Farmers Shaken by Bush's Subsidy Plan

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2005/02/11/national/a110405S68.DTL

<snip>

President Bush, in his budget plan released Monday, is proposing to cut farm subsidies by 5 percent this year, cap them at $250,000 per farm and reduce overall spending by about one-third over across the next decade.

<snip>

From North Dakota wheat country through the Midwest Corn Belt to the South's cotton fields, farmers who considered their government payments guaranteed are worried.

"What do they want from us? Do they really want us to succeed out here and support our local communities? Or do they want us to quietly go away and sell out to an investor?" asked Eunice Biel, a dairy farmer with 860 acres near Harmony, Minn.

<snip>

In many farm states that helped re-elect Bush in November after never hearing any campaign talk about cutting their payments, there is a sense of betrayal.

"I'm not happy. I voted for George Bush," said cotton grower John Rife of Ferriday, La.

[Cha]

1. Of course you did..ya

fucking idiot!

"I'm not happy. I voted for George Bush," said cotton grower John Rife of Ferriday, La."

[spotbird]

24. Well John,

at least you can sleep easy knowing that gay's who didn't have the right to marry before the election still don't have the right to marry.

[Cha]

26. bush's..

"GOTCHA"

[MADem]

80. And they won't be getting US cotton sheets as a wedding gift, either! n/t

[VegasWolf]

59. How do you say Dumb Used Sucker in farm talk? n/t

[Stew225]

84. zidzi, funny post. You made me laugh and

also read my mind with your comment.

[lazarus]

119. Me, too

I'm not happy he voted for Bush, either.

[CindyDale]

2. Yeah, John, you're a sucker. We tried to tell ya.

[ChemEng]

47. So, are you in favor of subsidies to mega-farmers?

I hate to say it, but I happen to agree with this move. Why should any farmer get over $250,000 per year in subsidies? Hell, that qain't a family farm!

[CindyDale]

52. Better that Halliburton should get it?

The point is that John voted wrong.

[Conservativesux]

75. There is nothing "small farmer" about big Agri-Business concerns

I know from first hand experience.

These people are as much big corporate hacks as any other huge corporation.

They pay poor undocumented Mexican workers peanuts to work the fields and expect Uncle Sam to bail them out when the weather turns sour.

You want some horror stories about all the ground-water pollution these so-called "farmers" produce?

Dont even get me started on that subject!

[okieinpain]

103. but isn't the reason that got started was people were not interested

in taking the big risks with farming. so what happens to the food supply if everybody gets out and there's nobody growing except the really big companies.

[bahrbearian]

130. The corporate farms just want a level playing Field.

Just like Wall Mart.

[jonnyo]

98. You think Corporate Farms will be hurt by Legislation designed by the GOP?

When the final bill gets el douches signature you can bet your own farm that Corporate Handouts to Mega Farms will be untouched.

This will be designed to rub out what's left of the family farm so their land goes up for auction.

[hatrack]

102. Exactly!

Some farmers can and will be hurt by subsidy cuts. They will not include ADM, Cargill, IBP, Premium Standard or any of the other corporate giants.

They'll find ways to pass out financial dick-splints to the agri-elite, and if a few tens of thousands of farmers lose their support, well tough shit. The GOP got their votes, and now it doesn't need them any more.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

3. Wonder how South Dakota farmers feel...

They ousted the one guy who would have fought for them. WAKE UP people!!!!

[T Bone]

69. S Dakota farmers who helped ditch Daschle deserve everything they

now (don't) get.

Seems to me. looks like they're gonna get a screwin' but good.

[barb162]

109. waking up now does them no good and they couldn't be awakened

about their boy prior to the election. They refused to open their eyes. Should I feel sorry for them? I don't know, it's a really hard lesson.

[wryter2000]

4. Gee, John

"I'm not happy. I voted for George Bush," said cotton grower John Rife of Ferriday, La.

Gee, John. Maybe you can make a few extra bucks by getting a job with Haliburton in Iraq.

[Emboldened Chimp]

15. Gee, John, if you take your head out of your ass and look around..

...you might see that the guy you voted for is a lying sack of shit.

[Undercover Owl]

30. I'm getting a visual....

When he takes his head out of his ass, everything will look like shit. He won't even notice B*sh is a "sack of shit".

(i'm lost...i'm looking for the lounge):o

[Redstone]

5. This is utter bollocks...

I don't have the statistics right at hand, but the vast majority of farms that get federal subsidies are large corporate farms, and the vast majority of real family farms do not get federal subsidies.

