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I've heard a number of arguments in favor of farm subsidies, but never one based on "unfair" competition. I'm curious about what you mean. American farmers are

by abtinf 11y ago

I've heard a number of arguments in favor of farm subsidies, but never one based on "unfair" competition. I'm curious about what you mean. American farmers are incredibly competitive and efficient, so I'm not sure who they could be threatened by. And I'm not sure how you are relating that point to "clean energy". You say solar should be subsidized because it is a superior product. Are American farm products somehow superior as well? Is grain from the mid-west some how better than grain from Europe? Or is corn syrup cleaner than sugar cane from Cuba?

JoeAltmaier 11y ago
Farmers make no money. The government-supported crop insurance means they don't lose money as fast. And unfair? We use that word to describe cars, steel, electronics but not grain? A Brazilian farmer can grow grain, haul it using donkeys to a barge, sail it down river to the coast, pay for shipping on a grain scow, and load it on a train to Chicago, for less than farmers in Iowa can afford to grow it. Its got to mean miserable working conditions for people in that whole chain. Is this any different from clothing or iPhones?
- mrep 11y ago
  > Farmers make no money. Source? My roommate in college worked on his parents farm every summer and while he worked a lot of hours, he made would make about $25,000 dollars. That's more than any of anyone I know made during the summer except for me (I only made more cause my company paid for my hotel that I lived in plus the taxes on it which were both ludicrous).
  - JoeAltmaier 11y ago
    My family. Our neighbors. The farm accountant, who says nobody he works for makes any money. Sure its just a few data points, but its darn hard to profit with erratic markets and weather. Maybe make money one year in three.
    - mrep 11y ago
      What do you guys sell? My buddy is from Indiana and they sell corn of which they have seen consistently growing "yield rates" or some term like that.

by abtinf 11y ago

JoeAltmaier 11y ago

Farmers make no money. The government-supported crop insurance means they don't lose money as fast. And unfair? We use that word to describe cars, steel, electronics but not grain? A Brazilian farmer can grow grain, haul it using donkeys to a barge, sail it down river to the coast, pay for shipping on a grain scow, and load it on a train to Chicago, for less than farmers in Iowa can afford to grow it. Its got to mean miserable working conditions for people in that whole chain. Is this any different from clothing or iPhones?

mrep 11y ago
> Farmers make no money. Source? My roommate in college worked on his parents farm every summer and while he worked a lot of hours, he made would make about $25,000 dollars. That's more than any of anyone I know made during the summer except for me (I only made more cause my company paid for my hotel that I lived in plus the taxes on it which were both ludicrous).
- JoeAltmaier 11y ago
  My family. Our neighbors. The farm accountant, who says nobody he works for makes any money. Sure its just a few data points, but its darn hard to profit with erratic markets and weather. Maybe make money one year in three.
  - mrep 11y ago
    What do you guys sell? My buddy is from Indiana and they sell corn of which they have seen consistently growing "yield rates" or some term like that.