If Dums had agreed to at least a part-time work requirement for food stamp recipients, then this bill would’ve passed.Instead they prefer to keep those 45 million Americans dependent on the government dole.Anything to keep their base.
The unemployed expect so much. In the good old days the landlord fired a surf by burning the hut down with the family in it. No need for food stamps in those days.Let them eat cake.
Serf’s UP! (sorry, couldn’t resist Greydave and Michael.)A full report on this issue shows both parties snatching defeat from the jaws of victory with requirements, earmarks and add ons that made this bill worthy of failure rather than working together in a bipartisan fashion to create a bill that would benefit a majority of Americans.It will be easy for people to defend their ‘side’, but the truly objective will see the degree to which each party is at fault and they are, BOTH at fault.Respectfully,C.
Unfortunately, the food stamps are held hostage by special interest agri-business. All the subsidies go to millionaire farmers who don’t need any help.
On one hand, there are legitimate needs for agriculture and for unfortunates. On the other, there’s corporate welfare for agribusiness, and food stamp cheats. As Respectful Troll correctly points out, there is fat to cut, and if we are willing to work together, we can get a better bill than what has been proposed in the past. Instead, our “representatives” demand that their pork be included, and no one budges. And then the finger-pointing starts.
So it goes, over and over and over. Do we have the guts to throw the bums out?
the “Farm Bill” is proof positive of Congress’ deceptions in legislating like a Scam Artist.-Originally the USDA had the goal of helping farmers, the producers of foodstuff, avoid losing land and equipment due to years of drought or flood or storm damages; and to teach good farming techniques such as rotation of crops and adding back depleted minerals to the soil.-Food Stamps are actually WELFARE for people who are means tested; and some of whom do not have any idea of how milk and bread and meat get to their supermarket.-Putting 80% of farming’s “budget” into WELFARE for non-farmers is the ultimate congressional SCAM.-(I own a small farm, I know the truth about these government induced dependencies)
Just because someone could work, doesn’t mean that they can if those with the means to employ them won’t hire them. You can either feed them inside of prison, or outside. Only fools, drunks, and drug addicts won’t become violent if they can’t afford basic needs.
Farmers in Iowa are farming on $8,500 per acre land with $400,000 tractors and $500,000 combines. More public money going into farming tends to get capitalized back into higher priced land. Somehow I don’t think subsidized farming is what is needed. America’s subsidized cheap food policy is also hurting farming in less wealthy countries who are unable to compete with America in subsidized food production. For that matter, America can no longer afford subsidies to industries that will function quite well without them.
I am glad all those fortunate people have jobs that let them afford to eat, they should study the part of society that try to cope with the lack of jobs or sub paying jobs, those who serve their dinners at the eatery. Do they fit in the 1/3 of the below poverty level? Lucky them.
russell5419 said,“… I know a guy on welfare and food stamps, and is perfectly able to get a job and works, he’s just too lazy and our government(us) support his lazy ass….”
Well, hey; if you know one guy, that pretty much proves it.-All the people I know on food stamps have jobs except 2. They’re a couple – He farms and has a handyman business (a darn hard worker) and she is permanently disabled. Letting people starve or go malnourished is bad policy.
If true, I agree with you, but I wonder what the government knows that you don’t.
In any case, assuming the worst, this guy and his associates are a drop in the bucket compared to the taxpayers funds that go to support Big Oil, Big Chemical, Big Pharma, Big Ag … All with huge, even obscene profits, but sucking at the public trough.
And all of them polluting industries – WHY are we using taxpayers’ money to pay these people to poison our wells?
Farms use illegal labor because it is cheaper. For the large farmers, it increases their profits. For the small ones, it keeps them viable.
I’ve done plenty of fieldwork in my time, and the only way you can live on it is to live in the migrant camps. Of course, to live on it at all, one has to be skilled.
And it’s a purely bi-artisan issue. Left and right are both dependent on it, and unless we can change the government, that’s what we’re stuck with.
