Agriculture is easily the most distorted sector, with high tariffs and, in developed countries at least, large amounts of government subsidies through price supports and direct payments. On the other hand, developing countries, who have a comparative advantage in these products, cannot afford to subsidize their agriculture sector and face prohibitive tariffs for their products abroad. The powerful agriculture lobby groups, particularly in the large developed countries, make reform politically difficult. Chris Edwards, Sallie James and Dan Ikenson discuss the inequities of American farm policies.
This video was produced by Caleb Brown ( http://www.twitter.com/cobrown ) and Austin Bragg ( http://www.twitter.com/habragg ).
Duration : 0:5:33
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
why can’t I hear …
why can’t I hear any sound from the video?
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
That trade analyst …
That trade analyst is pretty.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
go watch the …
go watch the documentary “King Corn” to see how screwed up the agricultural market is
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
“Agriculture is …
“Agriculture is easily the most distorted sector”
They clearly have forgotten the financial markets (bailouts & inflation), and health care (medicare, medicaid, HMO’s, etc).
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
And while we’re at …
And while we’re at it, downsize all of government period.
ALL of it, from State, Federal to even Local is far too big.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I love they got …
Some corporations are treating their employees and consumers with RESPECT, unlike a certain ruling body that screws everyone.
I love they got music from Kodo
Downsizing is a great idea, better, privatize the government
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
An interesting …
An interesting thought experiment is to brainstorm about a political system that would make our farm subsidy and protectionist situation more difficult. Clearly, our representative democratic system doesn’t stop it. What political structure would?
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Taxpayers are not …
Taxpayers are not farmers’ mother, and there’s no reason to steal their money.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
and you shouldn’t …
and you shouldn’t rely on your mother to keep breast feeding you either.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Well, your business …
Well, your business shouldn’t rely on the money stolen from taxpayers pockets by government.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Regardless if the …
Regardless if the consumer is government subsidized (food stamps) or the farmer is subsidized it still boils down to government spending and lots more cost with behind the scenes bureaucracy.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
The Agricultural …
The Agricultural market = epic fail.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I work in …
I work in agriculture. They mention 95 billion going to agriculture. True, thats the budget of the USDA, but 75% of this goes for food stamps- something that has nothing to do with helping agriculture. If you break it down, only 4% of the USDA budget goes for subsidies to farmers.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
The issue I have …
The issue I have with farm subsidies isn’t the subsidies themselves, its the people who don’t know how farmers are actually using them. Coming from a farm background, and living on a farm that receives money from the government, I can GUARENTEE that that money is NOT going into the farmers’ bank accounts. I strongly suggest that people who don’t have any clue about the agriculture industry go to an actual educated farmer and find out just how things are run in the real life.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
great video, this …
great video, this is a huge task though. education of the reality of our situation should be a priority… i’m trying to do my part!
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
*sigh* so true…
…
*sigh* so true…
but we are light years away from implementing any of the suggestions put forth by the video. In fact we are going towards bigger gov’t and more regulation.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Good stuff to raise …
Good stuff to raise awareness, Kenro199x is right both Republicans and Democrats are to blame.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Awesome 5/5
Awesome 5/5
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Good stuff. …
Good stuff. Unfortunately, democrats (and some republicans) are addicted to big government.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
CATO RULES!!!
CATO RULES!!!