Cooking Up A Story: Food News—The Farm Bill-Part 1

In this series of conversations with Dan Imhoff, he explains how the farm bill has evolved, and what it has come to mean for farmers and the American public. If you think it's just politics as usual, you may be astonished at what you hear...

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[aContribution]

So why are we subsidizing obesity? Americans are paying taxes which promote unhealthy ways and paying for healthcare to attempt take care of some of the symptoms resulting from eating this "food".

[cookingupastory]

You could let your congressperson know. healthyfarmbill[dot]org has a form ready to send, or you could write your own. Let them know it's time for a change.

[785070707]

we really need to revolt against this bull shit government. they have their hands in every aspect of our lives. were living in Communist, china now., stop giving these bastards your money, throw them all in prison. Start a whole new government.

[CouldNotCareLes]

@kingobnoxious - 2/3 of the funding in the bill is for food stamps and other supplemental food programs, supposedly to create a market for ag products. The trouble is that food in the grocery store is only 2% ag product. The other 98% is 'value added' processing, packaging, and marketing.

The cartoon characters on the box make more money off of food stamps than the farmers who grew the food.

Les

[FireweedFarm]

Here AND in his book he confuses us. Yes, low priced corn, soybeans, etc. is a problem. No the New Deal Programs did not cause it, their elimination caused it, as history shows. Early farm bills/lprogs had no corn/bean commodity subsidies. Fair, optimum prices are needed (not minimum/maximum volatility). Price floors and supply management were good for US and LDC farmers/economies/hunger (with reserves, ceilings). nffc.net is US leader, not Imhoff. Cf. Google "Farm Bill Primer" "zspace"

[kingobnoxious]

Senate Passes $286 Billion Farm Bill, Expanding Subsidies for Growers.

Ron Paul on farm Subsidies: on ABC he stated that he has never voted for them and is against them. Google search the issue. Theres a ABC video with RP on this issue but I don't know how to add it, sorry.

[aContribution]

Yes--the subsidies must go. The use of corn for ethanol places more pressure on keeping those subsidies. We should be supporting SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, EFFICIENT alternative fuels. Ethanol corn, at this point is NOT any of these things.

Promote (vs. subsidize) ORGANIC vegetable and fruit production and access.

Promote conservation of land.

[communitywork]

Call the Capitol switchboard 202-224-3121 urge your Senators to support important provisions of Food&Energy Security Act (HR 2419/S.2302) especially the safebox, with no waivers, which sets aside $600 million of PL 480 Title II resources for development programs

[communitywork]

Vote YES on the Dorgan-Grassley amendment, which ensures support for U.S. farmers who need it most. Today 66 percent of commodity payment programs go to 10 percent of our nation's farmers, the biggest and most affluent. Urge the Senate to pass a fair commodity title that better targets payments to those who need them while closing loopholes that have permitted the powerful to collect multiple payments.

[communitywork]

The U.S. Bishops have stated that "the primary goals of agricultural policies should be providing food for all people and reducing poverty among farmers and farmworkers in this country and abroad." (For I Was Hungry and You Gave Me Food: Catholic Reflections on Food, Farmers and Farmworkers).