Most of us Americans are so accustomed to a world of plenty; we have a hard time imagining a world of scarcity — much less making investments based upon this idea. But the energy markets provide a very powerful example of what happens when resources become less plentiful.

Corn is in trouble because of the wet spring that has drenched the Midwest. Yesterday, the USDA said in a report that American corn output will be down significantly from last year’s estimate.

With a wheezing economy that’s struggling with housing and credit problems – as well as a weak dollar – it’s clear the United States won’t be in the investment spotlight this year.

The United Nations announced yesterday (Wednesday) that an additional $20 billion would be needed each year to combat global hunger.

Globally, corn supplies are already straining to meet demand. America is the world’s king of corn. If our crop is going to be light, that puts corn on the launch pad.

When the leader of the United Nation’s World Food Programme warned that a “silent tsunami” of hunger is sweeping the globe because of soaring food prices, a lot of folks probably viewed it as just another clever sound bite tossed off by a bureaucrat.

When I was growing up, it never mattered how bad my day went or which concert I might have missed, because there would always be rice, beans, and meat on the table every night.