Agricultural Subsidies: Corporate Welfare for Farmers

[Natkeeran]

Wow finally reason.tv is putting out the dirty laundry of the hypocrite far right.

[madass888]

Since New Zealand ended their farm subsidies their farm industry has been booming. And the percentage of family farms has actually risen. Obama is a fraud.

[lvll138inrs]

protectionism in any form is extremely harmful. they just should lower corporate tax rates instead of giving subsidies

[FireweedFarm]

The facts here are wrong. There were no subsidies in Depression era farm programs & those programs do not continue today, they ended in 1995. The basic programs don’t bail out failing farm businesses, they bail out hugely successful grain buyers by keeping prices below farmers costs most of the time. We lose on exports for them. After years of this, farmers got subsidies for covering of the losses. Your ideology of free trade makes you antibusiness, pro corporate welfare (below cost gains).

[FRSFreeStateNow]

Agriculture Subsidies represent something like 40B$ a year out of the Federal Budget. Which comes directly out of general Tax Payer Revenue. If we forced farmers to pay Farming Insurance then we could save 40B$ a year off of our Debt.

[javierar87]

A study by the University of Michigan found that if all trade barriers in agriculture, services, and manufactures were reduced by 33% as a result of the Doha Development Agenda, there would be an increase in global welfare of $574.0 billion.[47] A 2008 study by World Bank Lead Economist Kym Anderson[48] found that global income could increase by more than $3000 billion per year, $2500 billion of which would go to the developing world.

[Djarms67]

don't worry congress will bail government out.

[FireweedFarm]

The Depression era farm programs have been weakened since 1953, and were ended in 1996. The original programs had no subsidies for crops like corn, rice and wheat.

[whoo689]

If you're laid off or unemployed and can't find work for a while, sure you can get unemployment checks, but those aren't NEARLY as generous as farm subsidies, obviously. Why should farmers get special treatment? i say HELL NO. Farmers should have to work hard for their living like everyone else, and if they can't make it, they should maybe try a job they're better at. You don't have a right to 100 tries to get something right at taxpayer expense.

[whoo689]

There's absolutely ZERO reason for farm subsidies. For one thing, if a farmer can't cut it, maybe he should stop farming and do something he's better at. Just a thought. And even if he has a bad crop season, why should the taxpayer bail him out? I mean, it's not like the subsidies ACTUALLY make his crops any better. The gov't gives money, not extra seed or manipulates the weather to prevent drought. They just compensate them for lost crops and shit. It's dumb. Where's MY bailout?

[whoo689]

@whoo689 Programs that started during the Great Depression, like farm subsidies and SS, should REALLY be reexamined. I mean, you can't honestly compare the economic situation of the country with that of today. Of course farmers were on hard times, as well as seniors. It was a pretty bad fucking time for almost all Americans. But to say that because they were "needed" in a huge downturn, they're still needed is just silly. I think the amount of seniors or farmers who truly need them

[whoo689]

@whoo689 is much less today than it was when these programs were first started. Esp. in boom times. Not comparing the necessity of a gov't program or the alleged poverty of certain demographic groups in different economic periods is a no-brainer!

[kudzu79]

farmers take huge risks putting hundreds of thousands of dollars in the dirt not knowing if they will get a penny back. imagine getting our food like we get our oil if we had no farmers. that would be interesting

[alexandersydney]

@kudzu79

but some farmers are successful and in a way you end up taxing them to give their profits to unsuccessful farmers. its largely the perspective from which you look at it that matters.

[umrmecheman]

my dad lost his farm where we grew corn, soybeans and pigs. of course we didn't get many subsidies bc we were relatively small. video is dead on.

[flanksteak2]

Earl Butz changed the way subsidies were doled out.

Why ignore the huge change that led to the system we have today?

[mizzoulibertarian]

this guarantees us a very impotent product

[PLASMAVITY]

usa doesn't want to be totally dependent on other countries for agriculture goods.usa is dependent on oil on middle east,we all know how much problem they are facing to control price of oil.

