reply to post by loam
Um Loam you can add the United States to that list for Food Unrest.
I say this because there has not been a single economic thread on ATS where FOOD prices have not been a major concern, or even along with oil,
directly related to our economic problems as a cause..
As our purchasing power drops because more of a percentage goes to rising taxes, rising fuel and rising food cost as well as other necessities like
energy, water and heating.. we don't have nearly enough to spend on luxuries, which regardless of how anyone thinks of Materialism, it drives our
economy.
Food prices in America, as well as Oil, are NOT included on the Core Inflation Index.
If it where, as China's purchasing index is, inflation would be much, much higher then the current supposed 4-5% .. Since 2001 gas has gone from
$.90-1.00 a gallon to a national average of $3.50 in 2008. Wages have remained stagnant the entire decade. Food prices have also risen sharply..
most having to do with energy prices, the more oil cost to drive the goods to the factories, then to the distribution centers, then to the stores.. if
food prices did not rise in this free market food producers and suppliers would loose money..
The only difference is that Americans have money.. the third world does NOT have money.. so instead of starving, a larger percentage of our income
goes to feeding our selves. Ask ANY restaurant owner - sales are down - evidence that while Americans are not starving, they are giving up many forms
of luxuries..
So we don't riot in the streets.. but we do protest, we protest by cutting our spending.. which will only accelerate.. even at the rate the average
American is currently spending debt money (credit) compared to earning power and debt accumulation, they cannot withstand another year of economic
pressures without major defaults within the debt system.
So far only mortgages have been hit, now automobiles and luxury crafts like boats and planes are being repo'd .. the mortgages went first because
people knew they would loose their house, so they put all their money to paying other debts like credit cards.. once the house was gone, the brand new
car was next to go.. the method in which this is done is a strategy to save credit.. losing your house and car will hurt your credit, but continuously
defaulting on credit cards will destroy you.
Once the purchasing power is leveled out, food prices soar, and because we sold out small farms to massive farming industries and corporations.. they
corporations which accumulate far more debt then individual farmers will go under..
I think then we will see riots in America for food..
Supplies drop, populations rise, this is where Darwin comes into play.
