Gothamist: Price of Rice Makes Shoppers Think Twice

ANGRYGOD11

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:48:48 -0500

While some Bush policies (mainly ethanol subsidies) are to blame.. you really can't blame him for a drought, or for people fucking like rabbits in other countries. It's not the number of people, but the fast growing number of people in formerly poor countries (like China, India, ect.) who now have the money to eat like us : More meat, produced by feeding limited grain supplies to cattle. It takes a 10 pounds of grain for a pound for beef. The very poor of the world cannot compete for that food.

EastRiver

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:16:13 -0500

And once again a Gothamist thread devolves into a rant about Bush ad Iraq. Kudos to famdoc. Now go over to the pizza thread and work your magic!

babyhitler

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:45:13 -0500

I feel like we are living like SOYLENT GREEN now. with people living on the floor. Why do poor people continue to have children?

Politburo

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:22:13 -0500

While some Bush policies (mainly ethanol subsidies) are to blame.. you really can't blame him for a drought, or for people fucking like rabbits in other countries.

solidago

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:17:58 -0500

While ethanol subsidies pushed by both parties may play a huge role (I don't think you can pin this one on Bush), I think an honorable mention needs to go to the folks (and countries) vehemently opposed to GMO crops. Malthus' dire predictions haven't come true yet due to the repeated advances in agricultural productivity, and GMO crops are necessary for another jump in productivity. Perhaps riots, starvation, etc. will bring the agricultural luddites around.

famdoc

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:54:55 -0500

Another part of the Bush legacy: worldwide food crisis. Add that to a needless war, which we'll be paying for for generations, a devastated economy, neglect of citizens (let's start with post-Katrina New Orleans), failure to take the lead in biomedical sciences (stem cell ban), lack of progress on energy alternatives,....and the democrats let themselves be drawn into a discussion about whether a lapel pin can be equated with patriotism. What a society we've become.

Ronkonkoma Ondinnonk

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:00:10 -0500

Scary.

sadpanda

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:59:11 -0500

#4: you raise an interesting point, but contradictory to the Costco VP's quote, that picture is very clearly of a sign at a Costco store (that price sticker on the orange bar is pretty much the Costco standard). While I've never been in a Sam's Club, I'd recognize that Costco price sticker anywhere.

cherrycoke

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:52:46 -0500

“Not looking at prices anymore" is not really going to help Louise's budgeting and spending in light of rising food costs.

rtd2101

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:51:56 -0500

Eternal War, Food Riots, Global Warming...The apocalypse is upon us...

EastRiver

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:51:55 -0500

Anyone see the NY Times article about the rice crop in Australia? Besides the drought many farmers have stop growing crops and have sold their water rights to vineyards. Think about that the next time you're sipping a lovely fruit bomb shiraz from Down Under.

Spiritof76

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:47:00 -0500

Food riots? Wow. I guess California's lucky that they have the Governator. He can reprise his Ben Richards role from The Running Man if things get ugly there.

CR

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:41:18 -0500

#6 - You mean Americans won't be able to have EVERYTHING they want WHENEVER they want (to waste) it?!? OMG - whatever will we do?!?

JenChungsBra

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:23:20 -0500

You're so right Alex. We've been very lucky in this country for a very long time. The money most of us earn in one hour of work can buy more food than most people in the world can buy in a month. Food rationing is pretty scary though.

Alex

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:14:15 -0500

Wow it didn't take long for the worldwide food crisis to hit our shores. These dramatic price increases are destabilizing a number of developing countries from Malwai to Haiti to the Phillippines. Just be happy that only about 10% of your income goes into food unlike in the 3rd world where it's often around 60%

Politburo

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:04:07 -0500

Sloppy journalism here.. the News only has a quote from Sam's Club, but says both outlets were limiting rice purchases. WCBS' article says: "At this time we're not going to engage in any limiting or whatever, but it's always a possibility," said Costco vice president John Eagan.".. but then at the bottom it also says "Costco has put a similar restriction on bulk sales of rice and flour."

David McCaffredy

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:58:48 -0500

How do you say "ITS MADE OF PEOPLEEEEEEEEEEE!" in Chinese? RIP Chuck Heston.

Dave Hogarty

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:56:44 -0500

Looks like I'm going on the Soylent Green diet before swimsuit season this year.

solidago

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:54:55 -0500

A pint of Brooklyn Lager at my favorite bar went from $3 to $4 the other day (along with similar increases for the other beers).