This country produces more than enough food to feed the nation and, indeed the world. Claiming that federal subsidies are needed to keep food prices low is similarly suspect. And with the large bureaucracy needed to manage farm subsidies, consumers might actually save money if farms were left to the free market. Finally, since most of the federal subsidies go to large, corporate farms, the small, family farmer is actually hurt. The money is used to give large farms a competitive edge and, in some instances, might even be used to put small farms out of business.
Farm subsidies are always a bad idea.
Their economic damage is exacerbated by a weakened economy such as we have now. Unfortunately, too many in Congress simply aren t guided by such plain logic. They instead answer the siren song of constituent politics even though in the end, they wind up undermining the interests of the public overall. Hence, the House s giveaway to agriculture passed 291-120. President Bush is opposed to the bill, but has not threatened a veto.