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Originally Posted by tw
Why do you see enemies everywhere? For example, the entire lemon crop was lost in California (according to reports). Did you notice how much of our fruits come from Chile - and have for decades? Yes there are problems with some sources. But, for example, American chickens are too dirty for China standards. Don't think for one minute that America has some market to purity. And don't believe all these myths that crops from outside America are at risk. Do you avoid bananas because you fear?
Getting food from numerous nations only puts us in a precarious position when we see enemies lurking everywhere and when we hate free trade.
Let's see. Titanium is essential now in paints. Russia is the world leaders in titanium production. Therefore the American paint industry is at risk? Nonsense. Interdependence among nations is essential to world stability.
Its a good thing only American spinache is trying to kill people. Otherwise we might start threatening other nations as evil. Its a good thing only American food processing factories spread listeria in KFC and Taco Bells for years. After all, American food is so safe.
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Everything marked in red has nothing to do with what I said. The relative safety or cleanliness of American food is completely irrelevant, and people will not starve without paint.
The rest of your points are reasonable. Yes, interdependence is good, and no, we cannot operate as if every country is going to suddenly cut off our food supply just for spite. But the fact is we already do have a large degree of imported food. As you pointed out, much of our fruit comes from South America, up to almost 100% of it in the winter. But if we eliminated all farm subsidies, then that number would basically go up to 100% of
all of our food,
all of the time. Being entirely dependent on other countries for our food is not a good tactical position to be in. The lemon crop in California failed, so we had the Chilean crop to back it up. But what happens when the Chilean crop fails, and we have no more California lemon orchards because we drove them out of business? No lemons at all for anyone. Diversification of food sources is important even if it is not the most economically beneficial in the short term.
I'm all for free trade and eliminated subsidies--for every industry except food.