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Post by AustinHoya03 on Nov 16, 2010 16:34:58 GMT -5
However, if there happen to be any cotton farmers on the board who can explain why they can't compete without that subsidy, I'll be happy to hear you out. I'm not a cotton farmer, but until recently I lived in the world's largest contiguous cotton-growing area (in west Texas), where most US cotton is produced. I'd be happy to regurgitate some of my limited knowledge. Generally speaking, cotton needs two things to grow: abundant water and abundant sunlight. Soil is a consideration as well, but we can talk about that another day. West Texas has loads and loads of sunshine. However, it has very little water...unless you look underground to the Ogallala aquifer, which is slowly (or rapidly, depending on who you're speaking to) being drained. So, US cotton farmers often spend a lot on well pumps and center pivot irrigation systems. My guess is that Brazilian farmers don't. Additionally, I've heard some complaints about third world countries where farm labor is extremely, almost criminally, cheap in the view of US farmers. (Although Brazil is obviously not a third world country, I don't know what labor costs are there.) American cotton farmers can't employ large groups of people to hand-strip cotton cheaply, so most farmers invest in expensive equipment to strip cotton, build modules, and haul those modules to the gin. It's expensive to invest in all this equipment. Some farmers have a lot of debt. And the area economy relies heavily on cotton farming. I'd be willing to bet it's the same story for sugar growers in Louisiana and peanut farmers in Georgia. What politician is about to let his constituents' local economy perish for the greater good? This goes back to "all politics is local." Most politicians also tie local arguments to a political argument on a national scale that we don't want foreign nations producing all of our food (and fiber) supply, just as we don't want foreign nations producing all of our oil. Interestingly, west Texas politicians are about as anti-government as they come (see Neugebauer, Randy), but everyone also kind of knows the American cotton industry would be unsustainable without government subsidies. These pols send lots of brash letters about the unconstitutionality of Obamacare and the establishment of socialism in America (I'm not exaggerating), then prop up an industry that wouldn't exist without gobs of taxpayer money to sustain it.
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hoyainspirit
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Post by hoyainspirit on Nov 17, 2010 8:47:45 GMT -5
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Nov 17, 2010 13:54:06 GMT -5
I can't say you've convinced me, Austin, but you've given me something to think about.
Which is always good.
Thanks.
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TBird41
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Post by TBird41 on Nov 29, 2010 17:27:55 GMT -5
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nychoya3
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Post by nychoya3 on Nov 29, 2010 18:20:19 GMT -5
Bah. If he was going to grandstand on populist issues like this, shouldn't it have been before the elections?
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Nov 29, 2010 18:23:56 GMT -5
Bah. If he was going to grandstand on populist issues like this, shouldn't it have been before the elections? Depends on who he is trying to get re-elected.
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EasyEd
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Post by EasyEd on Nov 30, 2010 11:38:37 GMT -5
Freezing federal salaries may be the right thing to do as long as it is a part of a bigger attempt drastically to scale back spending. And it would help if the symbolism of this move were accompanied by other symbolisms like a marked change in the president's lifestyle with emphasis on the entourages accompanying his overseas travel, his golf and basketball efforts and the places he chooses to take vacations. Did other presidents do similar things? Yes, but the current debt and deficit situation needs more positive symbolisms today.
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Post by strummer8526 on Nov 30, 2010 11:40:39 GMT -5
Freezing federal salaries may be the right thing to do as long as it is a part of a bigger attempt drastically to scale back spending. And it would help if the symbolism of this move were accompanied by other symbolisms like a marked change in the president's lifestyle with emphasis on the entourages accompanying his overseas travel, his golf and basketball efforts and the places he chooses to take vacations. Did other presidents do similar things? Yes, but the current debt and deficit situation needs more positive symbolisms today. How much does it cost to play pickup basketball? Can it possibly be more than the cost of clearing brush? Also, what is a "basketball effort[]"?
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nychoya3
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Post by nychoya3 on Nov 30, 2010 12:23:41 GMT -5
Here's my offer. No more basketball for Obama, and he eats peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch every day, and in exchange, the marginal rate for rich people goes back to 39 percent. Deal?
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TC
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Post by TC on Nov 30, 2010 13:24:35 GMT -5
Here's my offer. No more basketball for Obama, and he eats peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch every day, and in exchange, the marginal rate for rich people goes back to 39 percent. Deal? How about Ramen Noodles every Tuesday and he gets to play at the Y on Thursday nights?
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Nov 30, 2010 15:11:50 GMT -5
I think Obama should have to do like Robert DeNiro and walk around dragging a sack full of metal tied to his shoulders until unemployment falls below 8%.
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TC
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Post by TC on Nov 30, 2010 15:26:56 GMT -5
That metal costs money Boz! We're trying to cut spending! How about a bunch of rocks?
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Nov 30, 2010 16:10:51 GMT -5
Does anybody know what it means to be a very, very urban Senator?
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kchoya
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Post by kchoya on Nov 30, 2010 16:43:05 GMT -5
Here's my offer. No more basketball for Obama, and he eats peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch every day, and in exchange, the marginal rate for rich people goes back to 39 percent. Deal? Define "rich people."
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nychoya3
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Post by nychoya3 on Nov 30, 2010 17:23:07 GMT -5
Households who earn more than 95 percent of the population is a good start. I'd also make a new bracket for people making more than 99 percent of the population, and I am willing to make Obama fly commercial, coach, with multiple long stopovers in small Midwestern airports, if that's what it takes to get it.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Nov 30, 2010 17:27:32 GMT -5
Households who earn more than 95 percent of the population is a good start. I'd also make a new bracket for people making more than 99 percent of the population, and I am willing to make Obama fly commercial, coach, with multiple long stopovers in small Midwestern airports, if that's what it takes to get it. Make sure he has to go through TSA security while you're at it.
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TC
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Post by TC on Nov 30, 2010 17:38:55 GMT -5
Does anybody know what it means to be a very, very urban Senator? What's that Fido? You heard a whistle?
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Nov 30, 2010 18:43:37 GMT -5
Interesting - perhaps you could also identify what a "Chicago beatdown" is. That term has been used frequently, including by more moderate Republicans.
Is that equivalent to me saying something like a Barbour nomination in 2012 would be motivated by an interest in a "Mississippi beatdown" of Obama?
Is there any real distinction between these two?
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Nov 30, 2010 18:48:04 GMT -5
Interesting - perhaps you could also identify what a "Chicago beatdown" is. That term has been used frequently, including by more moderate Republicans. Is that equivalent to me saying something like a Barbour nomination in 2012 would be motivated by an interest in a "Mississippi beatdown" of Obama? Is there any real distinction between these two? I'm not sure I see how either one of those is offensive. A beatdown is a beatdown is a beatdown. Just Mizzou tonight at about 11:05 EST.
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Post by strummer8526 on Nov 30, 2010 19:04:29 GMT -5
Interesting - perhaps you could also identify what a "Chicago beatdown" is. That term has been used frequently, including by more moderate Republicans. Is that equivalent to me saying something like a Barbour nomination in 2012 would be motivated by an interest in a "Mississippi beatdown" of Obama? Is there any real distinction between these two? I'm not sure I see how either one of those is offensive. A beatdown is a beatdown is a beatdown. Just Mizzou tonight at about 11:05 EST. As long as our team continues with its basketball efforts, I think Missouri will learn what a DC beatdown is.
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