Son of an erstwhile Argentine beekeeper, Glen Kinen — commenting on the U.S.’s heavy tariffs (some upwards of 66%) on Argentine honey exports — asks, “why the hell are we subsidizing food?”
Indeed. Or steel. Or family farmers. Or even catfish, for that matter…
(bonus points for identifying the source of the titular quotation. Hint, it comes from an 80s movie. Name the performer who delivers it, and consider yourself dipped in movie-trivia bronze)
[update: reader Mark Strassburg nailed it: Cliff Robertson, speaking to Andrew McCarthy and Rob Lowe, in the remarkably underappreciated Class (1983). Check out the early performances by Alan Ruck, John Cusack, and Virginia Madsen.]
Actually, subsidizing family farmers is the only thing I could see half-an-argument for: here, the goal is not maintenance of an American industry, but a way of life that’s part of our national myth, a way of life that’s fading away. Unlike tariffs, the goal here would not be having them compete with foreigners so much as keep up with huge agribusiness. The Economist had a good article about this.
That said, I’m against those subsidizes, too. The nation changes, and I don’t see why family farms should get cash while family bookstores or family barber shops don’t.
Re that movie: here’s a guess: Gung Ho?
Here’s another part of our national myth: Men in knickers and three-cornered hats fishing crystal-clear trout streams at dawn.
Ah, the pastoral myth! But I understand what you’re saying. I feel kinda hard-hearted everytime I argue against family farm subsidies—because I know it affects entire family histories. But at the same time, there’re probably some haberdashers who at one point in our history had to learn a new trade…
<i>Gung Ho’s</i> a no go, I fear.
’80s movies, ‘80s movies: how about The Explorers? Weird Science? Death Wish Three? History of the World (Part I)? Rocky IV?
And now for something a little different: Paul Krugman <a href=”http://www.pkarchive.org/trade/wto.html”>takes on</a> the singers of the Internationale who would preseve national cultures against globalization.
No. No (closer). Absolutely not. Not (but closer). No.
I’m going to read the Krugman piece tomorrow. I’ve listened to three students today try to explain globalizaton—so I must recuse myself (just like Nipsy Russell would’ve on “To Tell the Truth”).
Shit, I’m getting old.
The immortal Cliff Robertson in “Class”
Abso-frickin’-lutely! <i>Class,</i> indeed. Very impressive, Mr. Strassburg.
“Offended all my sensibilities, Mr. Kinen…”
In my prior life, I was a family farmer. Please note that only favored industries(cereal, sugar, dairy) get subsidies. Produce:nada. One freeze will wipe you out. Subsidies are always about votes.