I don’t think your post needs correction, those are the recipients of the ‘farm subsidy’, on the whole. The farm subsidy is just one more gift to industry these days.
Most of the smaller farmers seem to be locked into contract deals of some sort or another with seed/stock suppliers or vendors of some sort. Chicken and egg production has been driven this way since early in the century at least, but most crops are now controlled by canners, packers, refiners … middlemen all, most better off than the farmers they exploit.
We need to protect our farmers, not exploit them. Whatever the politicians may think, even they need food. Nobody can live on money.
You do realize, don’t you, that at least in some states, qualification for food stamps depends on job hunting?
And you do realize, that very often, jobs for which welfare recipients ‘qualify’ are subsidized by the taxpayer, but DO NOT pay enough to cover even ghetto level overheads?
So poverty is being actively subsidized by this government, as it has for every government since the 80s, both sides of the aisle.
You do realize, don’t you, that at least in some states, qualification for food stamps depends on job hunting?
And you do realize, that very often, jobs for which welfare recipients ‘qualify’ are subsidized by the taxpayer, but DO NOT pay enough to cover even ghetto level overheads?
So poverty is being actively subsidized by this government, as it has for every government since the 80s, both sides of the aisle.
“is one group’s dole ok because it’s rich and the other group’s dole not ok because it’s poor? hmmmm”
That’s one issue, for sure.
The subsidies which paid farmers to leave fields fallow were (and are, if they continue) legitimate, because particularly for heavy resource user crops like tobacco and corn, it is useful to rest the land between crops. There was much less monocropping then than there is now, but monocropping was then considered destructive to the land.
I just found this in my inbox: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130624152603.htm
It gives just one good reason to abandon monocropping, but it is a good one in and of itself. Monsanto’s bt corn is now dealing with resistant root worm … so we would be best to abandon Monsanto’s bt corn for traditional (and more productive) varieties, for starters.
Monocropping is destructive to the soil, and also to the country’s food security. It was sounder to pay farmers to leave the land fallow for a season than it is to pay industrial agriculture to ride roughshod over the environment. Leaving a field fallow, or planting ground covers (green manures), or even planting an alternate crop helps to sustain soil health, as well as supporting crop health and weed/pest management. Even a marginalized farmer is less likely to push his soil to produce every year, if he gains something from a fallow field.
At the very least, the farm subsidies need to be reworked, and they should not be allowed to be a catch-all for every special interest pork barrel as they have been for too long.
Ever try to live on $38 dollars a week in groceries. The congressmen who took the challenge couldn’t. Could you feed a family. How is a farm subsidy different from a subsidy for the poor? Both help the food originator, but one is labeled as lazy where as the other is labeled is hardworking. Guess which one defunding hurts young development more? I’ll give you a hint, it’s not the farmer.
I never understand why people who hate Lisa so much read her comic daily to comment about it in some weird denial, impotent rage thing. You have to actually GO to this comic to read it and then post on it. Her work is fantastic, and I agree with her cleverness. My only guess is the disagreeing reader wishes to be brainwashed with trivial argument. No one on Earth is like, “Way to GO, Reflex-76!” No one. Ever. No one cares what you have to say. Go make your own comic if you have such a passionate opinion. Lisa is gold.
ConserveGov almost 11 years ago
If Dums had agreed to at least a part-time work requirement for food stamp recipients, then this bill would’ve passed.Instead they prefer to keep those 45 million Americans dependent on the government dole.Anything to keep their base.
greyolddave almost 11 years ago
The unemployed expect so much. In the good old days the landlord fired a surf by burning the hut down with the family in it. No need for food stamps in those days.Let them eat cake.
chazandru almost 11 years ago
Serf’s UP! (sorry, couldn’t resist Greydave and Michael.)A full report on this issue shows both parties snatching defeat from the jaws of victory with requirements, earmarks and add ons that made this bill worthy of failure rather than working together in a bipartisan fashion to create a bill that would benefit a majority of Americans.It will be easy for people to defend their ‘side’, but the truly objective will see the degree to which each party is at fault and they are, BOTH at fault.Respectfully,C.
rixtex almost 11 years ago
Unfortunately, the food stamps are held hostage by special interest agri-business. All the subsidies go to millionaire farmers who don’t need any help.
