The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette has an article by Sylvia Smith entitled “Hoosiers split on revised farm legislation.” At this point, I have almost gotten to the point that the best policy will be the direct opposite of whatever President Bush recommends. But, without knowing a great deal about the guts of this farm bill, I have to agree with his sentiment as conveyed in the Journal Gazette story. Threatening a veto, Bush said:
“Farm income is expected to exceed the 10-year average by 50 percent this year, yet Congress’ bill asks American taxpayers to subsidize the incomes of married farmers who earn $1.5 million per year. I believe doing so at a time of record farm income is irresponsible,†Bush said.
There has to be a catch somewhere — Bush isn’t usually a voice of fiscal responsibility in the face of government checks going to rich people. Senator Lugar also opposes the bill. Souder and Pence are officially uncommitted but, from the article, it sounds as if they will vote in favor of the bill.
The farm bill is usually a good example of how full of crap the political process can be. Loads of politicians and constituents who normally purport to be in favor of free markets and against welfare routinely support taxpayer “subsidies” to various agricultural interests.
I have almost gotten to the point that the best policy will be the direct opposite of whatever President Bush recommends.
Come on, dude. You’re becoming silly.
Don’t be one of those Bush Derangement Syndrome people.
Deranged nothing. I’m just playing the odds.
Agreed Doug, but even a broken clock is right twice a day. :-)
Even if it’s only 0.0014 percent of the time.
And yet I hear crickets when it comes to the “subsidies” we’re giving to big oil…
Rev….Keep in mind the only thing oil companies receive is lower tax rates..Farmers get BIG LIVE checks. Some may consider that a “wash” but in the case of oil, we don’t actually hand them cash, we lower their liabilities leaving them more of their own cash to operate and grow and invest.
With farmers we actually hand them greenbacks to NOT grow crops. We pay them to do nothing. It’s great work if you can get it, I guess.
If you’re a corporate farm operation. I would wonder just how many Mom & Pop farms get any money at all.
The Environmental Working Group has a great Farm Subsidy Database. You can check on subsidies received by your neighbors, among other things.
Dim, go back to your corner and sit while the adults talk. Thanks.
Buzz, the “OMG BUSH DERANGEMENT SYNDROME” trolling is already old. And, by the way, you right-wing ultracretins are ten times worse – remember the Clinton years?
Varianguard…
Steuben County, Indiana, 2006
Subsidy recipients 1 to 20 of 805
Recipients of Total USDA Subsidies from farms in Steuben County, Indiana totaled $3,903,000 in in 2006.
An excerpt from the web link doug provided..
We don’t really have any “corporate farm” operations here in Steuben. If you click this link
http://farm.ewg.org/farm/top_recips.php?fips=18151&progcode=total&yr=2006
of the 85 recipients the highest (they’re all mom & pop) was $145k…I know most of these guys….
Damian, can I get fries with that?
Sorry….Of the 805 recipients…my bad..
Oh and Damian, make that onion rings instead of fries…
I have a farmer friend in Nebraska. There, the corporate operations clean up the lion’s share of the subsidy monies.
Seems like there is also an issue about what we subsidize — lots of money for grains; not so much for vegetables. That ends up affecting our diet.
At least I think that’s how the argument runs. I just woke up and am not remembering the details clearly at the moment.
Too many people think that farming is still like my cousins in Wisconsin who gather the eggs by hand and haul them in the back of their pick-up to distributor..They could use any govt help they can get,but are on their own.And most distributors don’t want to bother with suppliers like this.
As far as a broken clock being right twice a day.It’s useless knowledge unless someone can point out the exact times it’s accurate, exactly when it’s accurate.
The on-line Farm Subsidies information is fascinating to explore. What *looks* like small Mom and Pop can be deceiving… it can actually be *large* Mom and Pop through different business entities.
Yes, I was aware of all that. Still I think given the economic climate of today, Bush is barking up the wrong tree.
You know what cured me of Clinton Derangement Syndrome? The 2000 election.
God, I hope the same works for you BDS sufferers when Obama wins.
Of course, when Obama isn’t the messiah you think he is, I wonder what will happen then.
I remember how painful 1993 was for us Clinton voters. So bad that it turned me Republican. Well, I was a “New Democrat”, so I was secretly a Republican anyway, right?
Even in 1993 I hadn’t hit the Democratic tipping point. I was using Perot as a gateway politician.
I knew a few people in college who used Perot recreationally once without getting addicted.
Just so long as you didn’t inhale.
Rush’s description of Perot was best.
“Hand grenade with a bad haircut”.
I’ll give Perot this. He keyed me into the problem of elderly entitlements.
If there’s one reason that I’m not a Democrat, it’s because of the screw job that is Social Security.