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Why U.S. Taxpayers Are Paying Brazilian Cotton Growers

Discussion in 'Alley of Lingering Sighs' started by Ragusa, Nov 13, 2010.

  1. Ragusa

    Ragusa Eternal Halfling Paladin Veteran

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    Remove all ads!
    [​IMG] Another startling story from NPR - 13 minutes worth listening to - Why U.S. Taxpayers Are Paying Brazilian Cotton Growers
    ... simply because it is politically no feasible domestically to cut cotton subsidies in the US.
     
    Ragusa, Nov 13, 2010
    #1
    Drew likes this.
  2. NOG (No Other Gods)

    NOG (No Other Gods) Going to church doesn't make you a Christian

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    Right. Sure. And you wonder why our budget is so screwed up?
     
    NOG (No Other Gods), Nov 13, 2010
    #2
  3. Rotku

    Rotku I believe I can fly Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

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    Heh, that's almost comical.

    Brazil 1 : US Tax Payers 0
     
    Rotku, Nov 15, 2010
    #3
  4. Drew

    Drew Arrogant, contemptible, and obnoxious Adored Veteran

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    That actually sounds like a decent deal to me. Getting rid of cotton subsidies is a largely untenable option, and $147 million really isn't a lot of money. We get to continue illegally undercutting most of the world's cotton producers for the low, low price of letting Brazil in on the action. All the extra cotton exports we likely see from our illegal subsidies both at home and abroad more than make the payoff worthwhile.

    EDIT: Please note that I'm speaking from a purely economical and political standpoint. I make no claims about the actual ethics of our illegal subsidies. There's a reason both the subsidy of our own industry and that of Brazil is outlawed by the WTO -- it slants the playing field in our favor, giving us an unfair advantage in cornering a market that would have otherwise been to competitive. It's bad for business -- just not ours.
     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2010
    Drew, Nov 15, 2010
    #4
  5. NOG (No Other Gods)

    NOG (No Other Gods) Going to church doesn't make you a Christian

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    And where are all the 'free market' hawks on this? Or is this a strictly Democratic policy? It doesn't seem like it would last with the Reps, but these days there's no telling.
     
    NOG (No Other Gods), Nov 15, 2010
    #5
  6. Ragusa

    Ragusa Eternal Halfling Paladin Veteran

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    NOG,
    this is a bipartisan thing; it started under Bush, continued under Obama.

    The cotton states are iirc overwhelmingly red though, but Republican candidates (or Democratic candidates for that matter) running in these rural areas probably don't think running (for election or re-election) on a platform of abolishing subsidies is a winning strategy. Tea party fever and fervour probably won't change that.
     
    Ragusa, Nov 15, 2010
    #6
  7. dmc

    dmc Speak softly and carry a big briefcase Staff Member Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

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    Um, NOG, you do realize that the "free market" rhetoric that the reps are temporarily shouting only applies to markets other than their own if they can protect their own, right? 'cause, if you think there's a politician anywhere in the US, rep or dem, that would champion free markets over protecting his own district's cottage industry, you're sadly mistaken.
     
    dmc, Nov 15, 2010
    #7
  8. NOG (No Other Gods)

    NOG (No Other Gods) Going to church doesn't make you a Christian

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    No, just continually disappointed. Call me "forever hopeful" (actual nickname of one of my cats).
     
    NOG (No Other Gods), Nov 15, 2010
    #8
  9. Ragusa

    Ragusa Eternal Halfling Paladin Veteran

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    Guess: You didn't get her fixed, yes?
     
    Ragusa, Nov 16, 2010
    #9
  10. NOG (No Other Gods)

    NOG (No Other Gods) Going to church doesn't make you a Christian

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    ??? It was a he, and no, that wasn't why.
     
    NOG (No Other Gods), Nov 16, 2010
    #10
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