Although technically a subsidized agricultural commodity, unlike other crops sugar has historically earned its keep. The U.S. sugar program currently operates at no cost to taxpayers thanks to a system of loans, domestic quotas, and import restrictions.
(Also noted on Minnesota Politics)
Posted by robe0419 at July 28, 2005 08:34 AM | TrackBackIn Australia and New Zealand this debate was over by the 1980's - everyone understood that tariffs and quotas increase prices and that those who could least affort that were the poor. In the US the process of educating the public about the costs of protection has not even begun, and I can't see in the US institutional landscape an obvious candidate to step up and lead that debate.
Posted by: Dan Hill at August 16, 2005 10:32 AM