Comments on: The Tariff Tax http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/02/26/the-tariff-tax/ news and views from uc berkeley Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:13:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: gary http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/02/26/the-tariff-tax/#comment-3473 gary Tue, 28 Feb 2006 19:30:04 +0000 http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/02/26/the-tariff-tax/#comment-3473 Also, its important to note that farmers are, on average, not poor or destitute. Ultimately, this represents a transfer from the poor to the rich so these subsidies ought to be opposed by all political persuasions. Furthermore, I recall Milton Friedman point out another element of farce here. Not only does the Gov subsidize tobacco farmers, but it also subsidizes anti-spoking campaigns! I mean, how inane is that? But, I really dont know a practicable solution; the costs are so diffuse with no comparable lobby group against. As I said, you can compare this to the ASUC; only 33% of our money, I believe (see http://abolishtheasuc.blogspot.com) goes to student groups. For the most part the rest is dished out to lobbyists (and we know who *they* are). Whats more, every student on campus pays an Ethnic Studies Fee. Yes, you too! Most students dont even know about this and dont receive any benefit. Meanwhile the Ethnic Studies Dept is making a small fortune (above and beyond normal funding). And, again, we know the kind of hateful, anti-capitalist rhetoric thats disseminated from depts like that. Also, its important to note that farmers are, on average, not poor or destitute. Ultimately, this represents a transfer from the poor to the rich so these subsidies ought to be opposed by all political persuasions. Furthermore, I recall Milton Friedman point out another element of farce here. Not only does the Gov subsidize tobacco farmers, but it also subsidizes anti-spoking campaigns! I mean, how inane is that? But, I really dont know a practicable solution; the costs are so diffuse with no comparable lobby group against. As I said, you can compare this to the ASUC; only 33% of our money, I believe (see http://abolishtheasuc.blogspot.com) goes to student groups. For the most part the rest is dished out to lobbyists (and we know who *they* are). Whats more, every student on campus pays an Ethnic Studies Fee. Yes, you too! Most students dont even know about this and dont receive any benefit. Meanwhile the Ethnic Studies Dept is making a small fortune (above and beyond normal funding). And, again, we know the kind of hateful, anti-capitalist rhetoric thats disseminated from depts like that.

]]> By: mickeyk http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/02/26/the-tariff-tax/#comment-3468 mickeyk Tue, 28 Feb 2006 17:12:58 +0000 http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/02/26/the-tariff-tax/#comment-3468 The tax is also regressive. Poor families spend a greater proportion of their money on food. Think about it, who spends more of the paycheck on groceries: a single mother paid on the hour or a lawyer in a corner office? The tax is also regressive.

Poor families spend a greater proportion of their money on food. Think about it, who spends more of the paycheck on groceries: a single mother paid on the hour or a lawyer in a corner office?

]]> By: Mickey Klein http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/02/26/the-tariff-tax/#comment-3467 Mickey Klein Tue, 28 Feb 2006 17:05:28 +0000 http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/02/26/the-tariff-tax/#comment-3467 Other countries can produce the food cheaper and in greater quantity than us; there would be more food at a lower price if we released the subsidies. Businesses are supposed to shut down when they stop making money. This is how capital moves from low to high profits and makes the free market the most powerful economic system in the world. Agricultural products are just that, products. Brought to market, a head of lettuce is priced the same way as a microprocessor, by the price that a consumer is willing to pay for it. Countries that have realized it doesnt matter what kind of widgit they make as long as they keep expanding have been the most succesful. Other countries can produce the food cheaper and in greater quantity than us; there would be more food at a lower price if we released the subsidies.

Businesses are supposed to shut down when they stop making money. This is how capital moves from low to high profits and makes the free market the most powerful economic system in the world.

Agricultural products are just that, products. Brought to market, a head of lettuce is priced the same way as a microprocessor, by the price that a consumer is willing to pay for it. Countries that have realized it doesnt matter what kind of widgit they make as long as they keep expanding have been the most succesful.

]]> By: americanpatriotlegion http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/02/26/the-tariff-tax/#comment-3466 americanpatriotlegion Tue, 28 Feb 2006 12:16:51 +0000 http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/02/26/the-tariff-tax/#comment-3466 The Ag substidies that are paid by the government are much needed. The unfortunate thing is that the majority of them go to large corporate farms, not the small family farms. The most used peaces of equipment by farmers are tractors, combines, combine heads, and fertilizers. Each of these cost well over $100,000 a peace. One bad year would put most farms out of business if it weren't for these subsdies. I know this because when hog prices fell in 2000-2002 many farms in South Central Illinois were I lived at the time would have shut down had it not been for these programs. You might be quick to say that that is part of doing business in a free economy, but keep in mind that American farms, especially Mid-Western farms, produce the majority of the world's food supply. And a great deal of these farms are family owned, although that number is dropping as corporate farms push the smaller ones out. apatriotlegion.blogspot.com The Ag substidies that are paid by the government are much needed. The unfortunate thing is that the majority of them go to large corporate farms, not the small family farms.

The most used peaces of equipment by farmers are tractors, combines, combine heads, and fertilizers. Each of these cost well over $100,000 a peace. One bad year would put most farms out of business if it weren’t for these subsdies. I know this because when hog prices fell in 2000-2002 many farms in South Central Illinois were I lived at the time would have shut down had it not been for these programs.

You might be quick to say that that is part of doing business in a free economy, but keep in mind that American farms, especially Mid-Western farms, produce the majority of the world’s food supply. And a great deal of these farms are family owned, although that number is dropping as corporate farms push the smaller ones out.

apatriotlegion.blogspot.com

]]> By: nuance http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/02/26/the-tariff-tax/#comment-3458 nuance Tue, 28 Feb 2006 03:22:22 +0000 http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/02/26/the-tariff-tax/#comment-3458 ummm.. last time i checked the asuc pays the lions share of most clubs on campus' budgets. Not the patriot, but that's because the patriot chooses not to accept asuc funding. also, the tax supporting farmers is phased progressively - it comes out of the general income tax, meaning that rich people pay a larger share of it than poor people. If the figure was referring to costs directly hitting consumers (ie more expensive veggies), then, yes, it would be regressive. ummm.. last time i checked the asuc pays the lions share of most clubs on campus’ budgets. Not the patriot, but that’s because the patriot chooses not to accept asuc funding.

also, the tax supporting farmers is phased progressively - it comes out of the general income tax, meaning that rich people pay a larger share of it than poor people. If the figure was referring to costs directly hitting consumers (ie more expensive veggies), then, yes, it would be regressive.

]]> By: mickeyk http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/02/26/the-tariff-tax/#comment-3455 mickeyk Mon, 27 Feb 2006 05:45:10 +0000 http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/02/26/the-tariff-tax/#comment-3455 posting edit... posting edit…

]]> By: mickeyk http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/02/26/the-tariff-tax/#comment-3454 mickeyk Mon, 27 Feb 2006 05:44:23 +0000 http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/02/26/the-tariff-tax/#comment-3454 sorry, the figure was three farmers for every DOA employee. sorry, the figure was three farmers for every DOA employee.

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