1) North Carolina has produced, is producing and will hopefully continue to produce some of the finest tobacco in the world.
Two other countries in the world that produce high-quality tobacco are Zimbabwe and of course Cuba.
Both are run by despotic madmen... perhaps we should do business with them instead?
2) Tobacco still happens to be a lucrative crop for farmers.
Many would get out of farming altogether if they had to switch exclusively to other crops.
I know this is true, because I've personally heard some say so.
I'm not too familiar with the price support system and if it's anything like milk supports, etc., it's probably mismanaged as hell.
3) From a personal standpoint, tobacco is part of my heritage and that of many native North Carolinians.
I would venture to say that without it, I and many others never would have been born, and NC would not be the place you love to live in today.
It's a way of life I would hate to see completely disappear.
I know that it will never again be like it was, but do-gooder busybodies like Rep. Henry "Nostrils" Waxman don't need to decree what farmers can grow on their own land by government fiat.
This is - for now - a legal product.
The FDA and assorted healthocrats need to butt the f* out of farmers' business.
1) Cuban tobacco is used to produce cigars. North Carolina tobacco is NOT. NC tobacco is used virtually exclusivly for cigarettes.
2) I have often heard tobacco farmers whine "its all we know and its all we have ever done." Well tough. Other people have had to make career changes before, especially at the turn of the century when techonolgy put them out of business. I bet there were some wonderful horse buggy and horse whip makers in NC. Luckily the government didnt support them and their product to keep them in business because it was "all that they knew."
I suggest ending ALL subsidies to not just tobacco farmers, but ALL farmers. Make it in the market in a competitive fashion or close up shop.
3) I will not question for one moment the importance of tobacco in NC history and how much of this state was built by tobacco money.
I also do not want to see the Imperial Federal Government (IFG) using its heavy hand to end tobacco farming or heavily curtail it in NC or anywhere else in the US. As stated above, I also don't want BILLIONS of tax dollars used to prop it up either. And don't deny for a minute that tobacco farmers are constantly whinning that their "government subsidy" isnt going to be "as big" this year and other such whinning. They are constantly bitching about it and complaining about the new auction rules for tobacco and the price to be paid.
Guess what farmers, you signed up to be the governments date at the dance. Don't bitch when Government leaves you at the table and doesnt pay enough attention to you.
There is 1 cash crop that they could switch to over night. But none dare attempt it here. That crop is industrial hemp. And you could smoke 10 acres of the stuff and never get a buzz so the "anti-drug" crowd doesnt have a leg to stand on in fighting it on 'drug' grounds.
The number of products that can be produced with it are almost uncountable.