WSJ - Food Inflation, Riots Spark (front page story)

[RiversideGator]

"It's not easy being green"

[Charleston native]

As if on cue:

President's Global Warming Surrender: "It will be very bad"
by Iain Murray

We're hearing some very bad things about the President's likely unconditional surrender on global warming today.  One senior source suggested that the last line of sound defense had been breached and that "It will be very bad."  I'd imagine he will request, against all evidence from Europe that this does anything but make consumers poorer and utilities richer, a cap and trade regime for energy utilities.

I cannot emphasize too much how idiotic this is.  At a time when the poor of the country and the world are feeling the twin crunches of credit being withdrawn and food and energy prices rising, jacking up energy prices farther will just add insult to injury.  The fat cat traders of Wall Street will be licking their lips, of course.  Meanwhile, House and Senate Republicans and (yes, some) Democrats who have stood up for the American consumer against this insanity will be left hanging.  Those who voted for Bush in the mistaken belief they wouldn't get Gore's policies will have been betrayed.  The political center on energy and environment will be jerked massively to the left.  Some acheivement.

Mr. Bush, if you think this will secure your legacy, you are right.  Your legacy will be just one word: Recession.

People need to get very, very angry about this.  I know I am.

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTUyYmEyZjZhYTFiYzgwOGY5ZTYxMDQ5ZGUwNzIwZTU=

I don't know, gentlemen. Your prediction about Bush being the worst president may come into fruition at this rate.

[Charleston native]

Wow, such contradiction in logic and thought. You think Bush is the worst president, and on the same day think that his environmental policy stupidity is something to commend him on. All for the glory of Mother Russia...er...Earth, right? I'll be sure to sell you some incandescents on the black market, comrade.

[Charleston native]

Stephen, you and I will disagree about the issue of man-made global climate change until we pass away. Despite those differences, however, I can agree with some of what you posted about oil. Indeed, it is a necessary resource with a very dirty past, but your comparison of the oil industry to climate change initiatives (especially with biofuels) is one of apples to oranges.

Oil benefits all who use it prudently. Our civilization has been greatly enhanced into the modern era because of it, enabling us not to just power our cities and modes of transportation but also to produce lifesaving equipment in health care and efficient manufacturing machines. Oil provides tangible, measurable benefits.

However, the evidence against biofuels is starting to mount on the environmentalist movement as food riots increase while food prices get higher. Yes, the price of oil is partly to blame, but farmers can raise the price of crops (raising the actual price of the commodity at the source) because the demand on it is inflated. The demand isn't even consumption-based. This is dangerous and highly unethical. It is instituting higher prices for a far more necessary commodity with no measurable benefit. There is only one measurable benefit for these dumbass initiatives: for man to feel good about himself. Humans can feel good "knowing" their actions will supposedly save the planet. Yet, even scientists on the "benevolent" IPCC have stated that any beneficial change man could do would be minimal, and that change would not take into effect until several decades from now.

Making cars more fuel efficient is fine. Creating a dependable, high energy, alternative resource for fuel would be even better. But starving people for the supposed good of the planet?! Despicable.

[Charleston native]

Good Intentions paved the highway of this idea, but it turned out to be disastrous for many children who will go hungry this year.

Finding alternative fuel sources, and trying not to destroy the planet are the point.

If you don't like gore or ethanol, dont give them money...

Absolutely, and I don't. At least not directly. But when we have our government paying subsidies for ethanol using our tax dollars, I've got to call them on their BS. The situation seems to be spinning out of control.

Good post.

[Charleston native]

"It's not easy being green"

BTW, thanks RSG, I have had that Kermit the Frog song in my head the whole day! 

[RiversideGator]

Finally we can start the work to rebuild the structure of our economy.  If a corrupt oil dealing blockhead like president dumbass can see the problem, what does it take for you guys?

You should be careful.  If a "dumbass" wants to be associated with your movement, there may be some problems with it.  Funny how the libs are all smarter than a guy who went to Yale for undergrad, got a business degree at Harvard and whose father was President.  What an idiot!

The real truth here is that Bush is a politician and politicians like to support what is going to happen anyway.  The GW nonsense has picked up steam and is very popular now (which will ultimately lead to a period when everyone will realize that it is complete bunk).

