Mallory:

Relying on other countries to supply our food seems very problematic. We should be able to grow our own food.

Relying on other countries to produce our goods, practically removing our country's self reliance seems is very problematic as well. We should be able to grow our own food as well as manufacture our own goods.

My husband's boss's wife works for a large insurance company in a city near NYC. They had their biggest profit ever during 2007. They are now looking into outsourcing through India this year. How much profit is enough profit? 

Keep in mind that the U.S. does export more agricultural products than it imports (about 20% more), so it is, theorectically, "feeding itself" and then some.  That's not to say that the balance of agricultural trade hasn't been shifting, because historically I believe it has (i.e. in the past, the U.S. was able to export even more and import less).  But the fact is, the balance is still in favor of the U.S. on agricultural products overall.

I think the current food shortage/price problems are ultimately link in large part to - you guessed it - oil resources.  And I wish I could be more optimistic about the outlook, particularly long term.  Sure, there will be ups and downs in prices/supplies (both of oil and EVERYTHING else dependent on oil - including food) over the coming years, but who really believes the oil will last forever?  The pundits disagree on how long oil supplies might last; I'm a pessimist on the subject, believing that we're now seeing the leading edge of a huge, fairly sudden, and final decline; but even the "optimists" conceed that we're talking about the last drop of oil being pumped within the life span of a child born today, or, at best, that child's children. That's not a lot of time, no matter what you believe.

Solutions?  Well, there are some, but it's going to involve a very different, infinitely simpler way of life.  And, you know, that may not be a bad thing.

They just started printing stories about cost of food going up here.  front page of the province newspaper.$10 a loaf headline with the story of worldwide costs going up.  did buy an bag of jasmine rice I didn't really need at walmart today.   probably will pick up a bigger bag of flour then normal but that is not saying much.  usually only get a 5lb bag.

 I had heard about the 'rationing' - if one chain store limits purchases that is NOT rationing.  You can go next door and buy as much as you want from a different store.  That story is just showing that Costco knows the price of rice is going up, and that rice keeps forever if you keep it dry, so they are protecting their rice sales for the next year.

I will say that with all the talk about food costs going up quickly, I stocked up and got 6 months worth of flour (30 lbs), 25 pounds of sugar, 6 bottles of vegetable oil and 20 lbs of spaghetti noodles.  I wouldn't say I'm stockpiling so much as I just don't want to pay more than I have to for this stuff, and for just around $50 I don't feel like I spent more than I can afford to this week.  A few weeks ago I stocked up on 20 lbs of rice which will last a long time, it was 2.21 for a 5 pound bag, the best price I could find.

The noodles are what surprised me - at the Kroger here in GA they always had 2lb generic bags of spaghetti for 99 cents on sale, 1.29 not on sale.  That brand is not on the shelf anymore, and the big 'sales' for noodles you can't find any for less than 99 cents a pound.  I seem to remember spending about 33 cents a pound as little as a year ago, but I don't have a price book so I'm not sure. It's not like I won't be able to eat, it's just aggravating to get so much less for the same amount of money. 

I AM thankful to live in such a great country where rising prices are an aggravation and not the source of malnutrition/riots/starvation.

Ultimate Cheapskate:

But the fact is, the balance is still in favor of the U.S. on agricultural products overall.

You have made a good point. :-) 

atlgirljj:

I stocked up

You are certainly being wise. I get annoyed when I read articles that use the word, "hoarding," as if preparing for the future is an bad thing. Personally, I think it is a bit twisted. My brother always calls himself a "grasshopper" and me the "ant," which, in our case, is accurate. Thrift and preparedness was considered a virtue in times past. Go figure.  

Gigi:

My husband's boss's wife works for a large insurance company in a city near NYC. They had their biggest profit ever during 2007. They are now looking into outsourcing through India this year. How much profit is enough profit? 

Outsourcing is bad for the US & I can't understand how companies turn a blind eye to it. I feel we're sending our jobs to other countries so the CEOs, stockholders & such can make even more money. I see this "its never enough" as a downward spiral for working class America. How will our government monitor/enforce HIPPA & other guidelines that are to protect our (health & personal) information in India or other countries?

As for the information on the US producing most of our food (sorry can't get this quoting 2 posts figured out). Good to know! I'm not sure where to get this type of information since the news media is not reliable. Guess I'm a little niave when it comes to many of the global matters. I like things simple, but our world it far from it.   

 At walmart today there was tons of long grain rice, and the price was that much higher than it has been in the last few mo0nths.  However there was absolutely NO Jasmine rice, which is what I wanted.  They also had NO vegetable oil, so I opted for corn oil.  This might just be because walmart always seems to have somewhat empty shelves though.

Gigi:

You are certainly being wise. I get annoyed when I read articles that use the word, "hoarding," as if preparing for the future is an bad thing. Personally, I think it is a bit twisted. My brother always calls himself a "grasshopper" and me the "ant," which, in our case, is accurate. Thrift and preparedness was considered a virtue in times past. Go figure.  

I agree Gigi people are so instilled with the 'I can get it anytime' thought process that they never stock up or plan things out and consider the people that have the foresight to stock up breaking the rules for having some stuff on hand. More than once I've been told I'm weird cause I stock my pantry and even that I take unfair avantage of the stores cause I stock up when they have a sale. I buy the limit they offer a customer but if it's something I know we'll use a lot of I become a frequent shopper buying my limit every day of the sale (shampoo this week) till I get the amount I need. The other day my mother told me that meat was getting so expensive that a pound of hamburger cost almost as much as a gallon of gas. Things keep going like they are and this country will be hurting from the lowest middle class to the highest (the lowest class is already hurting).

I think the best and smartest thing that anyone can do for themselves, their families and their communities if to be as self reliant as possible. If that means stocking up when supplies are available then that is just wise management. Anyone that is throwing around the word "hoarding" has a controlling type of personality, they can say what they want but their opinion of what you do is of no value or importance. What you do to take care of your own is of the greatest importance to you, and should be your first concern. Once you and yours are taken care of then you can go and help others who may be unfortunate enough not to be able to help themselves. I'm talking about the elderly, disabled, or neglected/abandoned children who need the help, anyone else is on their own.

Edey