Sarkozy and Schwab should be ashamed of themselves.
jkitleft Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 01:39:44 PM GMT 
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If there is one thing that could bring down rising food costs currently, it is scrapping agricultural subsidies in America and Europe.
The subsidies feel like a conspiracy to grind Africa into submission. Not only do they cost the taxpayer half of the EU budget, but it piles on the costs of food bills.
Yet Susan Schwab disgraced herself, by saying that it was "unconscionable" that developing countries were demanding protectionist policies. I think all trade tarrifs should be lifted, but I would rather we had protectionism for Africa than Europe or the USA.
Sadly, there is little hope that subsidies will be lifted in the USA, owing to huge political pressure.
What is truely "unconsionable", is that there is protectionism for the rich. EU subsidies aren't going towards 'the little guy', nor are American subsidies, although Conservative politicians would have you believe otherwise. The subsidies are going to massive corporations, like Tate and Lyle.
How on earth Republicans and UMP members can bleat about the unfettered free market, like their British counterparts, while supporting trade barriers big enough to reach the clouds is bewildering.
Postscript: I'm hoping all people on here don't support Sarkozy. I remember the rather heated debate last year, when JR supported Sarkozy. Thank god he's gone, as there are actually many reasonable, and loyal socialist New Labourites. JR's support was based on the 35 hour working week, which was apparently bringing down France. You would have though from his moanings, that all French workers were being dragged out from their workplaces against their will. Well, it only applied to half of workers, and productivity as well as quality of life soared. But what about the economic effects? Unemployment fell by 3%. Someone's freedom to work more than 35 hours was still met. Except they weren't paid overtime. They still had freedom to work, but it was balanced against freedom from being coerced into working long hours. There are literally millions in this country who sign contracts 'voluntarily', saying that they should work for more than 48 hours. It was only a couple of years ago that a third of men were working more than 50 hours. We could learn some lessons from the French. But not on agricultural subsidies.
The subsidies feel like a conspiracy to grind Africa into submission. Not only do they cost the taxpayer half of the EU budget, but it piles on the costs of food bills.
Yet Susan Schwab disgraced herself, by saying that it was "unconscionable" that developing countries were demanding protectionist policies. I think all trade tarrifs should be lifted, but I would rather we had protectionism for Africa than Europe or the USA.
Sadly, there is little hope that subsidies will be lifted in the USA, owing to huge political pressure.
What is truely "unconsionable", is that there is protectionism for the rich. EU subsidies aren't going towards 'the little guy', nor are American subsidies, although Conservative politicians would have you believe otherwise. The subsidies are going to massive corporations, like Tate and Lyle.
How on earth Republicans and UMP members can bleat about the unfettered free market, like their British counterparts, while supporting trade barriers big enough to reach the clouds is bewildering.
Postscript: I'm hoping all people on here don't support Sarkozy. I remember the rather heated debate last year, when JR supported Sarkozy. Thank god he's gone, as there are actually many reasonable, and loyal socialist New Labourites. JR's support was based on the 35 hour working week, which was apparently bringing down France. You would have though from his moanings, that all French workers were being dragged out from their workplaces against their will. Well, it only applied to half of workers, and productivity as well as quality of life soared. But what about the economic effects? Unemployment fell by 3%. Someone's freedom to work more than 35 hours was still met. Except they weren't paid overtime. They still had freedom to work, but it was balanced against freedom from being coerced into working long hours. There are literally millions in this country who sign contracts 'voluntarily', saying that they should work for more than 48 hours. It was only a couple of years ago that a third of men were working more than 50 hours. We could learn some lessons from the French. But not on agricultural subsidies.
Sarkozy and Schwab should be ashamed of themselves. | 6 comments (6 topical)
Sarkozy and Schwab should be ashamed of themselves. | 6 comments (6 topical)
