I'm a little late into this and haven't read any further yet, but here it is. I haven't been around in a while and haven't read any of your other posts. With all due respect, you're naive at best. You don't know much about commodities and how the ALL markets are manipulated by a very few people; when the bulk of said market is controlled by a few key players. When the demand is low, farmers and companies literally destroy crops and goods as well as lower production in order to make a buck (yes it does work). What they don't do is just sell all they have at a cheap price and take a loss or break even (not a good business model). In this case where there isn't a few key people controlling the global market, the price is as good as it is ever going to be, you can take that to the bank. There are some great prices and there are some crappy prices, but the market is purely governed by the people and what the people will pay. Obviously someone who cost conscientious wouldn't spend $5 on a loaf of bread when they can get the exact same bread down the street for $2. With that being said; one won't find a better "market" for this commodity on this planet; Ever. In the future when govt's find a way to control the market; the poor (which includes me) will be worse off than we are now. Think taxes. Everyone shouts let's just legalize it & tax it, but most haven't a clue of what will happen when it is indeed "regulated". I'll bet 10 years after such a law is implemented people will be sorry they asked for it.
I'll reply to both your posts in this one.
Your first post.
I know a lot about commodities. I've worked for huge companies, at an executive level. I've ordered the destruction of goods, millions of dollars worth over my career.
But it wasn't done for the reasons that you describe.
A farmer, or a business exec, when faced with such a situation, have to make a simple decision (well, not that simple). How do I protect MY financial well being?
In the case of the Farmer, that may mean burn half the fields. If he has to invest his own money into maintaining the growth of that crop, then harvesting that crop, then transporting and storing that crop until it's sold. And if by doing that he cuts his own income, directly affecting the economic stability of his family, yes, he'll try and reduce his loss. He's not trying to drive up prices, as you say, he's minimizing the amount of his own money that he may lose.
In the case of a business, it's much the same. I've offered millions of dollars worth of goods for sale at far below cost. I've thrown away millions of dollars worth of goods, after posting "FREE IF YOU HAUL" ads. Ididn't do it because it would some how magically drive prices up and make more money. I did it because I was losing more money than storing the product was worth. I've sold millions of dollars worth of product below cost.
And took a huge loss doing it...some happy customers...but a huge loss for my company. Why would I do that? Quie simply, because the merchandise wasn't selling and storing it was costing more money than just getting rid of it at a loss, and using that warehouse space for new product, that sold, would be more profitable in the long run.
Your view is understandable, for someone looking to distrust big business and society. It's a great conspiracy theory. It would make a killer movie.
And there are certainly a few big obvious abuses to point to. The wall street mortgage bailout...BULLSHIT, that was the rich keeping the rich, rich.
But in the big picture, your assessment is inaccurate.
Your second post.....never mind...maybe later.