Agricultural Subsidies

The original purpose of my blog was to create a place where I can give myself homework and store the information (and maybe discuss it with other people too). Here's a new assignment.

Last night at the Forum we discussed food. The Forum is a group that was started by my friend Dan Parris (see below) so that we can share expertise with each other and discuss topics. My friend Kate talked last night about food (mostly citing Michael Pollan and the documentary 'Food, Inc.'). Through the discussion I realized that I need to know more about the way our government subsidizes crops. The reason this is important is because the government makes it profitable to grow crops (like corn) which normally wouldn't be profitable (because there isn't as much demand as there is supply). So when powerful governments institute crop subsides, it changes the world price of certain foods. This whole thing also has a big impact on illegal immigration (which is the next thing that I need to get a handle on).

Articles:

-wikipedia: Agricultural Subsidies

- Overseas Development Institute, "Toward 'smart' subsidies in agriculture? Lessons in recent experience in Malawi"

- NYtimes, "Surviving without subsidies"

- Washington Post, "Farm Subsidies over time"

- USDA: "Farm Income and Costs. Farms receiving government payments"

- NYtimes, "The Way we live now, the (agri)cultural contradictions of obesity"

Books:

- A Billion Dollars a Day: the Economics and Politics of Agricultural Subsidies by E. Wesley F. Peterson

wish me luck! give me more resources!

Vote, please.

My good friends Dan Parris, Rob Lehr, and David Peterka have all been working on a documentary on global poverty for a couple years. They have all the footage they need (it's an incredible story) and they just need some extra capital to finish up the film. Apparently Pepsi is giving money away for free (well, if you give them your email address) and their project, "Give A Damn Documentary" is up for the $50,000 prize. Everyone and their mom is voting EVERY DAY for the project. Please lend a hand.

(Do it here.) --> http://www.refresheverything.com/giveadamndoc

Thanks!

great

I love the sartorialist and a ton of people check his blog (therefore many people who check my blog have already seen this photo) but it's too beautiful not to re-post. it looks like a thomas hart benton painting.

"Ain't I a Woman?" by Sojourner Truth

Delivered 1851 at the Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio

Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that 'twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this here talking about?

That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?

Then they talk about this thing in the head; what's this they call it? [member of audience whispers, "intellect"] That's it, honey. What's that got to do with women's rights or negroes' rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full?

Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.

If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.

Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain't got nothing more to say.

The album Friend Opportunity by Deerhoof

This is from the online magazine/blog Tourist, out of London. I heard about it from my friend Claire.