
Despite the prodding of the Old Guard Republican leadership, including the Speaker, the Majority Leader and the Whip, many Republicans, accompanied even by some Democrats, balked at the latest rendition of the Farm Bill. And while the Democrats balked because they didn't think the bill spent enough money, the Republican Conservatives balked because there weren't enough cuts.
Two points are very important, and I 'm sure some will disagree with me, but if we are ever to stop the spiraling growth of "Big Government", we have to make tough choices and cut bloat wherever it is found. The two major problems I have with the bill include the massive support of food stamps and the ongoing milk subsidy. I'll take them one at a time.
Food Stamps. Food stamp supports in the bill are huge and they constitute a social welfare program. What the bill as it was proposed says is that we will support large agribusiness with these programs while growing food stamp rolls exponentially. Remember, today nearly one in seven Americans are receiving food stamps and it shows no sign of letting up. It's pure dependency foisted upon us by a government that seeks to be our master rather than a servant, and finally some in Congress are fighting back.
Milk Subsidies. Isn't the American dream for businesses to stand on their own? I mean if they are good and the market is there for them, won't they prosper? And I don't want to say that the milk subsidy issue is the only case of this, it's just been going on for a long time and costs a lot of money. It parallels ethanol, which is also huge. Everyone know that product is more expensive to produce than regular gas, and it seriously depletes and raises the food corn prices and, will soon create vehicle engine problems with the increase in percentage mandate. Yet it continues on, while more people have less to eat.
I guess if I thought it was the only thing keeping the individual farmer going I might look at it differently, but friends, most of the AG BILL has nothing to do with the little farmer, it's all about multi-national and other huge food industry corporations who spend millions in DC lobbying to buy votes. Can anybody say Monsanto? No pun intended, but it's all about pork, and I don't mean the tasty meat.
We Americans must come to a realization that we can't do everything for everyone and guarantee success. That is up to the individual, the very individual who "Big Government" is trying to destroy. So it's time to critically analyze all spending bills and prioritize what we can afford to do. It's time to stop the madness, reduce spending and taxes, and put American citizens back to work.
Time is running out on us and if the financial system collapses, as it very well might, food stamps and subsidies will not only disappear, but all of us are likely to go without even the basics.
That's why I feel this step was a start, and it must grow and continue throughout the governmental process. Now, after this slight alteration of my usual course, let's get back to stopping the onslaught of Obamacare and amnesty.
God bless you all and let]s keep America alive.