[throwaway201607]

I HATE American protectionism in farming. One such example is the ridiculous subsidies of corn that lead to obesity, feeding ruminants grain and even crappy cocacola!

Other terrbile side-effects of our agrisubsidies include crap processed food, agricultural practices built on assumption of nearly free water leading to droughts, nutritional deficiency in produce etc etc.

[SapphireSun]

Other terrible side effects of our subsidies are a reliable food supply as we overproduce far beyond what's necessary which makes us nearly immune to supply shocks like pre-1930s america. Ever heard of famine in the united states in recent memory? Didn't think so. Know what else causes nutritional deficiency? Not eating. While there may be some problems with our current system, they are firmly in the "good problem to have" territory.

Exporting food for free is a more complicated topic, on the imports side, protectionism is justified for critical functions. If we outsourced our food production, we could get it more cheaply (it's already cheap), but imagine if a supplier suddenly decides to cut us off? Food security is a national security priority moreso than typical military stuff like steel mills.

[diego_moita]

> protectionism is justified for critical functions

Then don't complain about other countries' protectionism. They also have the right to decide what is critical to them, right?

[SapphireSun]

I didn't. ;)