I Play One On TV almost 11 years ago
@Russell and @rixtex:
Stop! You’re both right!
On one hand, there are legitimate needs for agriculture and for unfortunates. On the other, there’s corporate welfare for agribusiness, and food stamp cheats. As Respectful Troll correctly points out, there is fat to cut, and if we are willing to work together, we can get a better bill than what has been proposed in the past. Instead, our “representatives” demand that their pork be included, and no one budges. And then the finger-pointing starts.
So it goes, over and over and over. Do we have the guts to throw the bums out?
disgustedtaxpayer almost 11 years ago
the “Farm Bill” is proof positive of Congress’ deceptions in legislating like a Scam Artist.-Originally the USDA had the goal of helping farmers, the producers of foodstuff, avoid losing land and equipment due to years of drought or flood or storm damages; and to teach good farming techniques such as rotation of crops and adding back depleted minerals to the soil.-Food Stamps are actually WELFARE for people who are means tested; and some of whom do not have any idea of how milk and bread and meat get to their supermarket.-Putting 80% of farming’s “budget” into WELFARE for non-farmers is the ultimate congressional SCAM.-(I own a small farm, I know the truth about these government induced dependencies)
Boots at the Boar Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Just because someone could work, doesn’t mean that they can if those with the means to employ them won’t hire them. You can either feed them inside of prison, or outside. Only fools, drunks, and drug addicts won’t become violent if they can’t afford basic needs.
Gypsy8 almost 11 years ago
Farmers in Iowa are farming on $8,500 per acre land with $400,000 tractors and $500,000 combines. More public money going into farming tends to get capitalized back into higher priced land. Somehow I don’t think subsidized farming is what is needed. America’s subsidized cheap food policy is also hurting farming in less wealthy countries who are unable to compete with America in subsidized food production. For that matter, America can no longer afford subsidies to industries that will function quite well without them.
beanerbo almost 11 years ago
I am glad all those fortunate people have jobs that let them afford to eat, they should study the part of society that try to cope with the lack of jobs or sub paying jobs, those who serve their dinners at the eatery. Do they fit in the 1/3 of the below poverty level? Lucky them.
Gypsy8 almost 11 years ago
Why not copy, delete, and redo with corrections?
oneoldhat almost 11 years ago
how to improve the farm bill 1] a cap on how much can go to a farmer 2] some work for local gov for food stamps and unemployment
CasualBrowser almost 11 years ago
russell5419 said,“… I know a guy on welfare and food stamps, and is perfectly able to get a job and works, he’s just too lazy and our government(us) support his lazy ass….”
Well, hey; if you know one guy, that pretty much proves it.-All the people I know on food stamps have jobs except 2. They’re a couple – He farms and has a handyman business (a darn hard worker) and she is permanently disabled. Letting people starve or go malnourished is bad policy.
Hawthorne almost 11 years ago
If true, I agree with you, but I wonder what the government knows that you don’t.
In any case, assuming the worst, this guy and his associates are a drop in the bucket compared to the taxpayers funds that go to support Big Oil, Big Chemical, Big Pharma, Big Ag … All with huge, even obscene profits, but sucking at the public trough.
And all of them polluting industries – WHY are we using taxpayers’ money to pay these people to poison our wells?
Why?
Hawthorne almost 11 years ago
Farms use illegal labor because it is cheaper. For the large farmers, it increases their profits. For the small ones, it keeps them viable.