[arbide2]

Great stuff!

[burgboyburg]

un like farms with only 6 cows in the eu no kidding.we could reduce the burden on any one who buys food in the eu and the us how does 2$ us rump steak sound or a lamb roast for 7$.but despite having 0 subs or trade restictions on any thing the eu and the us governments need farmers votes i guess.and limits our trade masively of ag goods.thank god we have true friends asia who work with the world rich and poor.unlike the eu and us

[nightfrog65]

Farm subsidy policy needs to be reviewed in order to avoid pork barrel spending.

I read somewhere that our current income tax structure was created to help people during the Great Depression and fund World War 2, but was designed to be only a temporary solution.

Unfortunately, the politicians didn't want to take away "free" handouts from their constituents after WWII- the government got greedy with our hard-earned tax dollars.

[georich62]

Small farms still need subsities especially the cotton farmer. Without the subsidies there is no more small farmer. Cotton is not sold by what the farmer decides its what the market decides and unless people wanna start paying $40 a shirt at wal mart I suggest you stop bitching about the subsities, but I agree that we need to look at who gets this money and make sure its not going to the wrong people.

[putittogether]

georich62- You comment is stupidity at its zenith.

[georich62]

You know how farms work? You know how much money goes into farming? I worked my ass off on a farm my whole life and I earned a scholarship and graduated college to see what they knew. I know how farms work people who dont about farms and just automatically say that farms should just be cut of subsidies don't have a say if they don't know what goes on. If they wanna let farmers make their own prices then you can cut subsidies until then we need them.

[putittogether]

I am sick and tired people like you, pigs at the public troth, slopping up our hard earned money, and then you have the arrogance and indignity to claim it is for my own benefit.

No the FREE MARKET is to my own benefit, and it is to the poorer country's too, that rely on agriculture, whom by the way you are literally starving, because of these absurd practices.

Competition and the free market are the American way.

[georich62]

Have a Free market then I want it, that way you can be poor as shit because we got tired of listening to people like you who have never had to deside to buy food that day or fix a pump because it broke and its 115 degrees and your cotton needs water. People are poor in America too. You have no idea what your saying you probably live in the city and just talk down to people cause your a smug liberal piece of shit.

[putittogether]

georich62, I hope you go under, and soon.

[georich62]

nope sorry our farms been in my family since 1854 and its not going anywhere, especially if the ones who are trying to run us out are pussys like you.

[putittogether]

Sorry piggy, but you have been sucking on that titty tooooo long. Time to go and let millions of people LIVE, rather than STARVE so you can get you check. You selfish pig.

[georich62]

Yea follow your shitty president and see where that gets you. How about the bullshit people who are getting welfare go after them. You pussy liberal shit.

[putittogether]

Does not change the FACT that you by your own ACTIONS are helping starve millions of people to DEATH, so you can get your check. And I don't care for welfare either, but don't change the subject. You are the pig on the public tit. And it is time for you to go. Sink or swim. And if you cant, then you need to find something else to do, to make a living.

[georich62]

Fine get rid of the checks and let us make our own price. Thats how I want it.

[vaferxk]

Welfare - pure and simple. Should be embarrassed for taking advantage of tax payer funds to be on unnecessary welfare.

[ETanner]

Small farms are inefficient; hence why they "need" subsidies. We don't need small farms, though, when we can have large farms do the same thing at a much lower cost, eliminating the need for a subsidy.

[georich62]

How many large farms do you know ours is a 1200 acre farm and thats considered small and if you get rid of all those "small farms" the American public will see a boom in prices you have never seen.

[anoniab]

It's not just crops, but SUVs: google the article "Free SUVs For Small Business Owners - Pros and Cons of New SUV Tax Break" by Jim Walczak, for Aboutdotcom

[HBSchool]

Let us also talk about the fact that subsidies:

1. Lower production

2. Allows farmers to manipulate higher prices.

This is why Fruits and Vegetables are unaffordable for poorer families. Don't you think that this might have something to do with the "epidemic" of Obesity in Americas poor?

