Home Mobile Archives Reader Blogs Register Login

Thursday, August 31, 2006

2002 Farm Bill’s Disaster Provisions

By brenarlo on August 31, 2006 at 11:31 am
5 Comments
North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad is known for "championing the Farm Bill." He even brags about the fact that he was "one of four chief negotiators on the Farm Bill approved by Congress in 2002." That's right, folks, when Sen. Kent Conrad talks about farm issues, Congress listens. Senator Conrad, after months of rhetoric and legislation, finally got some relief for farmers. North Dakota really has been hit by drought this year. The western part of the state is much worse off than the Red River Valley. In fact, the Red River Valley could very well see a record crop in terms of sugar beet production. The farmers did get a bad shake with the weather this year. If government exists to protect us, and if the federal government's farm policies are supposed to protect the farmers, then why do politicians insist on using band-aids to heal broken legs? The Bush administration, after months of lobbying, announced that it was going to give farmers that were hit by the drought relief to the tune of $800 million. Naturally, no one was happy with the amount. Farmers need more help, is what they like to say. Ya know what? Maybe they do. But is kicking and screaming and begging for it the best way to approach the situation? Certainly not. It's unfortunate that one of the chief negotiators could not solve this problem. Instead of solving the problem, he passed the buck. The USDA has a FAQ page. One of the question in that page is this: Are there any disaster programs in the Farm Bill? Here is that answer: The 2002 Farm Bill does not contain any funding for crop disaster programs. It's time for North Dakotans to elect effective leaders. Not cheerleaders.

Comments

Avatar for HG

This nanny state stuff is pathetic.

If government exists to protect us, and if the federal government’s farm policies are supposed to protect the farmers, then why do politicians insist on using band-aids to heal broken legs?”

Government does not exist to protect farmers from natural disasters.  It exists to protect its citizens from external and internal threats to person, property, and liberty in the form of brute force.

HG on August 31, 2006 at 01:46 pm
Avatar for Rob

I’ve got to agree with HG here.  The government doesn’t exist to protect us.  It exists to promote and protect an economic environment where we are all as free and as capable as possible to take care of ourselves.

But aside from that, you’ve got a point Brett.  At what point to we end bandaid fixes in favor of empower farmers to be independent of government aid?  I think if we left it up to people like Kent Conrad we’d never get away from the band aid fixes.  Because being in charge of the band aid fixes helps him stay in power.

Rob on August 31, 2006 at 03:22 pm
Avatar for FreeRepublicans.com

Government does not exist to protect farmers from natural disasters. It exists to protect its citizens from external and internal threats to person, property, and liberty in the form of brute force.

It doesn’t do a very good job of any of either.

I’ve got to agree with HG here. The government doesn’t exist to protect us. It exists to promote and protect an economic environment where we are all as free and as capable as possible to take care of ourselves.

It exists to protect us from “dangers, foriegn and domestic.” But that’s where it ends. 

Where open borders fit into that is beyond me.

FreeRepublicans.com on August 31, 2006 at 05:01 pm
Avatar for WOOF

Where are the strategic
sugar beet reserves stored?

WOOF on August 31, 2006 at 07:04 pm
The Whistler

Where are the strategic
sugar beet reserves stored?

Is sugar a strategic item in the class of petroleum?

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

The Whistler's signature
The Whistler on September 1, 2006 at 04:17 am
Page 1 of 1        

Post a Comment


Before commenting, please recite:

Grant me the serenity to ignore the trolls,
the courage to debate with honest opponents,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Name   
Email   
URL   
Human?
  
 
 @ 
<a>
Close Tags

Upload Image    

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?

Note: Notifications will only be sent to confirmed email addresses.