Feed a Fever, Starve a Revolution
February 9th, 2011 - 11:21 am
Chinese officials said Wednesday they were preparing for a severe, long-lasting drought in several parched provinces, causing wheat prices to spike on the prospect of the world’s largest consumer putting pressure on a global supply that’s already squeezed.
No wonder Beijing has cracked down on news from Egypt.
How about instead of paying some farmers not to farm, and paying other farmers to destroy their crops by turning into ethanol, we could save the money, sell the wheat to China, reduce our trade deficit and lower food costs?
I suppose we could if any of that stuff were a goal.
Well now you’re just making common sense.
Jeebus. Really.
Tim, report yourself to the reeducation camps immediately!
I like to point out to Malthusians that there has never been a famine in a democratic country with a free press. The point being that famines are not natural events, they are products of irresponsible governments unresponsive to the needs of the people.
Famines remain products of government mismanagement, but looking at the actions of our government, I think the part about democracy as a cure for famine will be put to the test in the next decade.