What a silly column this is.
Marcus Gee here displays, under intense spotlights, the most remarkably naive views possible.
Of course, various groups in South Korea are exploiting fears over mad cow disease.
Isn't that the normal way politics always work everywhere? Events of this nature provide the momentum required for new temporary coalitions of interests.
But saying that does not mean that the people of that country are not genuinely frightened by the prospect of contaminated beef from the U.S.
And not without reason.
The U.S. shut Canada out of its markets for two years over a very insignificant outbreak of mad cow. The real reason, as everyone who follows such affairs knows, were American cattle interests south of Alberta. They made a huge economic gain out of a trifling event.
At the same time, we know from a good deal of anecdotal evidence that many cattlemen in the U.S. are more cavalier in their attitudes towards mad cow. Cases go unreported and carcasses are quickly disposed of out under the Big Sky.
The Koreans who, like the Japanese, are quite touchy about food quality, are deeply concerned.
This is a real crisis, Mr. Gee, and your pronouncements from an arm chair on Front Street are laughable.
