From Canada: 'When it comes to its farmers, the U.S. is a veritable nanny state'

[Newsjock]

Source: CBC News
By Neil Macdonald

Among the many myths Americans entertain about themselves is the belief they're self-made; that any success they might enjoy is in spite, rather than with the help, of government. ... Nowhere is that notion more fiercely beloved than in the vast spaces between this nation's cities; in gun-toting, Republican-voting, tall-standing, rural America.

It's a delusion, of course. U.S. farmers are practically wards of the American nanny state.

... Take the outrageous story of Washington's hush money to Brazil. It's not one that's widely known in the U.S., probably because it cuts against Reagan's government-is-the-problem narrative.

But it beautifully illustrates the lengths to which Congress will go to coddle and protect certain American businesses, even as Washington accuses other countries, like China or even Canada, of unfair trading when they do the same thing.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/new-u-s-farm-bill-coddles-farmers-ignores-canada-s-plea-1.2531254

[Laelth]

1. True, but food is a national security issue.

I have serious problems with many of the ways the Federal Government doles out its largess, but I support government subsidies to BigAg (so long as their tools, i.e. Republicans, agree to fully fund SNAP). I am willing to accept this waste as a reasonable trade-off. The people get fed, and we always have surplus food so that we're not at the mercy of a foreign power. It's ugly, but it has worked for us for a good, long time.

-Laelth