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From: todd@SCIRTP.UUCP (Todd Jones)
Newsgroups: net.flame,net.politics
Subject: The role of America in world hunger & red spread
Message-ID: <295@SCIRTP.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 8-Aug-85 17:25:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: SCIRTP.295
Posted: Thu Aug  8 17:25:55 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 12-Aug-85 07:03:03 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: SCI Systems, Research Triangle Park, NC
Lines: 80
Xref: linus net.flame:10609 net.politics:9710


> Todd Jones again (sigh) writes:> 
> > However, It is clear that many citizens of these third
> > world countries are turning to communism to address the
> > problems that were created by multinational American
> > "agribusiness" corporations acting with the cooperation
> > of the leaders of these countries.
> 
> OK, great, now we the bread basket are removing over half the food crop from 
> already impoverished nations.  What are we doing with this food?  
> Storing it with our already over abundant crop?  

We are providing Americans with foodstuffs we cannot grow as cheaply
in America.  E.G. bananas, sugar, coconuts.

> Our farmers must appreciate that.

They don't care they can't grow the aforementioned.

> If you are talking about a particular crop, sugar or coconuts for example, 
> you might be right, but items such as these can hardly 
> be considered as staples.

Of course they're not staples. They are being farmed from land
*capable* of growing staples for the persons of that country.
But as long as "agribusiness" controls land use, staples for
the locals will not be grown. The locals cannot afford to
buy food at prices Americans buy food for.

> You're veritable verbiage is growing tiresome, if you've anything concrete
> to conclude, do so with facts and figures.  

Ditto for you pal.
Look up the overseas business practices of Dole, Del Monte,
General Foods, United Fruit Company, etc... You'll see what
I mean.

> Above you mention the reason for poverty is modernization.  

Au contraire, I stated the primary reason for poverty is the
resource drain from these countries to America and Europe.
I'm all for modernization that focuses on the long-term
interests of the country adopting it. Modernization in
South America for American consumables doesn't do South
America a whole lot of good, does it?

> If I'm reading it properly, you conclude that:
> American agribusiness is modernizing 3rd world countries which results in
> reduced crop output, it then removes half this lesser crop, and cause further
> poverty. Agribusiness then further modernizes and .a...and..a..zzzzz snore.

Needless to say you're not reading properly.
I'm not picking on modernization as a corrupting influence.
Modernization is a tool. Tools _can_ be used to benefit persons.
Modernization has allowed American multinational corporations
to profitably exploit the resources of third world countries,
while American foreign policy ignores the problems created
by resource drain.

These countries need modernization, but above all
THEY NEED THEIR LAND BACK! They need to eat and
a lot of these people see socialism, for better
or worse, as a means of regaining control over
their land. If we can't stop this molestation
of foreign resources, we should be prepared
for the (regrettable, I believe) inevitable
swing toward socialist alternatives.
The preceding opinions are, in all likelihood, those of Todd Jones.
However, these opinions will, in all certainty, bear scant resemblance 
to the opinions of SCI Systems, Inc., Mr. Jones' employer.

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   [ O-O ]       Todd Jones (sigh) Again!
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