Anti-Imperial Riots, from Ottawa to Korea

Im not totally clear on the farmer issue. Are they not merely protectionists? Petty capitalists trying to protect themselves against foreign and larger capitalists? Should we care? Any responses out there?

Capitalists or not, these farmers are being strangled out of their livelihoods by the global corporate capitalist dictatorship that is getting most of its backing from U.S. imperialism. What we need to do is reach out to those farmers and others, whether in Korea or wherever, and inform them of the evils of capitalism in general-how they ALWAYS lead to situations like this. It's through information and education that the tyranny of capitalist globalization will be defeated!

gee, being protectionist against countries like the US - sounds like someone ought to get lynched!

really, the US and global corporate interests are out to steam-roll every small and foreign farmer they possibly can - please educate yourself, look at what happened in Jamaica . . . if you don't know you aren't educated enough and need to start before sounding off against FARMERS - for chrissake - in un-coporatized country.

sorry teacher-- you didn't teach me shit about farmers. I don't give a shit about Korean capitalists or American ones either. This third rate leftist anti-imperialism prefers one capitalist over another-- you have no analysis.Educate yourself-- the networks of exploitation are international not specifically American. Im interested in discussing how farmers fit into this picture. Anyone?

Skeptic, if you are a white American, you really have no place to judge Korean farmers. Let's just not talk about the racial and class dynamics there. Fact is, basic trading and barter may technically be capitalism, but you have got to get over your anarchofundamentalism. Korean farmers are hurt bad by WTO --- for your consumer benefit. So give it a rest.

So, we just have to assume that anybody who wants to earn money is an imperialist capitalist, regardless of any facts.

There are people who protest central planning because it is not democratic, AND it seems the same people opposed to market-based economies because it IS democratic. Are these the same protesters, or is the distinction being blurred by both sides of the protest?

Not picking a fight, but something doesn't add up, and it looks to me like protests have become totally emotion-based, removed from any objectives.

TEST

** They are farmers. Capitalists make their living off the labor of others. Farmers make their living off the land. **

True, in part, but farmers do employ help (the labor of others) and they sell their goods to processors, resellers, and distribution concerns. Clearly, they are using the effort of others to make more money. The only non-capitalist farmer by your definition would have to be one that sells directly to the consumer and does not hire any help.

There is no evidence that Korean farmers are being squeezed out by WTO. In fact, the real issue is that farmers who relied on government favors and subsidy are the most agree because they fear a open market. They have to become competitive, buy better equipment and produce more crops. The smaller rice growers are at odds with foreign-produced hydroponic and factory farmed rice. Same deal with cabbage growers. They hate capitalism because it demands a separation from government fiat.