I’ve done plenty of fieldwork in my time, and the only way you can live on it is to live in the migrant camps. Of course, to live on it at all, one has to be skilled.
And it’s a purely bi-artisan issue. Left and right are both dependent on it, and unless we can change the government, that’s what we’re stuck with.
Hawthorne almost 11 years ago
“Please feel free to correct my post”
I don’t think your post needs correction, those are the recipients of the ‘farm subsidy’, on the whole. The farm subsidy is just one more gift to industry these days.
Most of the smaller farmers seem to be locked into contract deals of some sort or another with seed/stock suppliers or vendors of some sort. Chicken and egg production has been driven this way since early in the century at least, but most crops are now controlled by canners, packers, refiners … middlemen all, most better off than the farmers they exploit.
We need to protect our farmers, not exploit them. Whatever the politicians may think, even they need food. Nobody can live on money.
Hawthorne almost 11 years ago
@wbr
You do realize, don’t you, that at least in some states, qualification for food stamps depends on job hunting?
And you do realize, that very often, jobs for which welfare recipients ‘qualify’ are subsidized by the taxpayer, but DO NOT pay enough to cover even ghetto level overheads?
So poverty is being actively subsidized by this government, as it has for every government since the 80s, both sides of the aisle.
Please do some homework off the neocon pages.
Hawthorne almost 11 years ago
@wbr
You do realize, don’t you, that at least in some states, qualification for food stamps depends on job hunting?
And you do realize, that very often, jobs for which welfare recipients ‘qualify’ are subsidized by the taxpayer, but DO NOT pay enough to cover even ghetto level overheads?
So poverty is being actively subsidized by this government, as it has for every government since the 80s, both sides of the aisle.
Please do some homework off the neocon pages.
Hawthorne almost 11 years ago
@parker for a minute
“is one group’s dole ok because it’s rich and the other group’s dole not ok because it’s poor? hmmmm”
That’s one issue, for sure.
The subsidies which paid farmers to leave fields fallow were (and are, if they continue) legitimate, because particularly for heavy resource user crops like tobacco and corn, it is useful to rest the land between crops. There was much less monocropping then than there is now, but monocropping was then considered destructive to the land.
I just found this in my inbox: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130624152603.htm
It gives just one good reason to abandon monocropping, but it is a good one in and of itself. Monsanto’s bt corn is now dealing with resistant root worm … so we would be best to abandon Monsanto’s bt corn for traditional (and more productive) varieties, for starters.
Monocropping is destructive to the soil, and also to the country’s food security. It was sounder to pay farmers to leave the land fallow for a season than it is to pay industrial agriculture to ride roughshod over the environment. Leaving a field fallow, or planting ground covers (green manures), or even planting an alternate crop helps to sustain soil health, as well as supporting crop health and weed/pest management. Even a marginalized farmer is less likely to push his soil to produce every year, if he gains something from a fallow field.
At the very least, the farm subsidies need to be reworked, and they should not be allowed to be a catch-all for every special interest pork barrel as they have been for too long.
oneoldhat almost 11 years ago
dear hawthore what state requires the welfare person to look for a job?
anansi9 almost 11 years ago
Ever try to live on $38 dollars a week in groceries. The congressmen who took the challenge couldn’t. Could you feed a family. How is a farm subsidy different from a subsidy for the poor? Both help the food originator, but one is labeled as lazy where as the other is labeled is hardworking. Guess which one defunding hurts young development more? I’ll give you a hint, it’s not the farmer.
mikecronis almost 11 years ago
I never understand why people who hate Lisa so much read her comic daily to comment about it in some weird denial, impotent rage thing. You have to actually GO to this comic to read it and then post on it. Her work is fantastic, and I agree with her cleverness. My only guess is the disagreeing reader wishes to be brainwashed with trivial argument. No one on Earth is like, “Way to GO, Reflex-76!” No one. Ever. No one cares what you have to say. Go make your own comic if you have such a passionate opinion. Lisa is gold.