Roll over the rocks whenever you hear something like this, and you'll find Cargill or Monsanto or ADM slithering around in the muck. Guaranteed.

Redstone

[thinkingwoman]

16. that may or may not be true

All I know is that almost every family farmer in this rural midwestern area is getting a subsidy. None of them are large corporate farms. Not one.

[Redstone]

87. OK, how about this, thinkingwoman?

I'm not being snotty; I'm asking a serious question and would value your opinion.

How about NO farm subsidies for anyone? Seems to me that the market would force prices up to levels that would make the farms sustainable. Make farming just like any other business, in other words. The Government doesn't subsidize my business.

Or would this put more family farms out of business because the large agribiz companies would be able to kill the smaller farms via a price war? Do the subsidies help prevent that from happening--in other words do they help level the playing field?

Just asking. We buy farm products locally whenever possible (which ends up being very close to 100% of our food purchases in season), and they're more expensive than the grocery store but not even close to a budget-breaker.

I don't think it would hurt America in general if farm products were allowed to rise in price to sustainable levels.

After all, the money we save because of artificially-cheap wheat, etc end up getting eaten up by taxes to pay for the subsidies, yes?

Redstone

[seasat]

21. 'Zactly according to CNN about 80% are corporate.

I'm not opposed to capping these subsidies. Daschle tried to hold them to lower levels where they would mainly apply to smaller family farms and not big corporate farms. The Repubs were the ones that originally pushed the higher subsidiy levels through to benifit their corporate farm contributors. Now that they Helped put Shrub Inc back in power, It's "Y'all dun good but I've got bigger donors (OIL) that I care more about and countries to invade." I hope they realize how much they shafted themselves for a few pieces of silver. However, I can't feel sorry for them. I feel sorry for people like my father-in-law who don't qualify for a subisidy and work 4 jobs just to keep their farm solvent. (He voted for Kerry!)

Link to a story on the 2002 farm bill

[amandabeech]

54. Many family-operated farms are held in the corporate form.

Only a few family members own the shares, and the corporation is taxed like a partnership, another form of ownership used by family farms. The corporate ownership form helps limit the personal liability of the owners above insurance for farm accidents, etc.

The large farms cited by the media may very well be owned by a family or family group. Some family-owned farms are very, very large. U.S. family farms do not mean forty acres and a mule.

The better method to distinguish between farms that could use a subsidy and those the shouldn't would be on number of acres adjusted according to crop.

Also, remember that only corn, wheat, cotton, rice and soybean crops are eligible to receive subsidies. Growers of minor grain crops, fruits, nuts and vegetables do not receive subsidies. Animal husbandry operations receive subsidies only indirectly through the purchase of subsidized grain and products made from such grain.

I support subsidies for small and medium-sized owner-operated farms because I think that it is imperative for a nation to have a good ratio between farmers and cropland. Farmers don't just bury a few seeds in the ground. Farming takes considerable knowledge and skill. We need to have plenty of farmers around who know what they're doing to take over from those retiring and to provide sufficient farmers to take over split-up megafarms should farming conditions change, for example, with peak oil.

Also, as the article says, optimistic farmers make more stable rural communities that don't just dry up and blow away. Vibrant towns and small cities help keep down urban sprawl and make room for those who really don't thrive in big-city life.

[sandnsea]

67. Now, NO family farms will get subsidies

Because none of them will exist! They're not just cutting, they're rearranging the rules to get a subsidy. In addition, they're requiring family farms to get crop insurance to get the subsidy, so it comes in one door and goes straight to the insurance company. Just enough squeeze to put the family farm out of business altogether. Straight from Heritage. I don't think Heritage suddenly got in the business of looking out for the little guy.

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Budget/bg1763.cfm

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

79. My first thought at subsidy cuts:

ADM.

And then someone posted "Who's going to buy all the forclosed farm land?"

And my thought didn't change.

[cascadiance]

106. Farm subsidies don't just affect farmers they affect outsourcing too...

With the heavy subsidies to the corn syrup manufacturers (the big guys, not the little farmers here), it allows our companies to "dump" our sugar/sweetener products in South American markets where a big segment of their economies have been locally grown sugar and other agricultural products (like the Dominican Republic). By subsidizing our sugar exports and artificially lowering the cost of them in these countries, it is putting the farmers there out of business to the point that they have to sell their farms and go work for *cheap* in their cities doing other things for work, like work in other industries which provide "cheap" outsourcing to American companies.

