John McCain Twitters a top ten list of wasteful spending in the proposed farm bill. Jamie Dupree lists them all in one spot:
"#1 - Creates new USDA office to inspect catfish. FDA already inspects catfish, so this one’s a real bottom-feeder.
#2 - $200 mil Market Access Program promoting brands overseas. Example: Holding "liquor mixology demonstrations" in Russia.
#3 - $25 million to study health benefits of peas, lentils and garbanzo beans. Pretty sure they’re healthy.
#4 - Subsidies for mohair (AKA goat wool), which have cost taxpayers $20 million+ since 1954
#5 - New subsidy for popcorn producers. Yes, popcorn subsidies - after popcorn prices rose 40% in recent yrs.
#6 - $10 million to establish new USDA program to eradicate feral pigs. Talk about pork!
#7 - $15 million to establish a new grant program to “improve” the U.S. sheep industry. A ba-a-a-a-a-a-d idea.
#8 - $700 million for “Ag and Food Research Initiative” funding grants to research pine trees in FL & study moth pheromones
#9 - $40 million in grants from USDA to states to encourage private land owners to use land for bird watching or hunting
#10 - $200 million for “Value Added Grant Program” often used to give grants to wine producers (& cheese makers too) "
Each time a new farm bill comes alone agribusiness farms it for profit. The farm bill is a relic from FDR's new deal, and whether that was a good thing or a bad thing at the time, government handouts became a permanent fixture. It has evolved into an example of crony capitalism.
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