Farm Subsidies -- Stossel in the Classroom

Should your money go toward saving the family farm?

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Education

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• Stossel in the Classroom
• John Stossel
• Farm Subsidies
• Corporate Welfare

[drbayoms]

Admittedly i do not know much about farm subsidies. Just to get me started I would like someone (regardless of political affiliation, gender, religious preference, etc) to explain it to me in terms as basic as you would like.

The 3 questions are: What are farm subsidies? Why were they started/created? Why do we need them?

Of course I am doing my own independent reading. But I would like to hear from someone else about this. For now I am indifferent, only because I am not informed. Thanks

[StosselClassroom]

@drbayoms Farm subsidization started during the Great Depression when farms were primarily small family-owned operations (they now only account for ~1/4 of subsidy beneficiaries). Reasoning I've heard in favor of subsidies is usually that subsidization provides a guaranteed income for farmers, so they're less likely to stop farming or farm less (which would increase food prices and possibly importation of foreign food). ... Con't.

[StosselClassroom]

@drbayoms Unfortunately, the greatest practical problem with those lower prices for US food is the market distortion is creates. Subsidies increase the value of specific labor, throwing the whole system off equilibrium. Impoverished foreign farmers suffer from subsidization the most now that we're in the "Global Age." World agricultural commodities prices sink due to US (& other industrialized nations') farm subsidies increasing supply, making the foreign farmer's labor worth less.

[StosselClassroom]

@drbayoms And of course there are the ideological arguments that government's role is not to redistribute wealth. -- Let me acknowledge another argument in favor of subsidies, though. Aside from lowering food prices for consumers, and lessening reliance on foreign food, it's also argued farm subsidies reduce the likelihood of famine. Monsanto's domination of US agricultural seeds aside, this is plausible, though we reduce our food's geographical diversity, so if the US crops fail, US may starve.

[StosselClassroom]

@drbayoms Oh -- and farm subsidies are paid directly. You apply, gov't bureaucracy reviews, and you're approved or denied. If approved, you're given a check with no strings attached. If you're interested in farmers (and non-farmers) being paid to NOT farm, Google the Agricultural Adjustment Act -- another Great Depression law.

[sniper6081]

My god.  Imagine how much food this country could produce without farm subsidies. We could make our houses out of food.

[Kingdom007Hearts]

If you like this, you should check out the documentary called Food Inc. it might change your mind on food subsidies and other agriculture related material

[gjc82071]

@jeffsandychelsea @jeffsandychelsea Figuratively speaking? Or literally? It's impossible to live without a brain, so that excludes literally. But since you can't comprehend my basic theory about "food security" being vital to national security, well then it seems more likely that YOU are the 1 who is lacking a brain. Figuratively speaking that is.

[jeffsandychelsea]

@gjc82071 You seem to think that because a law says it will do "X", its effect must be "X". You clearly don't have a brain.

[JonathanBatter]

wouded fetus



[madass888]

New Zealand has no farm subsidies and they one of the healthiest agricultural industries in the world.

[IngloriusBastard11]

It is a win-win situation for everyone with the exception of the American taxpayer.

[IngloriusBastard11]

So, here is the deal. You start paying me to NOT grow something so that there isn't a glut in the marketplace. So, I stop growing marijuana because it competes with the Colombian's. So, because they have a stronger Lobby than I do they influence the Congress, and the Senate, to allow them to export more marijuana into the United States which means that the cost of my marijuana goes into the dumper.

I in turn collect a check from the United States Government for growing less marijuana.

[gjc82071]

@IngloriusBastard11 Yes to everything but the elimination of farm subsidies. Maybe you don't understand why food security is a vital interest to national security, but I do. Perhaps we could survive without foreign oil, but how long we could survive without food? Are you really proposing that we depend on other countries for our food? If we were in that situation, & considering the USA's current standing in the world, can you even contemplate the effects of a food embargo? Apparently not.

[gjc82071]

Look at farm subsidies in the context of defense spending. It ensures food security. We already depend on foreign oil & look at the trouble it causes. Can you imagine the problems we'd have if we had to depend on foreign countries for the most basic of human necessities? Our farmers are every bit as, if not more efficient than farmers from other countries. The difference in wages makes it hard for US farmers to compete. If farmers need some of my taxes to ensure US food security, so be it.

[drbayoms]

@StosselClassroom

I never sent you a reply. Meant to tell you thanks. I appreciate the information!

[IngloriusBastard11]

These are the same people who want to get rid of providing anything to the less fortunate but when it comes to Farm Subsidies they can not live without them.

Here is how to save trillions for the American people.

Eliminate Farm Subsidies

Eliminate Oil and Gas Subsidies

Eliminate the giving billions and billions to Isreal, Pakistan, Egypt, Mexico, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Eliminate the lucrative retirement and benefits programs for Congressman and Senators.

VOTE FOR ME.