All of the fat cats win with the subidies to the big agri-companies here:

1) the corn syrup and other such subsidized companies here who get more business with us taxpayers helping to pay their bottom line.
2) the wealthy real estate speculators (both American and in South America) buying up land cheaply from these farmers to help them set up foreign businesses there more easily on the cheap.
3) a cheap labor supply for these businesses located there with the additional ex-farmers looking for work to help them provide outsourcing of jobs from here that much more cheaply.
4) all of the politicians in between and in the WTO who are paid off for this sort of thing.

In short, we're all being stiffed folks (foreign laborers included), when the subisidies go to the big agri-businesses and take out the small family farmers here (AND there!).

[elehhhhna]

6. boo-hoo.

Why didn't the farmers call him out when he lied about them losing their family farms to the now-repealed "Death tax"? It was okay for him to lie then.

Let 'em offset the loss with their new low federal tax rates.

[Canuckistanian]

17. And their new PRIVATE ACCOUNTS!

They'll all be rich!

[wildeyed]

7. They don't care about us, they only care about the fat cats.

Tried to warn you.

In many farm states that helped re-elect Bush in November after never hearing any campaign talk about cutting their payments, there is a sense of betrayal.

"I'm not happy. I voted for George Bush," said cotton grower John Rife of Ferriday, La.

[sickinohio]

8. Hmmm - bet the farmers would STILL vote for Bu$hCo if they had

it to do all over again (they do have their moral values, you know)!!! GeeeZ - I hated driving through the farm country every day heading the 30 miles to Toledo OH seeing all the "Support President Bu$h and Our Troops" and "Catholics against Kerry" signs. What idiots - they voted against their own well being (and ours) and are probably too stupid to realize it!!


:grr:

[sickinohio]

12. Just and addendum - I think maybe I will stop by a couple of those

old f**kers homes on the way home and ask them how they feel now that their chimp is throwing them out to pasteur!!!

:mad:

[sarahlee]

38. Have some of those signs where I am

I'm thinking about the need for some "night work" on those signs during the next full moon - with a paint brush and a small can of black paint. Just have to come up with something very short and sweet that gets the point across. Like . . .

--Thanks for killing family farms (too long)
--"Subsidies" in one of those circles with the line through it

Something to remind them they did this to themselves.

[alfredo]

56. Ha Ha Suckers!!!

[cornermouse]

9. They want you to sell, Eunice.

[Warpy]

10. I have very little sympathy for these short sighted, stupid

sons of bitches. Perhaps when they're going deeper into debt every year they can pat themselves on the back for the fact that gays can't get married.

Of course, this is going to mean more inflation at the super market, but we're used to that, right?

[Norwood]

11. You made your bed now lie in it!

"I'm not happy. I voted for George Bush," said cotton grower John Rife of Ferriday, La.

No sympathy from me, you voted for the chimp now suffer for it!

Of course when it comes time for another election they will vote republican like the sheep that they are.

[FlyByNight]

13. Finding it difficult to feel any sympathy...

for you Mr. Rife.

Bush's only loyalties lie with his contributors and sycophants. You were used. Suffer.

[Politicub]

14. Morons

Where did they think the subsidies come from? Under a cabbage leaf?

Elect a dem, get a progressive farm bill
Elect a repug and get a bunch heaping pile of nothing

At least these farmers can sleep better tonight knowing queers can't marry. Maybe they can tend thier crops with purple heart bandaids.

[DELUSIONAL]

18. This is THEIR problem since they voted for the village idiot

I have no empathy for anyone who voted for bushie.

[Conservativesux]

72. I couldnt agree more! They thought * was a "country boy" like them !

WRONG!!!

[Liberal Veteran]

19. But imagine how the farmers would have to struggle if...

...gay people were allowed to get married!

[llmart]

20. Well, cry me a river Mr. Rife......

you deserve everything you get and then some you stupid jerk. Too bad the rest of us who were smart enough to see through the lies and bullshit have to suffer too.

[GetTheRightVote]

22. I can sell you the Golden Gate Brigde cheap, hello farmers

been telling you for years now, now they feel betrayal, welcome to our side of the road you foolish people.

:kick:

[SoCalDem]

23. Too bad, Old MacDonald...aren't you glad you voted for Bush now?

How's it feel to have no nose?

