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Harvest Of Shame
IBD ^ | May 14, 2008

Posted on 05/14/2008 7:08:05 PM PDT by Kaslin

Agriculture: The subsidy-stuffed farm bill just passed by Congress is a monster that will leave us with less food at higher prices. The president should veto it right away and force this foolish Congress to override him.


Congress may think it's doing the "people's work," as they like to say, but the pork-laden, market-distorting farm bill is anything but. In fact, it's an obscene waste of money that will leave us all poorer and hungrier for the effort.

As of now, though, it looks like it will become law. The measure passed the House on Wednesday by a veto-proof margin of 318-106. It now goes to the Senate, where it also is expected to pass.

Bush should veto it anyway, if only to shame those Republicans who join with the Democrat majority in the override.

GOP members are already trying to lay low. Not so the Democrats. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi immediately hailed the bill as a "significant reform" — a statement so wrong it's laughable.

The bill hands out a record $300 billion in new spending on agriculture over five years. This might be worth it if all the spending led to lower prices. It won't.

As Heritage Foundation economist Brian Riedl has noted, since enactment of the last farm bill in 2002, prices for key crops have surged 281%. And they're still surging.

(Excerpt) Read more at ibdeditorials.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial
KEYWORDS: 110th; agriculture; farmbill; foodprices

1 posted on 05/14/2008 7:08:05 PM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

In related news, the price of tortillas is through the roof!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2016140/posts


2 posted on 05/14/2008 7:23:36 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: Kaslin

$300 billion.

That’s $1000 for every man, woman and child in the country.


3 posted on 05/14/2008 7:36:21 PM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: DuncanWaring
$300 billion.

True, but, it seems to mean so little to most of the people here anymore. It's if big business wants it, big business gets it, 24-7. So get out of the way. Makes you sick!

4 posted on 05/14/2008 7:50:18 PM PDT by org.whodat (What's the difference between a Democrat and a republican????)
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To: Kaslin
The president should veto it right away and force this foolish Congress to override him.

I used to think Congress was foolish. Now my thoughts about them are much darker.

5 posted on 05/14/2008 7:54:48 PM PDT by Prokopton
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To: DuncanWaring
That’s $1000 for every man, woman and child in the country.

How big was that "stimulus" package? Better put it in the bank and be prepared to hand it back to the government to pay the farmers. Smoke and mirrors. BTW, I didn't get a "stimulus" check. I figure my federal taxes funded checks for 110 people who did get a check.

6 posted on 05/14/2008 8:34:56 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: Myrddin

I wonder how much of the farm bill was set aside for food stamps (really should be under welfare) and the WIC program.
It’s not only farmers reaping it is babies having babies and women not marrying the father of those babies.


7 posted on 05/14/2008 10:13:16 PM PDT by South Texas Lady
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To: South Texas Lady
It’s not only farmers reaping it is babies having babies and women not marrying the father of those babies.

The foul fruit of LBJ's "Great Society" continues.

8 posted on 05/15/2008 7:25:36 AM PDT by Myrddin
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