Update on the unchanging farm bill
October 26, 2007
The Senate Agricultural Committee voted to continue $288 billion in farm subsidies, as well it might. Its members must have lots of friends among the top 1% of subsidy beneficiaries, those who (according to the Chicago Tribune) collectively get 17% of the cash–an average of $377,484 each. At this point, nobody expects much good to come out of the farm bill, due to be voted on next week. Reformers say they just don’t have the votes. I guess we’ll just have to start organizing now for the next round.
It’s so depressing that after all the anticipation of reform was raised by countless advocacy groups, we’re still getting the same old pile of handouts to agribusiness. But that doesn’t mean you can’t vote with your dollars, ignore the farm bill and keep supporting the farmers and ranchers who show up at your local farmer’s markets.
That might be the best way to reform.
Comment by Kei — October 26, 2007 @ 8:15 pm
Taking taxpayer money and giving it to land owners who are not in need of money for their farm or those that DON’T FARM on the land seems like stealing to me.
Robbing from US taxpayers and giving it to the rich. Shouldn’t that be considered a crime? a misappropriation of funds meant to go to farmers?
Please call your senator and get them to cut these subsidies–especially to those with incomes over $200,000 and to the non-existent farm land owners.
Comment by Daniel, Ithaca NY — October 28, 2007 @ 11:13 pm
I just saw this quote (originally from Dan Imhoff’s Food Fight) on the kingcorn.net website:
Less than $1million ($1,000,000) was spent to promote the 3,700 farmers’ markets in the United States in 2005, while $9.4billion ($9,400,000,000) was paid to corn farmers.
!! that’s a lot of 0’s (which will help to create alot of Obese people.)
Comment by Daniel Ithaca,NY — October 30, 2007 @ 11:39 am