[Piperay]

25. Haha

FINALLY those who voted for him are getting a taste of what they put into office. :nopity:

[slor]

27. Do not be sad my red farmers...

while you starve to death, you can rest easy that 2 men that love each other cannot get married.

[othermeans]

28. Thanks for the votes suckers! nt

[genieroze]

29. "I'm not happy. I voted for George Bush,"

said cotton grower John Rife of Ferriday, La.


Ha Ha

Grow this a-hole

http://www.thehia.org/hempfacts.htm

[RubyCat]

31. Why do farmers hate America?

(sarcasm off)

I remember seeing a pro-bush billboard during the campaign that read "Remember, it's YOUR money." Hint, hint. Wink, wink. What, are the Democrats out to steal the red-stater's money? Is it the poor people, brown-skinned people, or foreigners?

These guys sacrificed their farm subsidies so that the already wealthy can have their tax cuts and so that the neocons can have their unnecessary war in Iraq. And the cognitive dissonance grows louder... It's almost time for a nervous breakdown!


-----

In many farm states that helped re-elect Bush in November after never hearing any campaign talk about cutting their payments, there is a sense of betrayal.

"I'm not happy. I voted for George Bush," said cotton grower John Rife of Ferriday, La.

-----

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

53. The ABSOLUTELY first thing that Dean should do...

Is deploy troops to the farm country hardest hit by this. The absolute first thing.

[confludemocrat]

90. As Roosevelt did in 1933...

This is absolutely right, you could smell defeat coming for the Demos in the heartland this past year, it did not go unnoticed in The Nation for example that Kerry had done next to nothing to deploy a campaign in rural areas on economic issues, despite there being some dissatisfaction with where Bush is headed. The victory of Schweitzer in Montana tapped into some of that. But this task will be a tough one. These areas areas are fading fast and they exhibit some of traits noted by people Roosevelt sent out early in the Depression: " "Patriotic, religious, gentle, of 'pure Anglo-Saxon stock'...they lived in "stark destitution" and exhibited "stoic resignation". This has not changed people. A strategy is needed to reach them, if we can put aside how contemptible they may seem at times.

[donheld]

32. I think we at DU coulda told tehm this would happen

But at least gay's can't get married. The red's had their priorities a little askew.

[4nemesis]

33. You Reap What You Sow

Silly farmers.:silly:

[sarahlee]

39. That is a good one! n/t

n/t

[ticapnews]

117. Or: You Weep What You Sow (eom)

[two gun sid]

34. Hey John Farmer, Bush is just a regular guy and he prays....

everyday. At least a man of god is finally in the White House.

These Bush voters are so fuckin' gullible.

[snippy]

35. Bush "preys" everyday. I doubt that he ever prays. n/t

[Untouchedalarm]

77. Tee Shirt Quote

Very good

[GoddessOfGuinness]

78. You've got that right...

Interesting homonyms, those two...

[tinfoilinfor2005]

88. Bush Preys Every Day

What a great bumper sticker that would make! Thanks!! ;)

[Bake]

116. Sadly, that's too subtle ...

Most of the morans won't get it.

Bake

[LibDemAlways]

121. Yep, "Bush Preys Every Day"

would be interpreted as pro chimp by the average freeper. Would be pretty damn funny to see that on a bumper sticker right next to "God Bless America" and "W04."

[tinfoilinfor2005]

127. You know, I thought that too,

but then I thought, I'm just being mean spirited. Heh, heh, heh, nice to see I have people out there who think like me!

[hollowdweller]

36. They won't need those subsidies with that big tax cut they got

Actually anybody who wasn't delusional could see this shit coming.

[against all enemies]

37. This is one issue I agree with Bush on. Farmer welfare should be scaled

back. At least so that the huge corporation farms stop getting so much freakin money. Then again, as with all things Bush, the corporations will probably still get their welfare checks and the mom and pop farm will go down the drain.

Funny how Eunice Biel wants a government handout so she can "support our local communities", but I bet she would curse that damn government if they ever tried to help some inner city woman that wanted to support her local community.

Another Republican Hypocrite.

This is my 1000th post, and the 10,000th time I've said "another Republican hypocrite", and I will be able to say it another million times. If anyone is still reading can you name a Republican that isn't a hypocrite? Just asking.

[stevedeshazer]

40. I'm still reading

And I can't.

[against all enemies]

45. Made me laugh. thanks

[koopie57]

41. these farmers are missing the benefit out of all of this

once they loose the farm, their kids who were helping them work it will be free to join the army.

on edit: lose? my poor brain is fried and I'm too lazy to double check.

