Reuters reports that “Thousands of Mexican farmers, some herding cows, flooded into the capital on Thursday and set a tractor on fire to demand government protection against cheap U.S. farm imports.”
They’re on to something, you know.
Those U.S. imports are cheap — and hard to compete against — because they’re heavily subsidized by the U.S. government. I’ve always opposed those subsidies because, as a taxpayer, they come out of my pocket.
There are other, more human costs. American subsidies to rich American farmers price their poorer competitors out of their livelihood.
The protesters are right about the problem they face. I don’t think they’re on to the right solution, though. Rather than have Mexico raise protections for Mexican farmers, it would be better for the U.S. to drop its protections. Better to have everyone on a level playing field.
Whoever is better at farming will reap the rewards. And, speaking selfishly as a consumer, so will consumers.
Inertia Wins! 