By Zac Bissonnette
Americans — the majority of whom are overweight — are crying their 42-inch waists off over the soaring price of food. Some U.S. officials have suggested that India’s rising prosperity and the resulting increase in demand for food are to blame.
India’s response? The New York Times has all the details but if you’re in a rush, I’ll summarize it for you: Sit on it.
Pradeep S. Mehta, secretary general of the center for international trade, economics and the environment of CUTS International said that if Americans ate less, “many hungry people in sub-Saharan Africa would find food on their plates.” He also added that the savings resulting from a decreased need for liposuction could be used to feed famine victims.
Burn sauce! Apparently this whole mess started when our commander in chief opined that “When you start getting wealth, you start demanding better nutrition and better food, and so demand is high, and that causes the price to go up.”
Indian commerce ministry Jairam Ramesh’s rebuttal? “George Bush has never been known for his knowledge of economics.” More burn sauce!
I’m inclined to agree with the commentators critical of Bush on this one. The idea of America’s president blaming increased consumption in India for rising food prices is laughable. It’s like Ralphie May telling Amy Winehouse to get off the couch because she’s taking up too much room.
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