tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27951078.post7092389567521113955..comments2024-02-02T05:45:33.724-06:00Comments on Incoming: John Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245790061133614986noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27951078.post-24096880096848888122007-02-06T16:10:00.000-06:002007-02-06T16:10:00.000-06:00Bill:
The dude can write, but he is also pretty n...Bill:<br /><br />The dude can write, but he is also pretty naive when it comes to economics. In Omnivore, for example, he quotes at length an Iowa farmer who explains the quandry of farmers and prices.<br /><br />When prices drop, they assert, farmers have to produce more to keep their income steady. This leads to more supply and even lower prices, which is why (unlike all other businesses) farmers need government to control production.<br /><br />The howling illogic of this preposterous legend is never questioned by Pollan. For instance, with corn at $4 shouldn't farmers be cutting back on production? And how pray tell can you produce more corn at $2 that you could at $3? <br /><br />The truth is we produce as much as we can with the economic constraints we have - all the time. And we can't produce more just by "spraying and eroding". <br /><br />Overlooking the stunning errors in his economics diminishes for me his charmingly seductive social commentary.<br /><br />But again, the man can write. He just can't farm.John Phippshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03245790061133614986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27951078.post-54968821491239604932007-02-06T14:41:00.000-06:002007-02-06T14:41:00.000-06:00Pollan is tremendously frustrating to me. He writ...Pollan is tremendously frustrating to me. He writes so well that I halfway agree with his ideas. But then I remember my sainted mother's cooking (somewhat like Bill Bryson's mother in his most recent book) and compare the supermarket's selection today with what it was in the 1950's and think, no, he can't be all right.Bill Harshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02094598931693185805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27951078.post-63413213123090266302007-02-05T21:29:00.000-06:002007-02-05T21:29:00.000-06:00brian: One thing is changing in this debate. As w...brian: One thing is changing in this debate. As we witness the actual physical changes in the brain while we think we can at least match up instinctive and logical responses with real-world stimuli.<br /><br />Back-fitting data may become less of a tool in the future as we seek to understand why we act as we do.John Phippshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03245790061133614986noreply@blogger.com