Food conspiracy

[Collyweed]

I have a co-worker who is convinced that the upwardly spiralling food prices are not driven by any shortage, but is really due to the various food cartels spreading alarmist news to panic consumers. As a result,he thinks we should all do nothing, and just wait the 'crisis' out. I disagree too strongly...

[Stubblecat]

It's sort of like the gas prices. I'm sure the presidents of the big oil companies (and their shareholders) are loving the current state of society. If there was an other terrorist attack on U.S. soil, gas prices would shoot up yet again and a lot of people would get very rich.

I said it just a few weeks ago to my wife when Wal*Mart announced that they're limiting rice to a few bags per customer:

"When the world's largest retailer starts rationing the world's biggest food staple, it is not a good forecast for the future."

[aperio]

I have no problem in believing in conspiracy theories. I hadn't heard about Wal Mart limiting rice.. is this all wal mart's or just near you?

[Stubblecat]

That was all of them, including the U.S. and Canada.

My local grocery stores did the same thing. It applies mostly to the big 25 lb bags of exotic rice, but still...

[Collyweed]

I read somewhere that Sam's Club was rationing rice. I appreciate the argument behind my co-worker's food conspiracy theory - I just don't think that it is wise to just sit back and wait it out. It might be just that - a theory.

[Stubblecat]

Like the saying goes: I'd rather have a gun and not need it than need a gun and not have it.

A smart household should be prepared for anything nowadays. You never know when the zombie apocalypse might happen, and need to hole up in your basement for a few weeks.

[Chris]

Everything is related to gas prices especially food. Look at the price of diesel any more. Remember when diesel used to be the cheapest fuel out there? Not any more, it is the highest even though it is the cheapest to make.

Chris

[layla]

Do you understand why they were rationing rice? It's because the rice manufacturers want to get rice on the stock market so they can make more money.

I think we need to reinstate anti-monopoly laws. People should not be hurting so much for gas prices to go up (here today it was $4.15 at ARCO!) when oil companies are reporting record profits. That is just WRONG.

[Binkleywalker]

I think Chris hit the nail on the head. While I don't discount that there may be other factors at play, the fact of the matter is everything just about needs to be transported. That uses a hell of a lot of fuel, and with prices as they are, that hits practically every other commodity you can think of in some way that requires transport and fuel to get it to market.

As for my idea on a broader conspiracy type situation, this feels more like around Regan's time, when his schtick was all about busting up communism. Worked too I guess. Soviet Union broke up into smaller chunks, and to a large extent it seemed to me to be more along the lines of a major hit to their economy. Military shrank over there along with other programs etc. etc. Maybe that's why we have nuclear proliferation now (with some seeking weapons). They sold warheads so they could buy a few gallons of milk.

If there are entities out there looking to bust up countries, all they gotta do is hit the energy sector.

[purplefdu]

I do think we need to prepare ourselves (and even that might not work, only time will tell) but there is a good bit of reason to the argument.

How would you know gas was raising everywhere without the TV/radio telling you every ten minutes and commercials reminding you in hopes of selling a new car?

If Joe Oil sees that Mobil in Massachusetts is at 4.00/gal already but he's only at 3.89/gal because thats what everyone else in NH is at would he stay at 3.89 or go up to 3.99 or 4.00? I bet he'd go to the higher number because people will pay if they have to.