Who are the big polluters of the USA

[seedcorn]

We shipped out jobs to anywhere companies could get cheap labor.

I find it interesting that China is holding the Olympics, so they shut down a lot of pollutant companies--one of them made glysophate. Since then glysophates have went from $12/gal to over $60/gal.

When we stop buying imports when we can buy American products, life will be better for all of us (notice better definetly not cheaper).

 

[kstaven]

Quote:
It may not be cheaper but more money would stay in the country and local economies. That in and of itself would be a huge bonus for all. A more diversified and self sufficient economy would likely mean people have less distance to travel to find work, goods traveling less distance, and thus could reduce overall fuel consumption.

But until the bulk of consumers speak with their dollars and change buying habits nothing will change. Those of us that chose to grow our own, by local, recycle, and help support local markets are still very much in the minority.

We are all at the mercy of foreign markets right now. Skyrocketing prices seen lately are just the start of the backlash from that. Many of these countries are limiting exports to provide for their own, which will drive prices in other countries even higher. This would never have happened if countries had not given up their own manufacturing and production base. About time we learned to devote less land for export commodities and once again grow/manufacture more of what we need first. Maybe if it gets bad enough more will see that simple truth.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

At the same time, you have self-proclaimed "eco-conscious" people who live in urban areas and can afford expensive, but store-bought natural/organic foods who don't want the regular people around them having chickens... *~sigh~*

 

[seedcorn]

But until the bulk of consumers speak with their dollars and change buying habits nothing will change. Those of us that chose to grow our own, by local, recycle, and help support local markets are still very much in the minority.


On this, we agree fully.

We are the problem. We buy the cheaper imports, thus driving American companies out of business or overseas. Along with it our jobs. WE are our own worse enemies.

 

[seedcorn]

Quote:
My favorite antedote here in Ft. Wayne were the Isaac Walton league people. When farmers wanted to thin the deer population down so that not so many of their crops were destroyed, they stopped it legally. Then after harvest, the deer moved into town (burbs) where the Isaac Walton people lived and started eating from their bird feeders and their expensive plants. Guess what, deer got thinned out...

Had a big round-up, deer went everywhere, down streets, highways causing accidents, insurance companies made them stop......couldn't make up a story so hilarious.

 

[kstaven]

Quote:
While this may be true to a point, you have to see that they are also the ones buying products that allow organic producers to survive. The more monied folk that see it as the right or trendy thing to do, the better. Every dollar spent on organics is a dollar not spent on other food products and in the hands of the very producers you want to see. If production volumes increased enough it would help stabilize prices.

 

[seedcorn]

If production volumes increased enough it would help stabilize prices.

Explain this to me?

 

[kstaven]

Quite simple really. Most organics are still handled as NICHE MARKET products, shipped in small lots, and purchased by stores in small lots. FAR more expensive all the way around than bulk shipping and buying larger quantity. Niche market items are also sold at the wholesaler and retail level at a higher profit percentage than mainstream counterparts.

Buy anything in bulk and the cost drops compared to a small lot. Shipping large quantity is substantially cheaper. Increased volumes of organics being sold moves them into the mainstream market and bulk system. More competition also reduces price gouging that is very common.

So if taken within the full context of what I originally wrote it is a very simple equation.