[Driven1]

Hunger in Haiti increasing rapidly

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: Hunger bashed in the front gate of Haiti's presidential palace. Hunger poured onto the streets, burning tires and taking on soldiers and police. Hunger sent the country's prime minister packing.

Haiti's hunger, that burn in the belly that so many here feel, has become fiercer than ever in recent days as global food prices spiral out of reach, spiking as much as 45 percent since the end of 2006 and turning Haitian staples such as beans, corn and rice into closely guarded treasures.

Saint Louis Meriska's children ate two spoonfuls of rice apiece as their only meal two days ago and then went without any food the following day. His eyes downcast, his own stomach empty, the unemployed father said forlornly, "They look at me and say, 'Papa, I'm hungry,' and I have to look away. It's humiliating and it makes you angry."

That anger is palpable across the globe. The food crisis not only is being felt among the poor, but also is eroding the gains of the working and middle classes, sowing volatile levels of discontent and putting new pressures on fragile governments.

In Cairo, the military is being put to work baking bread as rising food prices threaten to become the spark that ignites wider anger at a repressive government. In Burkina Faso and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, food riots are breaking out like never before. And in reasonably prosperous Malaysia, the ruling coalition was nearly ousted by disgruntled voters who cited food and fuel hikes as their primary concerns.

rest is here

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/17/news/Haiti.php

[jaxnative]

A little over two years ago my wife became seriously ill and I began doing the grocery shopping.  I shop at Publix and at that time a loaf of Publix brand bread was $0.79 a loaf.  Recently, it was again increased to $1.29 along with less bread in the loaf.  There is no doubt that things will get worse for much of the developing and less affluent nations especially those who are dependent on imports for foodstuffs.  Until the disgraceful energy policy of this country is taken out of the hands of special interests and the politicians they support and are supported by them the situation will continue to spiral out of control.  Now is the time to turn industry and mans ingenuity loose instead of throwing barriers at every opportunity in support of the arrogant lunacy of the planets self-righteous "saviours" who are misleading more lemmings every day.  As the title of this thread infers, the proof of our policies are starting to show.  Should we implement changes based on reason and common sense or "stay the course"?

[Charleston native]

Finally we can start the work to rebuild the structure of our economy.  If a corrupt oil dealing blockhead like president dumbass can see the problem, what does it take for you guys?

You should be careful.  If a "dumbass" wants to be associated with your movement, there may be some problems with it.  Funny how the libs are all smarter than a guy who went to Yale for undergrad, got a business degree at Harvard and whose father was President.  What an idiot!

The real truth here is that Bush is a politician and politicians like to support what is going to happen anyway.  The GW nonsense has picked up steam and is very popular now (which will ultimately lead to a period when everyone will realize that it is complete bunk).

River, I think the irony in this issue is incredibly thick. Indeed, the greenies/liberals spit on and vehemently castigate Bush for being an absolute dolt, yet he is siding with them on the green movement. You can't make this stuff up.

[KenFSU]

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/417731

Sam's Club is now rationing the sale of rice in The United States.

Don't think this food crisis is going to effect only the third world.

Skyrocketing food prices, gas that's expected to top $4 a gallon by Summer, and the credit crisis, not to mention illegal immigration and what almost seems like a blatantly intentional effort by the Federal Reserve to devalue the American dollar, is effectively squeezing the middle class out of America.

Just terrible.

[Charleston native]

We are witnessing the death of common sense in this country, and it comes as no surprise that this nation will be weakened with all of the negative impacts that are bombarding it right now. The lunacy of burning food for energy needs to be shut down immediately, because the situation is only going to get worse.

[Driven1]

the amount burned for fuel only accounts for 5% of corn produced.  this is not the reason for soaring food prices.

[Charleston native]

5% ? How do you know its not more? From the last article I read about it, the percentage was 10-20%.

[gatorback]

Stephen he's not that stupid after all he hired Carl and he's at the healm of this great nation and is your party's golden boy. He is a born again and was governor of Texas. He made the investments he was told to make gaining him millions. And unlike others has realized climate change is real after AFTER buying Paraguay.