is no such thing as an oil tycoon. All of the major oil companies are publicly traded companies and the majority of shares within every company are the major investment firms representing over 70 percent holdings by average joe's like you or me in the form of 401k's and IRA's. Take some time and review your portfolio and you might be surprised to find that you in fact are the partial owner of these evil "big oil" companies.
The lack of a comprehensive energy policy here in the U.S. (thanks be to democrats and republicans alike) is the real problem. If we could strike a balance between developing and refining our own natural resources as well as create incentives for alternative energies thru the free market (not snake oil, like corn derived ethanol.)
If the politicians would just get out of the way ... sigh... Seems to be a recurring theme.
This time were starving the rest of the world in the name of heading off global warming.
I thought liberals were supposed to be the ones who are accepting of other peoples beliefs and cultures. Some of the comments on here are just sad and shameful.
And Daniel, I didn't miss the point. I think you missed mine. If you want to rationalize peoples failings as not being their own fault, that's fine. I just don't agree with you. I think they need help just the same, but if you choose to look at them as victims instead of identifying the underlying causes than you only compound the situations.
There are many many programs out there to help people that don't "make a hungry person be forced to kneel before your god to be fed". These programs do however offer more than a bandaid solution to systemic problems. They offer more than a full belly. Our church has an employment center and many good people out there who are willing to lend a true helping hand to those in need without any questions asked. I know that to be true of my church as well as many other groups out there. I've spent a lot of time volunteering and helping people in a way that really makes a difference. If all someone needs is a hot meal than there are many places for them to go. But sadly more than not these people need a lot more than that. Most soup kitchens and homeless shelters work very closely with employment centers, drug re-hab centers, mental re-hab centers, and family resource specialists. The stunt this guy is pulling is more politically motivated than it is out of the "goodness of his heart"
Sorry Daniel Kim that's not "just" the patch of Ice in the scenario you just described. That's a series of poor decisions. I'm not saying that homeless people don't need help I do say however a "free" meal comes with a price. There are programs in every major city in the U.S. and from many many different churches and private organizations to properly help people get back on their feet. They just need to meet their help halfway. By giving money and food to homeless people and not giving it to the organizations that are properly equipped to actually help them in a much more profound way you're actually doing more harm than good. That's what these laws are set up to do. It's not just to drive them away. It's set up to do some real good instead of the warm and fuzzy feel good that people get because they really "care" about the homeless.
Do the homeless a favor and support the organizations that actually make a difference and don't just enable people.
When the U.S. artificially inflates the price of food by consuming more than the current market can reasonably supply as well as offering subsidies to domestic producers, which further inflates the cost of food... than yes, we are starving other nations. No country is an island. trade is a basic function between nations as well as price indexing. The sophomoric view of these matters by some is really sad.
I agree that Africa as a whole needs to stop warring, but it's much harder than you make it out to be. When there are people in this world committing systematic genocide while the rest of the world turns a blind eye, it tends to complicate your one line view. It's very easy to turn food into a weapon when you control the government.
The lack of a comprehensive energy policy here in the U.S. (thanks be to democrats and republicans alike) is the real problem. If we could strike a balance between developing and refining our own natural resources as well as create incentives for alternative energies thru the free market (not snake oil, like corn derived ethanol.)
If the politicians would just get out of the way ... sigh... Seems to be a recurring theme.
This time were starving the rest of the world in the name of heading off global warming.
So the fact that more democrats showed up to vote than republicans in a predominately blue state spells bad news for the republicans????
Guess what the same thing is going to happen in New Hampshire too...
And Daniel, I didn't miss the point. I think you missed mine. If you want to rationalize peoples failings as not being their own fault, that's fine. I just don't agree with you. I think they need help just the same, but if you choose to look at them as victims instead of identifying the underlying causes than you only compound the situations.
There are many many programs out there to help people that don't "make a hungry person be forced to kneel before your god to be fed". These programs do however offer more than a bandaid solution to systemic problems. They offer more than a full belly. Our church has an employment center and many good people out there who are willing to lend a true helping hand to those in need without any questions asked. I know that to be true of my church as well as many other groups out there. I've spent a lot of time volunteering and helping people in a way that really makes a difference. If all someone needs is a hot meal than there are many places for them to go. But sadly more than not these people need a lot more than that. Most soup kitchens and homeless shelters work very closely with employment centers, drug re-hab centers, mental re-hab centers, and family resource specialists. The stunt this guy is pulling is more politically motivated than it is out of the "goodness of his heart"
By giving money and food to homeless people and not giving it to the organizations that are properly equipped to actually help them in a much more profound way you're actually doing more harm than good. That's what these laws are set up to do. It's not just to drive them away. It's set up to do some real good instead of the warm and fuzzy feel good that people get because they really "care" about the homeless.
Do the homeless a favor and support the organizations that actually make a difference and don't just enable people.