I always find it a little hallucinatory to be in the United States, where some ordinary things seem backwards.
For instance, their ludicrous use of the word “patriot” for the traitors who rebelled in 1776, took up weapons against their government and persecuted the loyalists, whom they refer to as “traitors.” This was said in a speech I heard here at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines yesterday. A rather backwards view of history, methinks. Outrageous.
Another bit of totally backwards thinking I sensed in the defiant protestations by American pork industry officials about foreign trade restrictions on American pork. Every year at the World Pork Expo the American hog leaders hold themselves out as champions of free and unfettered trade and complain about the foreigners who throw up trade barriers. They seldom mention their own aggressive use of trade barriers against Canadian pigs.
Read Also
Rural emergency room closures continue to be vexing problem
Staffing issues are at the root of disruptions and closures in hospital emergency departments, both in rural and urban Canadian locations.
Two years ago, after hearing a defiant denunciation of foreign restrictions by National Pork Producers Council officials, I asked them about how they squared their position with their support of tariffs and anti-dumping duties against Canadian pigs. Awkwardness ensued. Contradictions were glossed over. This year no American officials seem to want to mention COOL. That’s a brutal attack on free and fair market access, but American producers have generally supported it. How does anyone balance demanding free trade from foreign nations at the same time as harassing Canadian pork? That’s what I’m going to ask a few of these folks later on today. And I expect awkwardness will ensue and contradictions will be glossed over.