[freethought]

42. Like I have said many times!

They wanted them they got him!

[depakid]

43. I don't feel the slightest bit sorry for ANY of them- IF

they supported the war.

That $5 billion a month could have gone a long way toward farm supports- and a great many other things...

shoulda thought about that before voting for Bush and/or beating the war drums....

[Pachamama]

44. I remember watching on CNN all those smiling "W" sign-waving Farmers

that Bush was visiting in Iowa and elsewhere and thinking "how can they possibly think that he's going to look out for them?"

And sure enough, all those people in the "heartland" who voted for Bush are sitting there scratching their heads going what happened....I'm sorry for them, but on the otherhand, they had been warned....

No Schadenfreude here....but I'm angry because they should have known better and now we are all paying the price....

:grr:

[tlcandie]

86. Remember that speech out in the field with hay bales

and farm land in the backdrop and farmers and families sitting down listening to their savior?

[Pachamama]

129. Yes, I do - And I'd love to see a poll of those people now....

Ya think they still would be loving their saviour?

:eyes:

"But Jeezus told him to do this....its for our penance for our sins"....that's sadly the most likely answer of those crazy enough to still support him....

The ones who are getting squeezed and are using their brains vs brainwashed are probably just now realizing how used and screwed they have been....

[jody]

46. Bush will destroy small farmers and leave only large agri-business. n/t

[Wapsie B]

48. They voted for the chimp.

Sorry Ethel, you WILL go quietly away and sell to an investor. The thing is these programs don't reward small farmers at all. We see large farmers wanting to get larger simply to qualify for more gov't subsidies.

The sad thing is though that by 2008 this will be forgotten. If not forgotten it will be blamed on those damned leftist welfare queens.

[manly]

111. Ethel

Too bad Ethel and farmer john won't ever get to see these pungent comments.

[drm604]

49. You know, I want to feel sorry for these people...

I really sincerely do. But damn, I just can't find it within myself. All I feel is anger at their willful ignorance and stupidity. Friggin idiots.

[hadrons]

50. I found a pic of John Rife of Ferriday, La.

"I'm not happy. I voted for George Bush," said cotton grower John Rife of Ferriday, La.

[Kimber Scott]

51. Fooled you once, he thought he might as well fool you again.

I'm so sad for our country.

[raysr]

55. HA HA HA FUCKING

HA HA!!!

[Carolina]

57. they voted for that lyin' sack of shit

because his morals matched theirs (or so we were told to believe), now let them eat their family values pie and faith based soup!

I have no sympathy.

[Squeegee]

58. When will they ever learn...

Republicans aren't *for the people*. The real farm subsidies are going to the corporate farms. Welcome to the corporate-welfare state.

[Mountainman]

60. This a big part of what it takes for us to get back in the game.

I've said it a hundred times but I'll say it again. People will not want a change until there hurt bad enough.

This right wing show will have to play itself out before we get a chance to offer an alternative and if we are not there with a good alternative we haven't done our job.

Bush could be handing us the White House on a silver platter, it's up to us to show America that we are better. Bush will show them how bad he is, we don't have to do that anymore.

Give them a reason to vote for our guy/gal and not against theirs.

[Kenneth ken]

66. well said.

I can't say I like reading most of the posts on this thread. We're supposed to be the people with compassion. Not much of that on this thread.

It is up to the left to put forward better ideas of how to make this country work for all of "we the people" and that does include farmers.

I think the Dems are finally moving in the proper direction by having Dean as DNC chair, but it really, really needs to be us - the regular folk that push this party to push this country toward the ideals upon which it was founded.

:hi:

[tavalon]

93. Sorry, but I agree with Molly Ivins on this one

The only way to get a chicken killin' dog to stop killing chickens is to take one of the killed chickens and attach it to the dog with baling wire and keep it attached to the dog while it rots off. Nobody, including that dog will want to be around that stench. When the last rotted piece of the chicken falls off of the dog, the dog won't ever kill another chicken.

Almost half of the voters voted Bush in. The time has come to get out the baling wire and wrap it around the red staters so that, after the next four years, when the last piece of this rotting administration falls away, they won't ever vote against their best interests again.

Assuming, of course, that any of us ever get to vote again.

[Kenneth ken]

124. Ah, I see

that must be why I'm out of step here, I'm not keen on animal abuse either, whether it be physical, or 'merely' psychological (psycho logical?) abuse.

