It's Time to Kick Farmers Off the Federal Dole | Doug Bandow | Cato Institute: Commentary

It's Time to Kick Farmers Off the Federal Dole | Doug Bandow | Cato Institute: Commentary: "But despite their rhetoric politicians do not spend much time worrying about those in poverty. The two biggest domestic programs provide middle class welfare: Social Security and Medicare. The Pentagon mostly provides welfare for populous and prosperous allies throughout Asia and Europe.

The rest of the federal budget is filled with outrageous special interest pay-offs."

"The system doesn't help consumers. Reducing supplies and imposing price floors obviously are bad deals for the hungry. Paying off farmers might lower some prices, but steals back through taxes any benefits received by consumers. Agricultural subsidies are designed by farmers for farmers."

"During the Reagan administration the government paid farmers to add cows for milking. Then it paid farmers to kill cows so they couldn't be milked. Along the way the government accumulated huge cheese surpluses that had to be given away, but only in a manner that did not reduce public demand for cheese."