Posted on 02/20/2005 9:27:25 AM PST by Rakkasan1
15 people have voted so far
(Excerpt) Read more at forums.prospero.com ...
Some farm subsidy's need to be dropped and others dont., Depends on the subsidy.
Federal PEANUT control is the biggest joke of the lot.
my favorite is tobacco subsidies:
Gubmint-"we'll sue you"
Gubmint- "and we'll subsidize you too!"
TO: Honorable Secretary of Agriculture
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir;
My friend, Ed Peterson, over at Wells Iowa, received a check for $1,000 from the government for not raising hogs. So, I want to go into the "not raising hogs" business next year.
What I want to know is, in your opinion, what is the best kind of farm not to raise hogs on, and what is the best breed of hogs not to
raise? I want to be sure that I approach this endeavor in keeping with
all governmental policies. I would prefer not to raise razorbacks, but
if that is not a good breed not to raise, then I will just as gladly not
raise Yorkshires or Durocs.
As I see it, the hardest part of this program will be in keeping an
accurate inventory of how many hogs I haven't raised.
My friend, Peterson, is very joyful about the future of the business.
He has been raising hogs for twenty years or so, and the best he ever
made on them was $422 in 1968, until this year when he got your check
for $1000 for not raising hogs.
If I get $1000 for not raising 50 hogs, will I get $2000 for not
raising 100 hogs? I plan to operate on a small scale at first, holding
myself down to about 4000 hogs not raised, which will mean about $80,000
the first year. Then I can afford an airplane.
Now another thing, these hogs I will not raise will not eat 100,000
bushels of corn. I understand that you also pay farmers for not raising
corn and wheat. Will I qualify for payments for not raising wheat and
corn not to feed the 4000 hogs I am not going to raise?
Also, I am considering the "not milking cows" business, so send me
any information you have on that too.
In view of these circumstances, you understand that I will be totally
unemployed and plan to file for unemployment and food stamps.
Be assured you will have my vote in the coming election.
Patriotically Yours,
Farmer
P.S. Would you please notify me when you plan to distribute more free
cheese.
Nobody is granted the devine right to be a farmer. If and only if you are able to survive in the free market, then you should be a farmer. Farming is an honorable prfession, but no more honorable than a grocery clerk, policeman, teacher, fireman, etc. I vote to eliminate subsidies for farmers, the arts, etc. No government subsidies. I do think it's OK to invest in education through scholarships and loans. This allows folks who could never afford college to become productive citizens. After that, cut them off.
crop circles are both art and farming and I expect a grant
from the NEA and the AG Dept.
Partially agree.
It's useful to have some type of bad year catastrophic insurance/subsidy program, but I voted "yes" on elimination since that won't happen anyway, and there have to be some major reductions.
But doesn't cutting al subsidies mean also cutting farmer's and ranchers' taxes?
They depend so heavily on a.) gasoline and b.) the telephone to conduct their business, it hits them harder than non-rural people.
any thoughts? I would like to see all subsidies cut but then I am not a farmer/rancher.
I worked with a guy who farmed most of his life in Wisconsin, he tried explaining to me the extent to which the govt. controls crop production with price controls, subsidies, types of quotas, etc., etc. Very complicated. He said would have been much better off on his own without the govt. subsidies and all that went along with it.
By the way, this is my first post here. Love the place!
Again it depends on the subsidy. here in Maryland they are paying farmers not to raise tobacco by using the money they "stole" from the tobacco companies. Now what they are doing is trying to provide a cushion for farmers whos money crop just went down the toilet, They havent given one thought to providing or training for a new Money crop.
Are the subsidy's really that bad when the Lawyer who owns the Orioles had his stadium built with state funds and then won millions on the tobacco suit? Seems like some people seem to like some subsidies and dislike others, Why do Gubmints build stadiums for millionaires.
Muleteam1
As a part-time farmer, I really would like to see them go away. Anything has to be gradual to allow people to adjust to the new economics. It is a very, very complex issue, due to the way that crops interact with other parts of agriculture. Portions of the agricultural and even non ag economy is based on an abundance of crops that are grown heavily on marginal land because of the subsidies. If the subsidies go away, other uses will be better for this marginal land, the abundance will go away, and a big hiccup in some sections of the economy will occur.
It's not a yes/no issue, therefore the poll is invalid.
Your comment is indistinguishable from the standard liberal lament, ". . . it's for the children."
E-I-E-I-Poll.
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