Senators find sweet spot in ending benefits to millionaire Senators find sweet spot in ending benefits to millionaires: Finding a rare piece of common ground when it comes to spending limits, Republicans and Democrats in the Senate voted overwhelmingly Friday morning to cut off federal farm payment handouts to farmers who already make more than $1 million a year.
Sweet spot? They better get rid of it. I first became aware of it 4 years ago. I am stunned that in our current financial situation some of the scum that are supposedly trying to remedy it are still groveling in the corporate welfare money pit.
Farm subsidies Corporate Welfare, Dead Farmers get Billions, Corporations get millions! More spent than on Homeland Defense!
Farm subsidies is the largest Corporate Welfare program with more given to them than we spend on Home Land Defense. Dead Farmers get Billions, Corporations get millions and needy farmers get nothing but for Willie Nelson!
Four years ago I became aware of this corruptive program I never realized before because it was well hidden by corruptive Politicians. I keep seeing more and more related information and because of all the unfolding corruption and problems this is getting no attention and it should!
Having gone to an Agricultural High School I am a Farmer by Vocation I worked on and managed many farms. Struggling small farmers was to me normal and just thought that was part of the hard but fun life of today's farmers. That was before I served my country, became an accountant, then turned to writing the truth about Bush and the ever growing corruption.
Thinking that Farm Subsidies were out there to help average farmers, I should have known better but I was really caught off guard when I became aware that Washington spends more on corporate welfare than on homeland security and farm subsidies are America's largest corporate welfare program.
Farms have come a long way since subsidies were introduced as a temporary solution to alleviate the effects of the Great Depression. Today farms have one of the lowest failure rates of any industry in the country. But that is because of the millionaire farmers subsidized by Politicians as the small farmer continues to be left to fail and helped only by Willie Nelson and Farm Aid.
If farm subsidies were really about alleviating farmer poverty, then lawmakers could guarantee every full-time farmer an income of 185 percent of the federal level ($38,203 for a family of four) for under $5 billion annually — one-fifth the current cost of farm subsidies. Instead, small farmers are largely excluded from farm subsidies. Farm subsidy payments are based on acreage, so by definition, the largest agribusiness's get the largest subsidies. Consequently, commercial farmers — who report an average income of $200,000 and net worth of nearly $2 million — now collect the majority of farm subsidies. Most farm subsidy dollars go to millionaires.
The Environmental Working Groups farm subsidy database reveals that from 1995 to 2005, farm subsidies have been distributed to Fortune 500 companies such as John Hancock Life Insurance ($2,849,799) and Westvaco ($534,210); as well as celebrity hobby farmers like David Rockefeller ($553,782) and Ted Turner ($206,948). Even Members of Congress who vote on farm legislation have received subsidies, such as Sen. Charles Grassley (I-Iowa, $225,041) and Rep. John Salazar (D-Colo., $161,084). Farm subsidies for millionaires
Then like all the rest of the underhanded activities going on today it gets worse. I found out the U.S. Department of Agriculture distributed $1.1 billion over seven years to the estates or companies of deceased farmers and routinely failed to conduct reviews required to ensure that the payments were properly made, according to a government report. In a selection of 181 cases from 1999 to 2005, the Government Accountability Office found that officials approved payments without any review 40 percent of the time.
The report cited a 1,900-acre soybean and corn farm in Illinois that collected $400,000 on behalf of an owner who lived in Florida before his death in 1995. The company did not notify the government of the death but certified each year that the dead shareholder, who owned 40 percent of the company, was "actively engaged" in managing the farm. again the more you hear the worse it gets
In that report we hear from,Surprise! Senator Grassley of all people that these programs are to help- "needy" farmers, that to him is needy Millionaire corporate farmers. Knowing this Billion dollar corporate Welfare system has been going on at least under my radar can anyone really expect the no over sight, corruption champion Bush to veto the $300 billion farm bill expected to come before the U.S. House of Representatives this week? No way!
The farm bill, which includes $35 billion in crop subsidies for farmers, also contains production incentives that would benefit some of the world's biggest food companies, including Tyson Foods Inc. and Archer Daniels Midland Co.
This Bill did pass because many Republicans wanted it themselves an it primarily benefits wealthy Corporations not Needy or small family farmers. In steps Willie Nelson and Farm Aid. I have to say that I never realized how valuable him and farm aid was to average farmers. His help is priceless and often the only way small farmers in "serious" trouble can turn.
Willie is still Working to keep family farmers on their land, Farm Aid brings together family farmers and citizens to guarantee family farm food is available to you. Together we can restore family farm-centered agriculture that ensures safe, healthful food, protects natural resources, and strengthens local economies. Please learn more about Willie and farm aid!
I guess when all is said and done it should be no surprise that every single program that can be used to help the wealthy, is and as usual if average Americans are to get help they cannot rely on the Government but must rely on private interests as Katrina has highlighted.
Are we ever going to be able to get our Government honest and helping those that really need it? These S.O.B's did not hit the sweet spot, they should be condemned for screwing over the country and ripping off the people.
James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com
6 comments:
Good post, Jim. The tax laws of this country are the best that money can buy.
There's many things here to consider. I know that over the last 30 years that many of the farms in this area (small farms) are gone. First it was the savings and loan debacle of the 80s. And in just the last 10 years I've watched as most of the dairy farms disappeared. I can appreciate the farmers plight but in the case here it was more of a business decision. When the price of land here went through the roof and costs of running a farm did as well it made more sense to sell the land to developers than keep farming. So what was once farms running along the interstate we now have high tech and office parks.
Now this makes me wonder what that will do to food prices once the subsidies are gone.
Happy Birthday, old friend. :-)
Hi Vicki! Gee these got by me yesterday. Sweet spot my rear. They should all be taken out and shot for screwing us and saying they are on our side. They really peeve me.
Demeur those that could use these subsidies do not get them that is only one reason why they go under. Politicians and their rich friends get them, if you are lucky Willies group helps you. Most farmers I grew up with and have known since have gone under unless they owned outright, got very savvy in today's volatile business world, and do not have people building near them to be near a farm then having them shut down for the smell.
Thanks Tom my friend, I think of you often and hope you are well. I see you are doing very well with your site you deserve it man!
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