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End subsidies for Big Ag
Felice Pace
Felice Pace
Capital
Press Letter
March 19,
2009
The Capital Press was right to criticize the Obama administration's call for phasing out direct government payments to farms with sales of $500,000 or more. You correctly point out that high gross sales does not necessarily translate into high farm income. But the Capital Press and agricultural organizations should be careful not to oppose an end to government payments to wealthy farmers and farm corporations. Insisting on subsidies for rich farmers and corporations will erode support for farmers in the population as a whole.
"Bipartisan" support for the agricultural industry cannot match popular opinion. Popular support for farm programs has eroded and will end if Big Ag insists on receiving payments it doesn't need. Recognizing this threat to government farm programs as a whole, the Capital Press and savvy farmers should support strict limits on total government payments and an end to payments to very rich farmers and farm corporations.
The days of taxpayer-financed subsidies for the rich are ending. Our economy and our government can no longer support those subsidies. The agricultural industry should recognize the change and adapt to the new reality.
Felice Pace, Klamath, Calif.
The Capital Press was right to criticize the Obama administration's call for phasing out direct government payments to farms with sales of $500,000 or more. You correctly point out that high gross sales does not necessarily translate into high farm income. But the Capital Press and agricultural organizations should be careful not to oppose an end to government payments to wealthy farmers and farm corporations. Insisting on subsidies for rich farmers and corporations will erode support for farmers in the population as a whole.
"Bipartisan" support for the agricultural industry cannot match popular opinion. Popular support for farm programs has eroded and will end if Big Ag insists on receiving payments it doesn't need. Recognizing this threat to government farm programs as a whole, the Capital Press and savvy farmers should support strict limits on total government payments and an end to payments to very rich farmers and farm corporations.
The days of taxpayer-financed subsidies for the rich are ending. Our economy and our government can no longer support those subsidies. The agricultural industry should recognize the change and adapt to the new reality.
Felice Pace, Klamath, Calif.
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