[Behind the Aegis]

61. hmmm

Looks like they will suffer along with the rest of the "Librul elite!" Oh well, they should keep in mind that old farmer saying....you reap what you sow!

[pinniped]

62. For anyone who was awake the last four years,...

there were numerous other reasons not to vote for this lying piece of shit.

--In many farm states that helped re-elect Bush in November after never hearing any campaign talk about cutting their payments, there is a sense of betrayal.

"I'm not happy. I voted for George Bush," said cotton grower John Rife of Ferriday, La.--

[oasis]

63. Don't start pouring into the blue states looking for a handout. Morons.

[Mountainman]

64. Awh shut up silly woman, said that reptile with a grin, you knew damned

well I was a snake before you took me in.

[distantearlywarning]

65. They voted for him, they can live with the consequences

for a while. That's how people learn - by living with the consequences of mistakes.

[are_we_united_yet]

68. "I'm not happy. ...."

Like I give a shit

[jokerman93]

70. This is precisely the genius of George W. Bush

He has managed to be a documented liar and traitor before the world, and then has convinced people that he'd lie to anybody else but them.

The world is better than cartoons.

[True_Blue]

71. The GOP hypocrisy is laughable

The repugs have a total disdain for social programs, but are only too happy to rely on Washington and blue-state wealth to keep them in the style to which they have become accustomed. It's about time the rural, midwest, red states start to feel their own beliefs.

[Solly Mack]

73. You got exactly what you voted for...so why the complaining?

I feel for you. I just can't reach you.

You were warned...you called us crazy liberals..the fringe..commies.
We told you Bush is a liar...you called us "anti-American" and "unpatriotic".

Well? How's it feel?

[98geoduck]

74. Let's hope next time they listen to Willy!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

76. Listen...

Could that be the sound of the shit finally hitting the fan?

[UL_Approved]

81. This is the beginning of the end

Well, people, the end of the GOP rampage is on the horizon.

Farmers have voted for the GOP since Abraham Lincoln. They did so because of the land expansion after the Civil War.

The GOP is now taken over by corporate robber barons. The GOP has betrayed the farm community since the early 1900's, but change does happen.

If you have no money to support a lifestyle, something has to give. We've lost many farms over the years, and we still have a solid GOP contingency in rural America. But as the GOP totally removes all safeguards for family farms, the last remaining people will go away from the Neo-Con onslaught.

When you are starving to death and losing your farm, and the GOP has been in power for a long time, you have to make a choice. After all, we got FOUR terms of FDR. Remember that.

[Barkley]

82. Dems need to embrace/ recruit the "John Rifes" and "Eunice Biels"

with a plan that protects their farms.

I'm not happy Mr. Rife voted for Bush either so we have something in common.

[cascadiance]

122. Yes, we should leave an open door for these folks to come into our camp...

But we should also demand that they yell at the top of their lungs that they were screwed, so there can be no mistake where they stand. We should make it clear to them, that if they want to work with us, they need to be more accepting of a democratic way of protecting all of our rights collectively and not those that they sought to narrowly force their views on by voting in Bush before.

These disaffected voters need to demand with the rest of us in a populist fashion that government works for *all* of us, and not corporate cronies. Once we've won that battle of getting the government to answer back to the people like a Democracy should, then we can go back to having differences amongst ourselves in a respectful manner.

[BR_Parkway]

83. Remember the words that came out of his mouth !!

Utilizing the power of local appeal, Bush pledged his commitment to the farmers of America and the use of ethanol.

"It's time to have a president who doesn't view agriculture as an economic stepchild, but as an important part of the future of this economy," Bush said.

http://www.dailyegyptian.com/fall00/10-09-00/cover.html

[d_b]

85. Maybe Jesus will subsidize your farm.

[in_cog_ni_to]

92. or maybe that fetus you don't want aborted.

:eyes: One issue voters are learning a lesson. No sympathy from me.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

89. Don't worry John...

Karl Rove will krank up the old Victrola with a stirring version of "I'm Proud to be an American" and you and the Mrs. will melt...all will be forgiven by the final stanza when Cheney cues the fireworks display.

[in_cog_ni_to]

91. We told ya so. I'm sorry, but I find it very difficult

to muster up sympathy for ANY Bush voter. They were all warned what this administration is all about and they chose to ignore the warnings for whatever reason. Now it's biting them in the ass. No sympathy from me. I wonder what % od farmers voted for the idiot? I bet it's pretty high. Oh well. This must have been what they wanted.

