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  • From: Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] If this don't scare ya ....
  • Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2008 06:54:05 -0500


On Apr 7, 2008, at 6:35 AM, Clansgian AT wmconnect.com wrote:

Mr. Teflon already has the extra acreage staked out where he tintends on
growing a whole orchard of money trees .... with similar results.

Here's part of Paul Krugman's column this morning:

"Where the effects of bad policy are clearest, however, is in the rise of demon ethanol and other biofuels.

"The subsidized conversion of crops into fuel was supposed to promote energy independence and help limit global warming. But this promise was, as Time magazine bluntly put it, a “scam.”

"This is especially true of corn ethanol: even on optimistic estimates, producing a gallon of ethanol from corn uses most of the energy the gallon contains. But it turns out that even seemingly “good” biofuel policies, like Brazil’s use of ethanol from sugar cane, accelerate the pace of climate change by promoting deforestation.

"And meanwhile, land used to grow biofuel feedstock is land not available to grow food, so subsidies to biofuels are a major factor in the food crisis. You might put it this way: people are starving in Africa so that American politicians can court votes in farm states.

"Oh, and in case you’re wondering: all the remaining presidential contenders are terrible on this issue. . . ."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/07/opinion/07krugman.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin



I disagree that "we are screwed." Only those are screwed who have not been paying attention and have been making bad decisions and live largely without planning ahead. We superior homesteaders are in good shape. We are able to balance dependence on trucked-in supplies with independence via homestead food production. If we plan ahead well we can avoid town trips and store purchases to a far larger extent than those living in the cities.

I've been following rural-urban-rural migration for quite a while. The triggers are many but defined. As I mentioned a few months ago, land prices will be rising as more urbanites realize life is better beyond the burbs. And the realization will accelerate as food prices and gas prices escalate. The wild card is jobs.






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