HA HA HA HA HA. Sounds to me like the Brits want in on the action?
I'm talking about the rational peasant paradigm.
Basically, what NAFTA does is it exposes the Central and South American markets (closely linked) to highly-subsidised American agribusiness. The markets are flooded with cheap crops, bringing in huge profits for American agribusiness. However, it destroys the economic livelihoods of local peasants. The Rational Peasant arises from the fact that it is much more in a farmers' interest to grow coca than food crops. The rational peasant does what he needs to, in order to secure his family's fiscal stability.
Does this help?
Basically, what NAFTA does is it exposes the Central and South American markets (closely linked) to highly-subsidised American agribusiness. The markets are flooded with cheap crops, bringing in huge profits for American agribusiness. However, it destroys the economic livelihoods of local peasants. The Rational Peasant arises from the fact that it is much more in a farmers' interest to grow coca than food crops. The rational peasant does what he needs to, in order to secure his family's fiscal stability.
Does this help?
Small farmers need to be supported over the factory farms and more people need to be encouraged to take up the trade. We're more then automated these days and don't need as many factory workers as we have. Food production is more practical and efficient.
I thought NAFTA included Canada as well?Basically, what NAFTA does is it exposes the Central and South American markets (closely linked) to highly-subsidised American agribusiness. The markets are flooded with cheap crops, bringing in huge profits for American agribusiness. However, it destroys the economic livelihoods of local peasants. The Rational Peasant arises from the fact that it is much more in a farmers' interest to grow coca than food crops. The rational peasant does what he needs to, in order to secure his family's fiscal stability.
Does this help?
Source: WiseGeek
Surely agribusiness is not the sum total of US trade? Just one minor aspect of it?Yes it does. But Canada doesn't have heavily subsidised agribusiness.
So are you saying agri business is the main business in Mexico? I don't understand what you are saying?To Mexico?
And the "highly subsidised" was highly vital to the point.
I'm saying that poor farmers are put out of work by the flooding of Mexican markets with cheap American products, resulting from the highly subsidised nature of US Agribusiness.
I don't think this situation is unique to Mexico, it is prevalent all over the world, including Europe.
The point was explaining the rational peasant idea. NAFTA simply perpetuates this problem.
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