Tuesday, November 21, 2006
America, meat supply and demand
Tyson Foods, the world's largest meat processor, is warning investors and consumers that rising corn prices are leading to increased retail prices for chicken, beef and pork. Now, the whole meat product-increase situation has got me to thinkin'; and I have a few questions for anyone who cares to answer 'em for me. To wit:
How come I can't find a poll in which 20 percent of Americans blame the Bush Administration for the rising cost of meat? (A Gallup poll conducted over the summer indicated that 20 percent of the voting public blamed President Bush for high gas prices.)
When should we expect congressional hearings seeking to expose nefarious price-gouging schemes initiated by the meat industry's corporate honchos?
When will Senator Harry "Sleepin' at the Ritz" Reid and Representative Nancy "Madame Moonbat" Pelosi flout common sense and suggest that America should dip into its "Strategic Meat Reserve" ... ?
All kidding aside, the spike in prices for meat products, due to increased grain prices, is no different from this past summer's spike in gasoline prices, which was caused by a worldwide increase in the price of oil. Americans may not (don't) know it, but they are receiving a valuable tutorial in basic economics: growing demand, coupled with supply pressure, will increase the cost of goods and services.
How come I can't find a poll in which 20 percent of Americans blame the Bush Administration for the rising cost of meat? (A Gallup poll conducted over the summer indicated that 20 percent of the voting public blamed President Bush for high gas prices.)
When should we expect congressional hearings seeking to expose nefarious price-gouging schemes initiated by the meat industry's corporate honchos?
When will Senator Harry "Sleepin' at the Ritz" Reid and Representative Nancy "Madame Moonbat" Pelosi flout common sense and suggest that America should dip into its "Strategic Meat Reserve" ... ?
All kidding aside, the spike in prices for meat products, due to increased grain prices, is no different from this past summer's spike in gasoline prices, which was caused by a worldwide increase in the price of oil. Americans may not (don't) know it, but they are receiving a valuable tutorial in basic economics: growing demand, coupled with supply pressure, will increase the cost of goods and services.
# posted by Joltin' Django @ Tuesday, November 21, 2006 
