this big sugar
documentary recently ran on the cbc

never mind the facts that obesity among children has increased 3fold since 1980 and that kids drink more pop that milk nowadays, the shocking bit is the way the big sugar cartels like the Fanjuls make big political contributions and get big subsidies to keep the cost of sugar in the US 3x what the rest of the world pays and keep out other countries' sugar.

"During the 2004 campaign both parties received 3.1 million in campaign contributions from the sugar industry. Congress voted for a 1.4 billion dollar subsidy. The Fanjul's share is said to be $65 million, after having donated $450,000 to the candidates."

All the while Haitian workers on the (Fanjul) plantations in the Dominican republic are kept almost as slaves:
(earning 2$ for 12 hours of cutting sugar cane in stifling heat - have to purchase food from company stores at twice regular cost and unable to leave )

and when the World Health Organization tried to make a recommendation on what is a safe level of sugar in diet - around 9% (although the actual consumption in the West is much higher, at least double)
the US govt responded with all sorts of 'science based' studies that
ridiculed the WHO Doctors, and finally threatened to terminate the US portion of the WHO budget (300$ million or so) unless that recomendation was dropped. (which it was).

with one can of soda containing 12-14 heaping teaspoons of sugar
no wonder kids are getting fat.. and the Softdrink companies fighting to get pop machines into schools so they can get kids hooked on a brand while theyre young..

and I would say that it is probably not just big sugar, but all the other big agri-business that greases the politicans palms - and the average joe taxpayer knows nothing about any of the backroom deals.

no wonder the WTO talks broke down, finally countries like Brazil are saying - were not going to agree to anything unless our people vote on the issue.