Source: Big think
Readers might be wondering why I carry on intermittently about the trade war when I am a scientist. The answer involves an early post which I wrote this year stating the obvious -- that everything is tied to one another by one or two links per se. I do not expect you to believe me in any manner. In fact, do the research yourself and see for yourself. Science is not exclusively about being in a laboratory and performing experiments to push research and discovery ahead (i.e. the boundary of research forward). Life is full of interconnected parts. In this post, a farmer remarks (in a super short video) about the damaging effect of the tariffs imposed by President Trump.
Below is a video from 'The New York Times' titled "I Am a Soybean Farmer Hurt by Trump’s Trade War. I Can’t ‘Take It.’"directly from a farmer talking about the policies (tariffs) which President Trump has enacted and the direct adverse impact which has followed to his farm:
Wow! People do not really consider that decisions made by President Trump are having a real adverse impact on a human being's well-being. Furthermore, when a person views produce at a grocery store, typically, the thought of the entire supply chain is probably absent from their mind. More importantly, is the final product (meal or meals) which will be prepared with the produce for sale in front of them.
What does that supply chain look like? Here are some questions which might shed greater light on the cost of eating produce at our grocery stores:
Is there a boat (ship) involved as in the case of shipping cherries to China (as exports from U.S.A.)?
Are there trucks involved?
Diesel semi-trucks which are emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases?
Or are the trucks (semi-trucks) electric and environmentally friendly?
How far does the produce (commodities) have to travel to arrive at my local supermarket?
Who unloads these trucks?
Who unloads ships onto the docks?
Just think -- all of these components have a real person (a worker) behind them. Some person goes to work to drive the produce across country after picking up a shipment at the port of Los Angeles. Another person goes to work to stock the shelves at night with beautiful rich produce for you -- when you arrive at the grocery store. Yet another person gets rid of produce which is not purchase and has been shipped but is out of date (spoiling). All of these components which make our produce supply chain have a real person (possibly with a family) behind them. Furthermore, these people depend on the supply chain. Trade wars hurt supply chains.
Additionally, the research and discovery which is behind the movement toward sustainable farming to produce food is always a dynamic target. Which means that there are always parameters which are changing that challenge researchers to produce a better crop. Who are these people who do research into crops? Plant biologists might be conducting research into the viability of drought resistant crops. Or genetic modification might be sought after in the near future in geographical regions where the land is not tolerant of traditional crops.
When all said is done, decisions which are made at the top of the Administration have a variety of adverse impacts to the public at large. Some are obvious, whereas others might not be apparent at all. With this in mind, the service industries are not even considered in the 'trade war'. Each of us as citizens of the United States of America and the world at large contained on Planet Earth should be interested in understanding the issues with policy decisions at hand. This would allow decisions to be made down the line in the future which will result in a better environment. One which is better for each of us to live in. Start listening to everyone (even the farmers).
Related Blog Posts:
"Trade Not Aid" -- The Answer For Trade War!
How Many Cherries Are In 1.5 Million Shipping Boxes?
Parameters: Trade Tariffs Will Affect International Science
Parameters: Tariffs Affect Trade In Both Directions -- In And Out Of The USA
Parameters: Steel And Aluminum Tariffs Are Not Isolated - They Are Tied To Trading Of Other Vital Goods
Parameters: One Parameter Change In The Trade Machine Leads To A 'Re-Adjustment' Of Another
No comments:
Post a Comment