China's economy is booming, but the country is on the verge of a crisis. And it's serious. No, it's not the trebling of the duty on stock transactions. It's much worse: They're running out of pork. The price of the staple—in 2006 Chinese city dwellers ate an average of 42 pounds each—has risen nearly 50 percent in a year. Corn prices are up (damn that ethanol stuff), a pork oversupply (is that even possible?) last year caused farmers to raise fewer pigs, and then there's the outbreak of "blue ear disease." But there is some good news: China has a frozen pork and live pig reserve. This is why they will rule the world. Does the U.S. have a pig reserve? Why not? How can we expect to compete on the global stage if we don't have a pig reserve? Especially with grilling season right around the corner. We need to get our elected officials to put some actual pork in one of their bills. Write your congressman!