It's tragic that one minute the Dems push for welfare and health care for the poor (I grew up in EXTREME poverty) and the next minute they are paying out subsidies which hurt the poor.

[cultusstultus]

3rd world represent!

[Jman888]

Was Obama At a farming rally?

Lol.

[aaronbreault]

He's lucky he didn't get shot by some hick farmer.

[b00lb00l]

Hi, I have been wondering what would happen to those subsidies on grain exports if the US dollar collapse or civil unrest, tax revolts occurs in the US, say, this summer? Immediately int'l grain trade will freeze? Commodities will get skyrocket? That will be a disaster around the world. But it seems ,in longer term, it is good for the undeveloped countries' agriculture.

[furyofbongos]

Government does everything at the point of a gun. Taxation is coerced (violence), see what happens when you ask governmet to do anything? It's time to wake up and see the violence that is government.

[Moragauth]

Is Obama a conservative now? "Maintains a way of life"? LOL

[manyleaves]

He just uses periodic conservative talk to mask his TRUE self.

[TainaAtheist1]

Legalize marijuana and hemp, then do away with farm subsidies: Win-win for everybody!!!

.

[manyleaves]

hemps ok. I have a relatives who smoke on a regular basis. Their motivational drive to succeed is shot to hell. Therefore, I would not agree with legalizing pot.

[cheesechoker]

So your lazy pothead relatives are all you need to conclude that marijuana reduces the "drive to succeed"? Cool argument, bro.

[manyleaves]

Yep, that's it bro. About all pot is good for is medicinal; for nausea (cancer pts)and maybe for some neurological problems etc. If you don't have a medical problem, your just getting high and wasting your money just like alcoholics and heavy recreational drinkers.....just escaping from reality. Time for people to grow up and stop acting like teenagers; selfish and stupid. Time for people to suck it up and focus on the here and now.

[Leetist]

Could it be that people who have no motivation to succeed, are drawn to use pot? Could it be that people in positions that are stereotypical/superficial standards of success like CEOs, Presidents of companies, independent business owners etc. are not as open about their cannabis use because they have so much to lose? Also why should someone be arrested for how they live their life as long as they allow others the same freedom?

[manyleaves]

You may have a point, but pot is just another form of high for people; like alcohol. It's not particularly good for the lungs just like cigarettes. I don't think people should go to jail just for smoking pot. If people used it in moderation, I wouldn't care less. But the idiot's in this world, would take it to the extreme just like alcohol. If we legalized pot, it may take away some power away from murderous drug gangs in Mexico. Did u hear about a Mexico gang throwing 300 people in acid baths?

[Leetist]

You don't think cannabis should be a criminal offense, good we are on the same page. I always scoff at the cannabis vs. tobacco comparison, one cannabis use is not associated with an increased cancer risk when tobacco use is controlled in numerous studies done by reputable institutions. 2nd the amount of cannabis typically smoked is about the size of a piece of popped corn, typical tobacco user uses half a pack to two packs a day. Also tobacco contains nicotine, the most addictive drug.

[watahwasofan]

May I suggest a book for your consideration? It's called 'The Emperor Wears No Clothes' by Jack Herer. Available on his website. He says that marijuana can save the world and has offered a reward to anyone who can prove him wrong. It's still up for grabs.

It's unfortunate that your relatives are lazy but it doesn't mean that all pot smokers are.

[manyleaves]

I'll check it out. But you have to know that the lazy and weak will abuse pot just like they abuse alcohol. This will just open a different can of worms.

[watahwasofan]

We all have a weakness...we're all addicted to something. Some of us are addicted to food, self-pity, or disdain for people we don't understand. Some of us like to toke up and giggle at cartoons. It's actually a pretty harmless indulgence, isn't it?

[LPBguy]

I am not trying to criticize your opinion, but I hope you know that if you are opposed to legalization of marijuana, then you simply CAN NOT be considered a libertarian, because you do not support a key aspect of liberty.

