Worst Legislation Ever?
It's not everyday that you see Congress pass a bill that:
1. Gives billions to wealthy corporate agri-businesses...
2. ...in a time of skyrocketing food prices and shortages
3. Consigns third-world farmers who have cheaper, better products to continued poverty
4. Subsidizes the high-fat, high-sugar diet that is killing 100,000s of Americans
5. Does nothing to address actual hunger in this country
6. Encourages land-use policies that will exacerbate global warming, erosion, and the destruction of natural habitat
7. Fosters the consolidation of an already concentrated farming industry
8. Leaves taxpayers on the hook for hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 5 years
9. Raises food prices for the rest of us...
10. ...And in some Twilight Zone universe, is sensibly and honorably opposed by George W. Bush.
Whew, so glad we have Nancy Pelosi in charge now!
1. Gives billions to wealthy corporate agri-businesses...
2. ...in a time of skyrocketing food prices and shortages
3. Consigns third-world farmers who have cheaper, better products to continued poverty
4. Subsidizes the high-fat, high-sugar diet that is killing 100,000s of Americans
5. Does nothing to address actual hunger in this country
6. Encourages land-use policies that will exacerbate global warming, erosion, and the destruction of natural habitat
7. Fosters the consolidation of an already concentrated farming industry
8. Leaves taxpayers on the hook for hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 5 years
9. Raises food prices for the rest of us...
10. ...And in some Twilight Zone universe, is sensibly and honorably opposed by George W. Bush.
Whew, so glad we have Nancy Pelosi in charge now!
posted by Earl Warren at 10:31 PM
3 Comments:
goddamnit
It's also not every day that EW posts something balanced and insightful on N&B. I guess today won't be our lucky day, either.
Yes, this thing is a compromise bill and yes it doesn't go far enough in curtailing cash transfers to farmers, who are not exactly suffering like Ma and Pa Joad.
But there is a silver lining. $10 billion more in food stamps. Modest environmental programs (you have to start somewhere). Support for fresh fruits and vegetables--more garbanzo beans, less sugar. Not exactly a recipe for diabetes.
No, King Cotton won't be dethroned today, but one of arguments for reducing such subsidies was that we wouldn't look like massive hypocrites when it came to the Doha round of WTO talks. But that's partly a third-world poverty issue, and partly a matter of free trade compromise. What say you about more free trade, Earl?
It seems that what you're really mad about is that states like North Dakota and South Carolina have as many votes in the Senate as California. And nobody has the cojones to really stick it to the farmers--especially not Pelosi. There you might actually be on to something.
King Cotton died when we set the black man free. Corn is king now. Long live King Corn!
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