Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: $Revision: 1.6.2.16 $; site inmet.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!harvard!bbnccv!inmet!janw From: janw@inmet.UUCP Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: Re: Extent of hunger in America: Dec Message-ID: <7800666@inmet.UUCP> Date: Tue, 5-Nov-85 12:12:00 EST Article-I.D.: inmet.7800666 Posted: Tue Nov 5 12:12:00 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 8-Nov-85 21:20:50 EST References: <343@whuts.UUCP> Lines: 36 Nf-ID: #R:whuts:-34300:inmet:7800666:000:1637 Nf-From: inmet!janw Nov 5 12:12:00 1985 [ tim sevener whuxn!orb] > The point is that Jan has offered absolutely no evidence to refute > Richard's claims about the *distribution* of food in Communist countries. (1) Well ... why not try *reading* the article you are responding to ? It is so short. And the last paragraph goes: "Uneven DISTRIBUTION has compounded this shortage" etc. (2) You might also try *reading* Richard's statement you quoted. He made *no* "claim about distribution of food". Richard's claim was that a more equal distribution of "power over food-producing resourses" greatly reduced hunger. And this makes much more sense than what you attribute to him. Land reforms *can* feed people. I agree with him there. But in places like China, Cuba, and Nicaragua, there are overriding factors. For in these countries, the real *power over food-producing resourses* is in the hands of the central government and so is less distributed than ever. (3) By breaking off the quote where you did, you made it factual- ly misleading (unintentionally, I presume). It appears to be say- ing that China is only as bad as India or Pakistan in feeding her people. But in the original, an important BUT follows, proving that she is much worse - as bad as Bangladesh. (4) Now, since you are interested in statistics, try and verify the following theorem: "If the average person is hungry, then *some real people* are hungry, whatever the distribution". See, averages do tell you something. In fact, per capita figures are universally and correctly used in this field of study. (5) See my new note on Food for China. Jan Wasilewsky