The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Disneyphile]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

I don't think you are a racist. I don't think that everyone who supports the law is a racist as they are typically portrayed.

And I don't think everyone who supports the law is racist.

It's a sad situation that hopefully will work itself out, but it just seems that it's too extreme and flawed.

As for imported stuff and all, it's gradually getting better as people are made more aware, and more folks are buying directly from the artists or from fair trade vendors. For example, I bought two head scarves from a street booth today that sells stuff made by his friends and family in Peru. I actually paid $5 each for something I paid $12 for at the spa a few months ago. The latter was in a nice package, and I'm betting the spa made a nice profit, and the dealer they purchased it from made a decent profit as well, and the artisan barely made anything. Cutting out the middleman might be a good key to supporting more families worldwide. Who knows.

I wish farms were subsidized more in order to pay better. But, at least the illegals do have a chance to make a little something, whereas back in their own country they wouldn't even have a chance to make that. They really do help our country in a lot of ways. It would just be better to work with them on a solution than against them.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Disneyphile

I wish farms were subsidized more in order to pay better.

Man, I hope not. We already subsidize farms to the tune of $16 billion a year (many of which are designed to keep produce prices elevated) and that is just direct subsidies not even including the fact that we pretty much give away grazing land and water. It is probably true that those most subsidized are the least likely to have any interest in elevating wages.

It is one of the great sillinesses that we subsidize agriculture to keep prices stable and elevated and then subsidize poor people so that they can afford to buy it. But sadly, being opposed to the current structure of subsidization is generally something politicians are only willing to do when they have no actual power to accomplish any change.