Sunday, October 26, 2008

Rich Farmers Harvesting Cash With Farm Subsidies


Watch John Stossel's report on farm subsidies, highlighting the high and rising levels of income for American farmers (they make twice as much as the average American), and the rising real estate values for U.S. farms (+77% in Nebraska over the last four years).


4 Comments:

At 10/26/2008 1:30 PM, Blogger Arman said...

Again I say, that hand outs and bailouts are counter productive, leading to extensive bureaucracy and waste. Still, the farm is the first business, and excess food is the basis for the entire economy. National food production should be protected as a matter of national security, but this should be done by means of tariffs, and not subsidies.

 
At 10/27/2008 12:04 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Arman,

Why would anyone seek tariffs in an area where the U.S. has a surplus which it exports? The U.S. is able to produce more food than it needs with only 2% of its population.

Time you actually learned something about farming.

With regard to farm subsidies, one should judge them on the basis of prices over the last several years not just recent commodity spikes. Corn, for example, is already half what it was last year to say nothing of declining wheat and soy prices. The cost of fertilizer, seed stock and equipment have all gone up in the last year.

Unless one does the research, on what basis can one advocate public policy aside from pulling it like a rabbit out of a hat.

 
At 10/27/2008 10:36 AM, Blogger Hydra said...

They make twice as much as average Americans.


Sure, but look at what they have invested, compared to the average American. Their ROI is a fraction of the Average American.

Even the few that get big subsidies.


Rich farmers are rich because you have to be rich to be a farmer.

RH

 
At 10/27/2008 3:37 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bingo!

 

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