Latino Civil Rights Leader Has A Harsh Warning For Republicans

[WhatInThe]

If local tomatoes become too expensive then the supermarkets will just import them from third world countries. That's what happens over here.

Actually if trade barriers are adjusted so that poor countries can receive fair trade deals then less people might stop trying to enter rich ones. Just a thought.

Importing food is not necessarily the only option. Especially for cheaper food.

For decades the US has been paying farmers NOT to grow food. They justified it with a "conservation" angle by planting trees instead. The last big farm bill in 1980s was during the first generation of tree huggers and a lot of farm forclosures(I think Farm Aid was one of the first big celebrity benefit concerts). Billions are paid to farmers NOT to grow food. If they're growing anything the land isn't a dirt field. Think if billions of dollars of food came on the market. It would add choice and competition to help keep prices down. And if they were to SECURE the border it would tougher to get illegal labor to work the farms. Smaller farms would require fewer employee but better paid employees. Many want those kind of farm subsidies stopped.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/01/AR2006070100962.html

http://tbo.com/news/nation-world/20...-end-paying-farmers-not-to-grow-cr-ar-151982/

An attempt was made this year to end the subsidies but they were repackaged in a January Farm Bill.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/20/business/richer-farmers-bigger-subsidies.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Personally I think the big corporate farms and food producers a little more than something to do with this.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/ofgu/lionsshare121304.cfm

But even if there is extra food that wouldn't sell some of it could exported or donated. In the 1980s a lot of farmers had trouble but it's almost 4 decades later. I think we could export more than ever before. I'd like to see many more smaller farms and farmers. Ending subsidies must coincide with securing the border.

 

[Warrigal]

Yeah, but if we import tomatoes from third world countries, what happens to the tomato growers here in the US????

They go out of business!!!! That hurts the economy!!!!

We're talking tens of billions of dollars just in that one industry alone. Then, add all the other agri products that would have to be imported & all the other industries that would cease to exist here in the US...

It's all tied together!!!!

Hel - LO?????

It is very complex isn't it? I have occasionally purchased fair trade products, mostly coffee grown in Papua New Guinea. The Fair Trade label means that the plantation workers get a fair wage and the profit stays in the community. I hope it helps to support ethical businesses. Otherwise I try to buy local produce.

Given that the problems are deeply embedded in the global economic structures, it's no wonder that many people choose to go on the move looking for better. Then there are the refugees who have little choice in the matter because their choice is between probable death and possible survival.

 

[oldman]

Before Obama became President, the U.S. was already becoming extremely divided. When Obama became President, We then became fully divided. Some people believe that heir disdain for Obama is because of his color. I think that may be partially right for some of those that really do not like him. For my part, I have issues with his economics, his self imposed importance (my way or the highway), his selections to the Supreme Court, and on and on. I am basically a conservative, however, I do believe that the government should help the poor, the unemployed, the seniors and the young that want a college education.

Foreign affairs, including wars and all of the money the U.S. sends overseas, should be stopped, unless the countries are impoverished, like Ethiopia. Wars costs this country just too much money. We are the leading country in wars. Borrowing money to fight wars is ridiculous.

Enough. No one wins arguing politics.

 

[Davey Jones]

she says they are refugees, and I thought they were illegal immigrants. Geez. Will the real truth please stand up

Someone said :Illegal immigration is not a new problem. Native Americans use to call it "White People".

 

[MrJim]

Before Obama became President, the U.S. was already becoming extremely divided. When Obama became President, We then became fully divided. Some people believe that heir disdain for Obama is because of his color. I think that may be partially right for some of those that really do not like him. For my part, I have issues with his economics, his self imposed importance (my way or the highway), his selections to the Supreme Court, and on and on. I am basically a conservative, however, I do believe that the government should help the poor, the unemployed, the seniors and the young that want a college education.

Foreign affairs, including wars and all of the money the U.S. sends overseas, should be stopped, unless the countries are impoverished, like Ethiopia. Wars costs this country just too much money. We are the leading country in wars. Borrowing money to fight wars is ridiculous.

Enough. No one wins arguing politics.

Well I agree with much of what you said. America was divided prior to Obama & gotten more so since Obama. However, that is not any of Obama's doing. The hyper partisanship that is occurring in this country now would be the same under any President of either party. Because our society is becoming more & more divided, we elect leaders on each side who try to cater to the wishes of those who elected them.

But as for his "my way or the highway" attitude, look back at the Bush years & you'll see the same thing, but AFAIC, Bush was much worse.

As for Obama's USSC appointments, he's only made one. The guys who Bush appointed, (especially the current Chief Justice, Roberts) are the ones who gave us the Citizens United decision which says that, in effect, corporations are considered people when it comes to political campaign donations, & that as long as they disclose their identity, they can pour unlimited amounts of cash directly into any campaign fund they want to. In other words, thanks to this court, corporations are now free to buy elections & put whoever will do their bidding into office. And if they indirectly donate to a campaign by giving money to outside groups, they don't even have to disclose who they are.

In short, the Bush appointed Supreme Court has stacked the deck so that big corporations have an incredible advantage over individuals or grass roots groups when it comes to funding the campaigns of those they want in office.

That is one helluva lot worse than anything Sonia Sotomayor (Obama's one appointment) has had anything to do with.

In fact, she has had virtually no impact whatsoever, given that she part of the four member liberal minority on the nine member bench.

 

[WhatInThe]

Well I agree with much of what you said. America was divided prior to Obama & gotten more so since Obama. However, that is not any of Obama's doing. The hyper partisanship that is occurring in this country now would be the same under any President of either party. Because our society is becoming more & more divided, we elect leaders on each side who try to cater to the wishes of those who elected them.
.......

Obama didn't create the last administration's mess but he/ his party enabled it every time they made a deal to pass a bill, appropriate money or do favors. If all the Democrats had voted against things like the Patriot Act or didn't renew it I doubt the NSA would've gotten as big as it did today. Or if Fannie and Freddie didn't get some of their deals early this century things might very well be different. The problem is the career politicians who make unnecessary deals with each other-but that's what they do.

 

[oldman]

"As for Obama's USSC appointments, he's only made one."

Actually, he made two. Sotomayor and Kagan. However, like I said somewhere on this Forum, I do not argue politics because no one wins these arguments. Just like in your rant, it is full of opinions and that's what starts arguments. One last thing, Chief Justice Roberts has been a very extreme disappointment to me, so far and even though the SC has ruled against Obama at least 13 times, I still stand behind him as my President. I get that from serving my country under Johnson. (Enough said.)

 

[MrJim]

"As for Obama's USSC appointments, he's only made one."

Actually, he made two. Sotomayor and Kagan. However, like I said somewhere on this Forum, I do not argue politics because no one wins these arguments. Just like in your rant, it is full of opinions and that's what starts arguments. One last thing, Chief Justice Roberts has been a very extreme disappointment to me, so far and even though the SC has ruled against Obama at least 13 times, I still stand behind him as my President. I get that from serving my country under Johnson. (Enough said.)

Aside from my one misstatement regarding the number of USSC appointments Obama has made, the rest of what I said about the Citizen's United decision was based in fact. Your rant about my "rant", as you chose to (mis)characterize it, being full of nothing more than opinions, is therefore, completely incorrect.

For someone who claims to avoid starting political arguments, you certainly do seem eager to get one going here.

Personally, the way I see it, that's the purpose of a forum such as this one... to express one's views on politics & current events. I tend to get involved in them if & when I feel like it. If you prefer not to, nobody is twisting your arm.