The Democrats have ALWAYS been the party of the people. They knew that.

[ernstbass]

94. No sympathy here

they got just what they voted for. I do, however, welcome them to stand with us against the chimp and his madness. But I save my compassion for those of us who voted against this asshole and got him anyways!

[QC]

95. While these people are watching the auctioneer sell the land

where their families have lived for a century, and while they are standing in the grocery store agonizing over whether they can afford that box of generic macaroni and cheese, they can console themselves that at least the fags aren't getting married.

Fuck 'em. And yes, I have been one of those people urging compassion around here, but my patience is pretty much shot. These people are getting what they voted for, and I hope they get a bellyful of it.

[VirginiaDem]

96. Lots of angles on this story...

First, our job in 2008 just got a lot easier in Iowa, maybe Minnesota, maybe Colorado (eastern half), and some of the other midwestern states that have significant areas of farming.

Second, Bush continues to sell out the Christian Right. Between this, the illegal guest worker program, relying on DOMA instead of pushing the anti-gay marriage deal, and of course social security "reform", it's clear that Bush is at least currently focused on the big business side of Republicanism. I know people think that the Republican party owns the Christian Right but I think it's the other way around. Things like this increase the chances that a wingnut will get the nomination (rather than someone with broad popular appeal like McCain or Giuliani) or the Christian Right will field and back a third-party candidate.

Our job at state-wide elections for 2006 got easier again. If the Dems under Dean can fashion a workable populist line, there will be a lot of switchover voters (with short memories) in 2006.

[jonnyo]

97. HA HA! Hey stupid Red Necks, how does the corn cob feel that Bush just

shoved up your ignorant moral values gapping oriface!?!

Don't worry, if you go broke you can always join the army, or, maybe get a job as a migrant worker.

Of course, you'd have to wait in line behind a string of "guest workers". Unless you'd like to work for a quarter a day. Then your application will be front row service in Bushland.

[w4rma]

99. The GOP "want {you} to quietly go away and sell out to an investor"

Exactly correct. That's exactly what they want you to do. The GOP is like the mafia for Big Buisness.

[ticapnews]

100. It's called "Buyer's Remorse"

These people should get used to this feeling for the next few years.

[sellitman]

120. Bingo!

:nopity:

[hatrack]

101. Did Farmer Brown and Mr. Greenjeans vote for Bush?

Then fuck them. FUCK THEM.

[eek MD]

104. Bush Used You!!!!

When are the majority of the poor, rural red-state repubs going to realize that bush and the repubs don't care about them.
That the repubs will play off of their religousness or their racism just enough to get their vote.....then laugh merrily as they toss handouts to their buddies, and spit on everyone else......
Hey John Rife-----I hate to say it, especially under the circumstances, but "I told 'ya so"

[pfitz59]

105. Aw, c'mon Bush* is a "farmer"!...and

he don't need no stinkin' subsidy! As Bubba used to say "Ah feeeeeel your pain!"

[Conservativesux]

115. * is a farmer, my donkeys' @$$ !!

[Rex]

107. Hey Mr. Rife

Fuck you for voting for a war criminal. I hope you lose the farm!

[northzax]

108. precisely why I favour my modern federalism

States should be conidered as independant entities in teh federal budget process. Over a two year period, the amount of money the federal government spends in any individual state must equalt the amount of federal tax revenue derived from that state. (I exempt the District of Columbia until such a time as the colonial government allows full representation for DC voters. I see no particular reason why New Yroks' tax dollars go to subsidize South Dakota. Those states that are able to create economic growth and revenue for the federal government will receive their fair share in federal spending. Those states that are unable to generate revenue will still get their fair share of federal spending. It will simply be less. (by the way, I allow a two year average to accomodate emergency spending)

I admit it's a little heartless, but it's what they want. What added value does New York get having family farms in Iowa (full disclosure, I stand to inherit 1/16th of a family farm in Iowa) I see no real added value, indeed, we all pay more in increased prices due to subsidies and price controls. it's an unsustainable business model, and one that should be put to bed.

[CTyankee]

110. Funny, veterans are saying the same thing

Just read a story on local vets who voted for Bush. They're pretty angry too. So when Bush screws everybody who isn't rich, will we get more angry Dems?

