Money Beat

It is getting more and more difficult to keep our heads above water. I am one of those people who is just keeping afloat, but by the grace of God, I am keeping a roof over my head and food on the table, but just barely. God forbid some unexpected expense comes up, as they always do. I feel sorry for people who are worse-off than I am. The United States consumer just gets screwed every time we turn around these days. And no, before you write it, neither of the candidates for President are going to make one ounce of difference, regardless of who is the the White House next. They are ALL too out of touch with the American people.

Charlie Gibson just reported that food prices will remain high because farmers are getting $7.50 per bushel for corn. That price is two weeks old. The current price for corn here in the farm belt is $5.32 per bushel and new crop fall delivery is $5.41. This is just one more example of the irresponsible reporting of your news reporters.

I am disappointed with this story. Once again the grocer's manufacturers association is at it again-has anyone heard of the smear campaign by the GMA that is funded by the oil companies? They want to take the pressure of themselves. Like the above person said corn is now 5.41. With increased cost of all inputs to raise these crops break-even on corn now runs nearly $5 a bushel. Farmers are not making anymore money now then last years corn prices due to increased energy prices. Energy is the root of all production and as energy goes so goes the rest of the world.

Who do we think we are? The exalted ones of the world? WE whine about high prices many of which are due to increasing petroleum costs, yet we continue to drive at high speeds, make unnessary trip, drive gas guzzlers, waste resources and complain about high taxes. Get real!

I totally disagree with some of the comments. Corn is outrageous, selling at 97 cents per ear at Kroger in Tucker, Georgia. Why? Because this ridiculous administration is pushing a policy of using corn (food) for oil, or bio-fuels. Where is the sensibility in such a ridiculous policy? It happens when you have the leaders of a nation in bed with the oil companies.

1/5 of the petrochemicals consumed in the US goes to food – not just for tractors and fertilizers, but processing, shipping, storage, packaging. Over the past 50 years America’s food chain fell into the grip of a few Big Food corporations. To me this has become more than cornering the consumer into higher prices – it is an issue of national security. Every time you and I buy food from local farmers and ranchers, we diversify and strengthen regional food sources in case of crop failure, disease, or transportation problems. Last Saturday I compared prices at my local Farmers Market vs a big chain supermarket. Farmers Market produce was less expensive – boutique cheeses and meats were not. I’ve started a year plan to take advantage of what’s seasonally cheap - freezing for the months ahead, making my own jelly, etc. – it’s what our grandmothers used to do. Also, we’ve been marketed that good nutrition requires 3 meat meals every day. Not true. Start by replacing bacon and eggs with cheap slow cooked oatmeal. Make a meatless enchilada or soup on the weekends and re-use the leftovers.

I'm a college student whose budget keeps getting tighter and tighter. Hearing that food price are likely to increase even more makes me cringe. I already use public transportation and I buy used books whenever possible for school, so I am trying to be mindful of my wallet but prices lately are making getting by that much harder.

"You'll pay the higher prices and you'll like it. So shut up, you pesky little Americans. You belong to US." - Official White Horse Souse

I agree with Karen, just who do we think we are? Many people drive like they did away with the speed limit and are driving big gas guzzlers. To add to that, we have had no controls on population as some other countries have done, so now we are whining about the gross increase in the price of gas and food due to the overpopulation demand for both. Also the influx of illegals are also taxing the demand for supplies. That's what it all boils down to, there is more demand than supplies, so you have to learn to live with it.

This commentary spews of prejudice aganist the American farmer thanks to inaccurate information presented bt the Grocer's Manufacturers Association. GMA should be ashamed of themselves for all of the false data they have presented in the last 6 months. First of all a box of cornflakes that costs $4.00 only has 5 cents worth of corn in it so if corn would go up in price $3.00 a bushel the cost increase of the box of cornflakes would be approximately 4 cents higher due to the increase price of corn! It is clearly obvious that GMA is spewing bogus information and is being funded by Big Oil a total disgrace to the American people!

we all know how owns this (pigs) oil companies,they need you to be poor, and silent , so they can do whatever they want to do, LOOK, only this year the oil go up very high WHY this the last year for our BOSS.

One aspect of these sky high food prices is the fact that so much of our corporate-sourced food comes from across the country or even half a world away. Fruits from Chile, canned goods grains and who-knows-what-else from China, questionable produce from Mexico. Corporate farming has killed off local family owned farms, whihc in turn has concentrated market control in the hands of a few huge conglomerates. In NC where we live,it is illegal to drink real milk from a cow, and pork prices are higher than anywhere in spite of us being the largest supplier in the nation. Unfortunately, these same mega firms have plenty of money, lobbyists, and political clout to prevent any effective change to their monopoly over our entire food suply.

I have never responded to something I've seen on the evening news until I saw the slam that GMA launched about corn being the cause of high food prices and I had to speak up. The comments from the GMA made it sound like corn is the only reason for high food prices. According to the USDA, farming costs account for only 19 cents of every dollar consumers spend on groceries at the supermarket. Transportation, packaging, marketing, labor, energy and other factors make up the remaining 81 cents. There are a lot of factors that impact food prices, and ABC news needs to do their research and report all of those factors fairly and unbiased.

I have no sympathy for the farmer. They still get their welfar...er, I mean subsidy check in the mail. Which the average hard working and commuting American does not get. I would love a subsidy once in awhile to help send my kids to college and/or take a couple vacations a year.

so what do you expect the elderly, the retired, those on fixed income because of medical conditions, the single parent to do. stop eating, breathe less, explain everything to their young children, or grandchildren. It's easy to blame the victim. how about some concrete results?

THE SAME LINE THE OIL COMPANIES USED!
THE SAME RIP OFF!

.