On Shortages

An article over at PajamasMedia talks about the overblown-ness of the "rice shortage."

Apparently, politicians will use it to, hmmm, get ahead... in politics. No kidding?

From the article: "Are we seeing a pattern here? Australia suffered a drought last year, curtailing production of [...] rice. Traders responded by driving up prices, and governments responded by enacting policies to restrict the very trade which could, and eventually would, drive prices back down."

In other words, had the government left it alone the prices would have sorted themselves out, AND it wouldn't have been the problem that it became - or at least not for as long.

It continues: "Is the rice shortage real? It sure is, if only just barely; demand is expected to outstrip supply this year by less that 1%. But like most shortages, this one is being exacerbated by politicians ignoring the most fundamental of all laws - the one of unintended consequences." (Emphasis added.)

In other words, SHUT YER PIE-HOLES! Your making it worse!

Note to Self: I don't remember the last time I even bought rice. Of course, I don't remember the last time I really listened to what politicians said either.