Another Year at the Federal Trough: Farm Subsidies for the Rich, Famous, and Elected Jumped Again

[Robin]

 We ask why our country is broke. We ask why our government is spending out of control. The first article from Heritage is an older one, the 2 below that are more recent. We know this continues to this day! They go to DC to enrich themselves and their friends and backers. The rest of us get screwed and I am sick of it!  This is outrageous!

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2004/05/another-year-at-th...

Taxpayers funding Washington's $20,000-per-household budget have long known they are not getting their money's worth. Farm subsidies are among the most wasteful uses of taxpayer dollars. The budget-busting $180 billion farm bill enacted before the 2002 elections not only encourages the crop overproduction that depresses crop prices and farm incomes, but also undermines trade and encourages other nations to refuse American exports.

Perhaps worst of all, farm subsidies are not distributed to the small, struggling family farmers whom lawmakers typically mention when defending these policies. Rather, most farm subsidies are distributed to large farms, agribusinesses, politicians, and celebrity "hobby farmers." This paper analyzes how Washington distributed farm subsidies in 2002 and illustrates that farm subsidies continue to represent America's largest corporate welfare program.

And another article on this!

Farm Subsidies Going to Celebrities http://townhall.com/tipsheet/elisabethmeinecke/2011/11/14/farm_subs...

And another!

Millionaire Celebrities Getting BILLIONS in Gov't Subsidies

http://www.wealthwire.com/news/economy/2220

[Jerseygal]

Robin, good post.  As a dairy farmer's wife, I can say that the following quote is absolutely true:

Perhaps worst of all, farm subsidies are not distributed to the small, struggling family farmers whom lawmakers typically mention when defending these policies. Rather, most farm subsidies are distributed to large farms, agribusinesses, politicians, and celebrity "hobby farmers."

We have some folks, who get subsidies because they raise exotic animals, like alpacas or llamas, and sell their wool to preppie people... or whomever wants to pay $30 or more for socks.

[Robin]

It is so sad to me that the money desperately needed by our nations farmers goes to people like Bon Jovi who does NOT need it. How screwed up this country is, is beyond words.