[sickinohio]

112. Also, kinda like my daughter (voted for Bush)

and complained that she has to pay $800 in state taxes here in Ohio. I wanted to say "that's what ya get for voted against your own well being", but I didn't seeing how we are now finally on a communicating level again. I wanted to say, ya know, the tax cuts have to be paid for somehow, somewhere, and since you aren't in the top rich and wealthy, looks like you're paying for it. I don't understand how anyone could have voted for that chimp.

[Jose Diablo]

113. It doesn't matter to Bu$h if they don't like it

He doesn't need them now. He is gonna do whatever he wants.

[Tabasco_Dave]

114. Don't worry John

When you lose your farm i'm sure you can get a nice minimum wage job at Walmart.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

118. Bush's Cowboy 'n' Ranch image spoke to them

Now it's mocking them to their faces. Too bad.

[Massachusetts]

123. Yup.

Welcome Starbucks Anarchist.:hi: :kick:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

135. Thanks

:)

[ticapnews]

125. Letter to the editor

The Columbia Daily Tribune ran the AP story on February 12 and I sent this letter to the editor today. I am sending similar letters to other papers throughout the midwest that also ran the story. I would encourage others to do the same.

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&lr=&tab=wn&ie=UTF-8&ncl=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp%3Fcategory%3D1110%26slug%3DFarm%2520Subsidies&filter=0&start=30&sa=N

To the editor:
I am writing regarding the piece "Some farmers feel betrayed by budget" (February 12 edition) because I find it difficult to understand why this surprises farmers. For four years the president has lied to us on any number of issues. But people in the heartland either didn't notice or didn't care. They had a choice on November 2: To stand with the people that have fought for them since the days of the Dust Bowl or to follow a man who has lied to them time and again. Now they must live with that decision. Farmers should be well acquainted with the phrase "You reap what you sow."

But I do offer these words of comfort to the thousands of real family farmers who must struggle not only against the weather and a global economy, but also against large agri-business concerns and now against a president who has betrayed them: They have borne far greater burdens through the years. Drought. War. The Great Depression. I hope the family farmer is able to weather this next storm. Farmers should also watch as the Democrats they so blithely rejected at the ballot box fight for them on the floor of Congress. Farmers will have new choices to make in 2006 and 2008. For their sake, they need to remember who lied to them and who continued to fight for them.

[Toucano]

126. But they're the FARM & RANCH TEAM!??!

[EndElectoral]

128. John, you've just been duped.

[Ravy]

131. I wouldn't be so sure....

This could be a plot so that the red-state representatives can "get it back" for their farmers, at the expense of another blue state program. They have the votes to do it, and it could be just a setup for '06.

Bush came out for oil-drilling in Florida so that Jeb could put a stop to it to help him in '02.

My money is on the subsidies remaining, saved by the "independent-minded" republicans who will step in to save the day for their constituents.

[NVMojo]

132. my son lives on a spread over in Idaho with this dad and his family

and he called me before the election and said he would have to vote for Bush cuz they told em down at the local grainery that Bush supports farmers and ranchers and John Kerry will take away their funds (as in subsidies)...I really hate telling my own flesh and blood "I told you so ..." but I have.

[orleans]

133. Dear John,

We voted for your best interests. And ours. And the best interests of this country.

Why were you so short-sighted? So selfish?

And now--as it turns out--so foolish?

"stupid is as stupid does" is an expression that comes to mind.

well, as mike malloy put it: SUCK IT UP! deal with it! live with it! you wanted it so bad--you got it!

unfortunately you also gave it to the rest of us. so i guess we all have you to thank when you lose the farm to big agri-business. enjoy all that fresh air & rural country livin' while you can. you're "down on the farm days" are numbered.

start counting.

(and yes, i'm sorry...sorry you were stupid & selfish enough to fu*k yourselves over and in turn fu*k the rest of us over as well.)

next time try to remember it's the democrats who are NOT the selfish ones--we have the best interests of EVERYONE at heart. including the family farmers.

[DemocracyInaction]

134. Luv it...bring it on!!!

I whooped when I heard it in his budget. It's been quite obvious that the ONLY thing that will wake this nation up is PAIN - and now those who danced with the devil know what pain feels like. Farm subsidies is the "Little House of the Prarie" version of 'welfare queens'--i.e., getting paid to do nothing!!! They would not stand with their fellow man (as they filled up those pews and declared how holy they were) and now they can suffer poverty with their fellow man. Let them watch the corporate farm roll them down FINALLY and and mow over them. That's the goal. Just like when being arrested for a crime that you didn't know was a crime, "you can't plead ignorance". America is now paying with their livelihood for their ignorance. And they deserve it.