[manyleaves]

I have great respect for libertarian & I'm very close to it. However, I am a Conservative who believes in our Republic. - a country established with a small group of set laws whose goal is to keep the government small. Our founding father's established a Republic, not a complete Democracy. Look where mob rule got us so far in the 2008 election. The mob didn't bother to research who they really voted for. They were too lazy to do their homework & vet the guy. That's the media's job also-Failed

[LPBguy]

We are practically on the same page...in theory. LIbertarians also believe in the Republic; we recognize that the prime function of government, limited though it may be, is to PROTECT liberties. We are not anarchists. This is not an attack, but I noticed some of your videos have a war-hawk mentality. I'll have you know that the founding fathers also advocated a policy of non-interventionism. If they could see what Bush has done, and what Obama promises, they would turn over in their graves.

[manyleaves]

Go back to my favorites and watch my latest videos favorited. Watch, "What Islam is Not." Also watch, "Violent Oppression of Muslum Women". If we have a non- interventionalist attitude toward these men that want to rape women, kill women and have utter control of the whole world, then we will be screwed both literally and figuratively. Please., Please watch these videos. I refuse to wear a burka and refuse to be subserviant to any man and treated less than a dog. These men are pure evil.

[LPBguy]

You cite the founding fathers when it suits you, but ignore them to support mainstream policies enacted by Republicans and Democrats. Now it is more clear to me that you are not a true conservative, but are in fact a neo-conservative. If you are wondering how two seemingly conservative people (you and me) have such different views on certain issues, I have a book for you that explains where your views originated from.

Neo-conservatism: The Autobiography of an Idea by Irving Kristol.

[manyleaves]

When it suits me? Thanks for the insult , knower of all. Maybe, I'm a neo-con maybe not. Reading up and evolving.

[manyleaves]

Another note. I'll be damned if as a libertarian, I'll ignore the threat of islamofascism coming my way. If Sharia Law takes affect in this country in the future, you won't be subject to the same abuses I will have under it. My daughter and I could be tortured and killed and mutilated by these dogs. I agree; we should stay away from other country's issues and business as much as we can, but you can't have your head in the sand and not see the threat. We don't need to turn into France.

[TainaAtheist1]

You seem to have a thing with the word "lazy." Keep in mind that addicts are not necessarily lazy but they are, without a doubt, sick. But not all people who toke or drink are sick. The same cannot be said of the addict.

Use and abuse. This thinking can be applied to anyone with a vice.

.

[marjan15]

Thank you for very important message.

[tegalans]

New Zealand got rid of it's farm subsidizes, but of course the people protested. But the truth is that agricultural efficiency, output and net profits are up and cost of production is down.

To Whoo689: your somewhat right; when it comes to farms both parties want's to maintain the status quo, but when it comes to the citizenry the democrats want to "subsidize" them in order to get their vote. Bill Clinton even said so(well, at least that''s what Dick Morris said)

[burgboyburg]

im from new zealand yr dead on 2.we could sell food to the eu and the us at a far cheaper price 2 reducing the cost of living but guess yr farmers votes are 2 important despite the fact we do not sub or block goods from the eu or us our exports are blocked.thank god asia treats us as friends

[whoo689]

Stupid Democrats! Are they just giving these subsidies to purposefully make farmers live off the dole and vote Democrat, or are they somehow ignorant to the fact that they make a lot already?

[Transitiving]

why single out democrats? they dont pay $26 million to republicans for nothing.

[texichan]

democrats are much more likely to perpetuate these subsidies, i would say. more money to the republicans because they need more incentive to vote for continuing subsidies.

[Ajnin42]

I love reason tv

[zzx2847]

Good video. It's an archaic system that we have, that stifles growth and competition, while costing taxpayers enormous amounts of money. If we didn't have these subsidies we would see technology advance in farming techniques that would benefit the world, but instead we are just shooting ourselves in the foot.