In an ironic coincidence, my students discussed today the first three
chapters of Rivoli's new book on globalization and cotton textiles. In
2001, a disastrous hail storm around Lubbock Texas destroyed the cotton
crop. Because of taxpayer funded subsidies, direct and indirect, Hockley
County Texas received $120 million, or $5454 per capita (22,000 live in the
county). Farmers were protected from losses.

Rivoli, a Georgetown University economist,  points out that people (she was
referring to Third World cotton farmers) suffer disasters, but not cotton.
Nor, for that matter, do all the other subsidized and protected crops and
industries and corporations. Our government does care.

Meanwhile, I am leaving my office early today as a loud speaker and
cheering students disrupt classes in Brock Hall and elsewhere as the
Krystal gluttony contest goes on outside the UC, while our nation cannot
feed the refugees in New Orleans and other locations. Only in America.

Richard Rice