U.S. to Buy Food Abroad for Aid Program

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Monday February 14, 2005 8:16 AM

By GEORGE GEDDA

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration, departing from its normal practice of relying on U.S. farmers to supply food for hungry foreigners, expects to turn to overseas markets for part of its food aid program.

Andrew Natsios, administrator for the Agency for International Development, said $300 million of the agency's proposed $1.2 billion food aid program for 2006 will be set aside for foreign food purchases in regions with countries facing emergency food situations.

``This is a major presidential reform that gives us a new tool to fight famine,'' Natsios said in a recent interview .

Reduced farm prices abroad means food aid dollars go further under the new plan, he said. In addition, he added, the high cost of shipping U.S.-grown food is eliminated.
more...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4798590,00.html

[FLSurfer]

1. If I understand this

correctly, we are taking tax dollars from U.S. farmers and giving it to foreign farmers?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. I think you have the jest of it.

At least that's what I took it to mean.

The thing is if you're dealing with a region that has famine you're going to have to import the food from another region which has food. Now we will be "outsourcing" the farmers who provide the grain, etc. And saying how it's good for our country's economy since we don't pay as much in shipping.

[RC]

3. Gotta suck all the money out of this country

that they can in their effort to collapse the economy and bankrupt all but the very rich. Just easier to dictate if the opposition has no money, therefore no power.

[cap]

4. family farmers are going belly up in Mid-west

big drought... food for aid gave them a guaranteed market.
So much for voting Bush.

Well, I guess, Jesus saves. I invest... and I'd invest in big agribusiness commodities. They will benefit from this.