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| Belgium dairy farmers dumping milk in protest. |
As Europe clawed its way out from under
the ravages of World War 2, the one thing they desperately needed was
food. Farmers had to reclaim farm lands and put it back into
production. In an effort to speed the process, European governments
began giving financial support to farmers. Their plan worked and
they managed to rapidly end hunger.
Seventy years later, and long after
formation of the 27 nation European Union, the practice continues.
Through subsidies and tight regulation the EU has been able to
produce cheap affordable food. Enter 2013 and we find Belgium farmers
dumping milk on fields in protest of too low milk prices. Unless
something is done many EU farms are threatened by bankruptcy.
By the 90's EU farms were over
producing. Reports of wine lakes and mountains of butter – as
described by the EU press – made some think it was time to have a
more free market approach to agriculture. When the world wide
recession hit, and driven unnecessarily deeper by the US government
created housing bubble, world food prices dropped dramatically
because people were buying less.
Progressive types believe they can
control the economy by thinking they know what's best for everyone.
Simply because someone is elected to office doesn't make them
effective economists. It is only when faced with disaster such as the
one in Europe will government back away from certain practices. A
looming disaster is forcing EU officials to rethink their policies
and follow a more free market approach.
