• About Us
  • Activity
  • Advertising
  • Books
  • Business
  • Contact
  • EB5
  • Entertainment
  • feedback
  • Government
  • Home
  • Interviews
  • Members
  • National
  • Nevada
  • Nevada News and Views
  • Newsmax
  • NN&V Ads
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Polls
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • Subscription Confirmation
  • Survey
  • Survey
  • Terms of Service
  • Today’s Top 10
  • Travel
  • Travel
  • Travel
  • Welcome!
  • Yop Poll Archive
Nevada News and Views
  • Home
  • Muth’s Truths
  • Politics
  • Government
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Nevada
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Travel
    • News
    • Sports
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Pinterest

  • RSS

Featured Article

U.S. Sugar Program a Key Ingredient to National Security

U.S. Sugar Program a Key Ingredient to National Security
N&V Staff
November 15, 2016

a


(Chuck Muth)
– Critics of the U.S. sugar program often trivialize just how important sugar is to our national security.  Let’s hope the new Congress and new White House don’t buy into that rather naïve argument.

In a recent editorial published by Farm Policy Facts, retired Major General Darren Owens said…

“I firmly believe that America’s first line of defense is our ability to feed and clothe the people.  Without American agriculture providing adequate supplies of food and fiber at a reasonable cost we would all be dependent on other nations and that could place the food security and ultimately the security of the nation at risk.”

And make no mistake; sugar is a key part of our national food security.  As Mychel Matthews of MagicValley.com wrote this week…

“The World Trade Organization has determined sugar to be an essential foodstuff — too important to rely on imports — and urges members to control their own supply by producing only what they consume.

“Adhering to those rules, the USDA’s sugar program sets U.S. sugar production at 80 percent of the nation’s consumption, ensuring a stable and sustainable domestic sugar industry but leaving import doors open in case of crop catastrophe.”

Indeed, the current U.S. sugar program is both reasonable and responsible – especially since, unlike other nations, it does NOT subsidize Americans farmers with direct cash payments and does NOT cost U.S. taxpayers a dime.

On the other hand, Egypt is demonstrating exactly how bad things can get when the government screws up its agricultural policies.

A severe sugar shortage in the north African nation is giving rise to “fears of street protests,” and the “public uproar” has “prompted the government to sweep the country, confiscating (sugar) supplies from businesses it accuses of hoarding.”

“Traders and grocers say the sugar crisis was self-inflicted,” writes Eric Knecht and Maha el Dahan for Reuters, “the direct result of the government’s takeover of their sugar reserves and distribution network earlier this year.”

“Before there were distributions channels that functioned very well,” an Egypt-based sugar trader told Reuters.  “But now the government is doing it, and it’s a complete disaster.”

By comparison, the U.S. sugar program consists of relatively minor tariffs and import quotas on sugar imported from countries whose governments subsidize their sugar industries.  As a result, the cost of a pound of domestic U.S. sugar today is about the same as it was 30 years ago.

Such stability and dependability is the envy of much of the world – especially Egypt these days.  Why would anyone want to risk changing that and jeopardizing U.S. food and national security?

Mr. Muth is president of Citizen Outreach and publisher of Nevada News & Views.

Prev postNext post

Related Items
Featured Article
November 15, 2016
N&V Staff

Related Items

More in Featured Article

Gunning for Lombardo

N&V StaffMay 23, 2022
Read More

Nevada GOP Primary Update: Guv & U.S. Senate

N&V StaffMay 19, 2022
Read More

Buyers need 40% more income to purchase homes in top metro areas, report finds

The Center SquareMay 16, 2022
Read More

Falling water level reveals human remains at Lake Mead twice in one week

The Center SquareMay 11, 2022
Read More

So You Want to Know Where the Route 91 Harvest Festival Money Is?

N&V StaffMay 10, 2022
Read More

Democratic governor’s group pledges $75 million to reelect seven governors

The Center SquareMay 9, 2022
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Subscribe Free By Email

Looking for the best in breaking news and conservative views? Let Chuck do all the work for you! Subscribe to his FREE "Muth's Truths" e-newsletter.

* indicates required
Nevada News and Views
Nevada News & Views is an educational project of Citizen Outreach Foundation, a non-partisan IRS-approved 501(c)(3) organization. It is not associated or affiliated with any political party or group. Nevada News & Views is accessible by the public at no cost. It funds its operations through tax-deductible contributions from donors and supporters and does not accept government money or grants.

TAGS

Featured Article Nevada Politics business Muth's Truths government Government Opinion Obama Muth’s Truths Ron Knecht News Donald Trump GOP Republicans

Copyright © 2021 Citizen Outreach | Maintained by VirtualAlly

Say Adios to the Three RINOs
An Open Letter to Congress: Protect Contact Lens Users and the Free Market