Food Distribution

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[thefunway]

Just a short note commenting on the fact that more food is produced now than ever before in human history. While that may be true, it is misleading: Food is very unevenly distributed. In North America, Europe, Australia, etc. (the Western World), we waste enough food every day to feed all of the world's hungry. So when people contend that "food scarcity" is due to bad economic policies, they are correct, except for that there are no food scarcities anymore. But because we have a globalized market, poorer countries (and people!) have a much harder time getting at the stuff. So, globalization is really one of the roots of starvation.

Now waiting for waves of criticism (sp?)

)

[Gunner9mm]

bunk

[Voltage]

Capitalist nations seem to have lots of food...perhaps there is a connection?

[headsonpikes]

"So, globalization is one of the roots of starvation." LOLOL!! Not even plausible sophistry! Socialism and superstition are the roots of starvation in this world. Well, socialism is a kind of superstition I suppose. ;^)

[Lazamataz]

Just a short note commenting on the fact that more food is produced now than ever before in human history.

True.

While that may be true, it is misleading: Food is very unevenly distributed.

True.

In North America, Europe, Australia, etc. (the Western World), we waste enough food every day to feed all of the world's hungry.

True.

So when people contend that "food scarcity" is due to bad economic policies, they are correct, except for that there are no food scarcities anymore.

True.

But because we have a globalized market, poorer countries (and people!) have a much harder time getting at the stuff.

WHOOPS! Wild, unsupported leap to conclusion.

False.

So, globalization is really one of the roots of starvation.

Totally unsupported conclusion.

False.

[dighton]

Now waiting for waves of criticism (sp?)

Expect waves of cheese, and everything that goes with it.

[Bikers4Bush]

Wrong. Zimbabwe is a prime example.

[foolish-one]

You need to attempt to explain that a little more rationally. Food doesn't grow in the desert or during droughts, so without global distribution, those people would have NO food. The reason they are starving today is because of politics, not ecomonics. On the other hand, you made a statement that globalization causes starvation. Please elaborate in terms that are logical and understandable and with facts that make your point.

[nravoter]

How does globalization take food away from anyone? You seem to be under the impression that there's a centralized storehouse of food somewhere in the world, and some countries take more than their share of it. It's not like there's a huge pile of food, and we take too much, leaving less for other peoples in the world. Each society has the ability to "create its own pile".

If the poorer countries of the world were to adopt our economic model, they could eat the way we do (with the obvious exception of those countries lacking in natural resources, although even this obstacle can be overcome in capitalist societies, i.e., Israel [desert], Japan [limited land/dense population], etc.). I know, I know, neither of those countries is all that close to capitalism, but they're a lot closer than Haiti, North Korea, Somalia, etc.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

Food is very unevenly distributed.

Actually, it is worse than that because the distribution cannot be fair and equal due to the fact earth has regions and climates. It has been that way for at least 10,000 years and probably will continue to be that way.

Don't worry, global warming will soon fix that though so move on to something else.

[balrog666]

Every famine in recorded history occurred due to government manipulation, taxation, and/or interference in markets.

[neutrino]

In North America, Europe, Australia, etc. (the Western World), we waste enough food every day to feed all of the world's hungry.

If they wish to supply post-paid mailers, I'll be glad to send them any food that I would otherwise dispose of.

[foolish-one]

Has anybody ever seen this guy make a stupid statement, ask for criticism and actually answer ANY of his critics?

[.38sw]

I recommend that you read, "Eat the Rich", by P.J. O'Rourke. You may understand a few things then.

[thefunway]

Ah-ha!
You're right, I didn't support myself very well. Sometime I'll post with loads of research, okay?
For now, though, I'll say:

In terms of worldwide economics, the only things that corporations and major (i.e. Western) governments
have pushed for is corporate globalization. The result has been more poverty, worse environmental situations, and, of course, certain people becoming extremely rich.

The problem with poor nations joining the global economy is that they are poor. In order to import they need money, and they get money by exporting. What are the easiest things to export? Coffee beans, tobbacco, sugar. So instead of growing FOOD, they grow luxury products for rich Westerners. The money that they make goes to buying items necessary for life. Unfortunately, they don't make
that much money. The multinationals (Nestle, for example) either employ farmers and absurdly low wages, or they buy it from the farmers at absurdly low prices. This way, the multinationals can sell the products back in America (or Europe, whatever) and make tons of money.

Environmental degradation . . . yeesh, that's a whole other story. Chapter 11 of NAFTA allowing corporations to veto laws that might hamper their profits . . . long, long story.


Again, this is a debate that I really want to have. I'll post again with more information, and I'm sure other people will as well.
I don't have time now to go into detail, but I'll be back.

I love being completely out of place (as in, a socialist on a conservative forum. I hope that comment brings death threats . . . I mean, acceptance.)

[Delbert]

SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!

[headsonpikes]

"I hope that comment brings death threats."

Nope, just sympathy from this quarter.

I never get angry at the victims of state brainwashing, I reserve my hostility for the vampires in charge.

[SauronOfMordor]

Your fundamental logical error is the use of the word "distribution". Food is not "distributed" -- it is grown, and then somebody else BUYS it

Japan has little farmable land -- but it has no problems getting food because it has people with SKILLS and ENERGY who DO things they get PAID for. They can then use this little thing called MONEY to get people to DELIVER FOOD to them

The problem with hunger in poor counties has nothing to do with food "distribution" -- it has to do with the fact that the people in those countries are not able to EARN MONEY to buy food with, either because they have not acquired skills or because they live under a corrupt government which prevents businesses from being able to operate profitably (or, more likely, both)

[SauronOfMordor]

Unfortunately, they don't make that much money. The multinationals (Nestle, for example) either employ farmers and absurdly low wages, or they buy it from the farmers at absurdly low prices.

We had this problem in the US from time to time over the last 200 years. The solution that US farmers adopted was to either mechanize (use equiptment to let them produce more product from the same number of man-hours) or to leave farming and do something else (like manufactoring). The US went from being 95% agricultural to having something like 2% of the population doing all the farming to feed the US and a good portion of the world

Ask yourself what is stopping somebody from plopping factories and software-development firms into those third-world countries, and you will have the answer to your questions. Better yet, get "Migrations and Cultures : A World View" by Thomas Sowell (available on amazon.com) and read it.

[Allrightnow]

"So instead of growing FOOD, they grow luxury products for rich Westerners. The money that they make goes to buying items necessary for life"

I think I have just solved the world hunger problem. If these starving nations are growing luxury products to sell in exchange for money and that money is not enough to sustain them, they should just quit growing these products and grow food for themselves. It sounds like they have made a bad business decision.