News What happened to the free market paradigm?

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The discussion centers on the implications of U.S. economic policies in Iraq, particularly the prohibition against farmers saving seeds, which forces them to purchase seeds from American corporations. This shift is seen as detrimental to Iraqi farmers, biodiversity, and food security, effectively undermining the country's food sovereignty. A report by GRAIN and Focus on the Global South highlights how new legislation favors transnational corporations, raising concerns about the control of indigenous seed varieties. Participants express frustration over the contradiction of promoting a "free market" while imposing restrictive measures that resemble extortion. The conversation also touches on broader themes of economic policy, environmentalism, and the political landscape, with some arguing that both liberal and conservative leaders contribute to these issues. The discussion reflects a deep concern over the impact of corporate interests on local agriculture and the livelihoods of Iraqi farmers.
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http://www.vegsource.com/articles2/iraq_seeds.htm
As part of sweeping "economic restructuring" implemented by the Bush Administration in Iraq, Iraqi farmers will no longer be permitted to save their seeds. Instead, they will be forced to buy seeds from US corporations -- which can include seeds the Iraqis themselves developed over hundreds of years. That is because in recent years, transnational corporations have patented and now own many seed varieties originated or developed by indigenous peoples. In a short time, Iraq will be living under the new American credo: Pay Monsanto, or starve.

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A new report [1] by GRAIN and Focus on the Global South has found that new legislation in Iraq has been carefully put in place by the US that prevents farmers from saving their seeds and effectively hands over the seed market to transnational corporations. This is a disastrous turn of events for Iraqi farmers, biodiversity and the country's food security. While political sovereignty remains an illusion, food sovereignty for the Iraqi people has been made near impossible by these new regulations.

Why do governmetn and business "leaders" love to extoll the virtues of the "Free market" why actually promoting vicious, draconian restrictions? Isn't this extortion of the most sinister degree?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
In a word: Liberals.
 
We were just talking about this in anthropology class today - except the teacher was talking about the same thing going on in other Third World countries. She didn't mention Iraq. I'll have to send her this link. Thanks.

She told us another interesting story about Montsanto. A few years ago, her neighbor was growing basil plants on her patio and she saved the seeds. She decided to replant the seeds and grow new plants on her patio, but out of the seven pots she planted them in, only two grew full mature plants. The other five just sprouted and died.

She thought this was strange so she asked her brother, who has a PhD in agriculture, about it. He said that Montsanto had genetically engineered many plants to prevent people from being able to regrow new plants from their seeds. I was stunned.
 
Math Is Hard said:
He said that Montsanto had genetically engineered many plants to prevent people from being able to regrow new plants from their seeds. I was stunned.


That is what i call a free market strategy! :smile:
 
The problems in Iraq certainly stem from sources in economic policy emplaced there in the first few months after the war by Bremer's government. Privatizing all the public property and basically ripping off the Iraqis and the Americans is a stupid strategy for the proclaimed political goals: democracy, freedom.
Firing most of the middle class who made up the public service jobs is idiotic. Iraq is America's Palestine.
 
franznietzsche said:
In a word: Liberals.

Will you get a clue as to the facts before you spout memorized nonsense? Did you even read the article?
 
Dissident Dan said:
Will you get a clue as to the facts before you spout memorized nonsense? Did you even read the article?

Even republicans can do some pretty liberal things when it benefits them monetarily. Neither side is immune.
 
Truth!

franznietzsche said:
In a word: Liberals.

And nonsense!

Dissident Dan said:
Why do governmetn and business "leaders" love to extoll the virtues of the "Free market" why actually promoting vicious, draconian restrictions? Isn't this extortion of the most sinister degree?
 
Dan, do a search of General Discussion: this story was posted before and its a pretty severe distortion of the truth.

And people wonder why I dislike environmentalists so much...
 
  • #10
russ_watters said:
Dan, do a search of General Discussion: this story was posted before and its a pretty severe distortion of the truth.

And people wonder why I dislike environmentalists so much...

i don't wonder.. i know.. you dislike enviromentalists becouse you read too much FOX NEWS...

EPA to Allow Pesticide Testing on Humans
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,140334,00.html
 
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  • #11
? What does that have to do with this thread?

For the record:

1. I do not watch Fox News (I don't watch much news at all).
2. That article is quite appropriately located in the opinion section.
3. I share that opinion. And that policy (which I didn't know about) is yet another reason to dislike Clinton and radical environmentalists.
 
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  • #12
Hmm, that article claims that saving seeds will be illegal, but I did not see that when I looked over Order 81. The only way that might be the case is if corporations have or will be able to patent varieties farmers already use, but Order 81 has language that seems to have the intent of precluding that possibility.
 

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