They got it by the quota system in use,where only certain people can grow it,and even they can only grow so much. This amounts to a government mandated monopoly with price supports. They have been getting this for generations because the permit to grow tobacco passes on to the heirs of the farm.
Let me see if I understand what you are saying...
The government limits how much tobacco I can grow (and even then, they slash the acreage on a regular basis), then MANDATES that I sell it in a fixed market, completely devoid of market forces, and you consider that to be a GOOD thing for farmers??? And that is "getting money from the government for generations??" And you think that farmers WANT to be in that system??
I am sure that RJ Reynolds and Phillip Morris are quite happy with the system, but NONE of the tobacco farmers that I know have EVER had a positive thing to say about the wretched program.
I'm sorry, but I just don't get it. Maybe you could explain to me how this is such a great thing for farmers.