Tensions rise on worldwide surge in food prices

[Barrett808]

Food prices have been rising worldwide, as the cost of raw materials and agricultural products surge, contributing to political unrest around the globe.

In December, international food prices broke an all-time high when they rose 25% for the year, led by rising costs for staples like rice, wheat, and maize, the United Nations reported.

The sharp rise in food prices, in particular, has become "a source of political instability," New York University economist Nouriel Roubini, told CNNMoney's Poppy Harlow, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this week. ...

Why prices are rising: Bad weather in Australia and Russia over the summer severely diminished wheat crops, partially fueling the latest commodities surge. ...

Tensions rise on worldwide surge in food prices – ‘I am here today because I cannot afford to feed my family’

[DJ13]

1. Why prices are rising:

Unrestrained speculation in the commodities markets.

Greed is good.

[Hydra]

2. Greed is a predator

It's good if you win, but it's bad if a bigger predator starts looking at you like he's thinking about lunch.

Cooperation > Competition, but Ayn Rand somehow found the latent gene for *stupid* and made it sound cool.

[bvar22]

7. Losing is also GOOD...

...IF you are Too Big To Fail.
The Taxpayers pick up the tab for your losses,
AND...You STILL get your BONUS!
Life is good for the top 1%.

The American Big Business Holy Grail = Too Big To Fail.

[Hydra]

8. Yes and no

Look what happened to Bear. Being in the "Too big to fail" club doesn't always mean you're not on the menu. All of the major players were invited to the Fed meeting but Bear, and afterward they had a Bear-roast.

Life at the top is good, but the cannibalism has got to be unnerving.

[sam kane]

3. understatement of the year. nt.

nt.

[gateley]

4. You can't get much more basic than that -- food. People will do anything if

they can't feed themselves and their families.

WHY can't we grow our own food here?

[roamer65]

5. The result of unrestrained growth in the US money supply.

This is what happens when you "quantitatively ease" a reserve currency.

All of that "hot money" is fueling the speculation in the commodity markets.

It will get worse. That is certain.

[lunatica]

6. Vertical farming skyscrapers is one solution

and it can be done right now with our present technology. And we'd be less at the mercy of the vagaries of nature

[SpiralHawk]

9. Speculators (R) are what's really driving the price hikes

Expect republicon-minded greedheads to keep pushing this -- and expect hungry people to keep suffering so republicon fatcats can get fatter...
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sn8rHLP3qU8/TI0FGzalT7I/AAAAAAAACxU/15nN9zn4P5M/s320/john+boehner+fat+cat.jpg