I've never understood this. Why do we subsidize farmers when prices fall? Bush is proposing the reduction or elimination of this practice in his new budget and of course the farm states are strongly opposing. Why are farmers exempt from the free market? I work for a family owned business and they don't get bailed out if thier market changes. Other than sentimentality, is there any reason to continue this practice?

 

So they don't just fold and decide to become engineers or real estate brokers, thus cutting down on an area of self-sufficiency and requiring that we look to Mexico or Europe for our food supply? I'm with you...I think that money could be better used for:

The measure passed late July 15 by 365-41 continues a post-September 11, 2001, trend of increasing U.S. foreign aid spending. While the bill would provide 9 percent less than the Bush administration requested, it would provide 11 percent more than the FY04 amount.

The measure would continue funding approximately $75 million in development aid for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. All aid to Palestinians would go to private voluntary organizations or contractors, all monitored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

It would include $456 million for economic and military assistance to Jordan. This aid would help Jordan deal with border security and help modernize its information technology sector, according to reports.

The measure would provide $311 million for humanitarian aid for Sudan and prohibit any funds to go to the Sudanese government unless the secretary of state certifies it has ended all support for militias attacking civilians in the western region of Darfur.

It would also provide $500 million for the republics of the former Soviet Union and $375 million for Eastern Europe and the Baltic states.

And so on and so on.... http://www.independent-media.tv/item.cfm?f...%20and%20Policy

Good lord...can we keep some of the money here to help people who actually deserve our support???

 

Now why would we want to do that? (please excuse my sarcasm)
And we can have 3 more budgets just like this in the next three years. (oops more off the same)

A country that does not produce it's own food is at the mercy of those that do, unless of course you just want to invade. (no sarcasm, current policy)

 

Yeah, the foreign aid policy under the Democrats was a heck of a lot better (oops, more sarcasm):

[QUOTE]President Clinton sent a $1.84 trillion budget request to Capitol Hill, the last of his eight-year administration. The budget request included $15.1 billion in funding for all

 

I was agreeing with you, this is not about polical parties, but about policy.

I can't seem to remember ANY president cutting taxes in creasing the OUTFLOW of money in foreign aid WHILE cutting social programs in the US.

 

Yeah, I know - but you did get your "next 3 years" zing in there. I agree...this is a bipartisan failure. While there are some foreign programs we probably need to be involved in (those protecting OUR interests, and only OUR interests...sorry, we have enough humanitarian issues at home that need addressing...private funding comes through in a big way - we want private subsidation of something, lets start with funding of foreign humanitarian needs), we could probably run with a fairly balanced, non-deficit budget if we cut out the rest of this crap.

Foreign aid is as screwed up as our own welfare system...we've not only created a society in the U.S. that is totally depending on government assistance, now we've created nations that will never support themselves because the world (and predominantly, the U.S.) is supporting them.

 

Agri land also gets special treatment when it comes to local real property taxes (at least it does here) and it can qualify for special valution for estate tax purposes.

I don't understand farming subsidies either. I have a cousin who married a farmer in NC who grows soybeans, among other things. I've never heard them mention subsidies....

 

Did I hear correctly that the Commerce Dept. budget is to be increased 49%? That can't be right, can it? Why? Tell me I heard that wrong...

 

We have the same tax benefits in NJ for farmers and it is a very good thing here with the population growth and development forcing many farmers to sell.

Farm subsidies, as I understand them, are strange things. Much pf them go to agri-business companies, but some still do go to the family farmers. I am not sure where most oif the support is these days but I believe that there is still a fair amount that is assigned to grain sales. (I could be wrong on that.)

rjosey, the zinger on the next three years is because I am quite concerned as are congressmen from bith sides of the aisle about the future of many of the good social programs, Medicaid (if you are caring for parents, this is an issue), and education.

 

^^ That would be true!