On Wednesday we attended a House Party hosted by our friend Debby and her friend Brendan (with yellow dog). We watched a PBS video about how US farm policy is having a detrimental effect in the developing world.
When I start talking about the Farm Bill and all that is at stake eyes begin to glaze over. I don't really think its that people don't care. They do by and large. Very few people I know are blatantly callous enough simply not to give a rip about people in the developing world going hungry.
But eyes do glaze over nonetheless. I think that is because we have been so trained not to have to pay attention that anything complex that comes along just goes right over our heads. After years of sitting back and taking in easy-to-consume television we just don't know how to pay attention.
And the dark principalities of this world love that because it means that their power can remain hidden.
So, if you care about people not being hungry here is a crash course in how US farm policy is contributing to global insecurity. Pay attention:
1. Our goverment gives lots of money to US farmers to produce crops like wheat and cotton
2. This creates incentives to produce lots. And I mean lots
3. We take what we don't use and sell it at basement prices
4. We sell our crops for less than it costs farmers in the developing world to produce theirs
5. This means they make next to nothing (like a buck or two a day)
So, that wasn't too bad. Now go and pay attention to the video to learn more.
