Obama said this morning that he wants to end subsidies to agribusiness, do you agree?

Question

As one of many many cuts he wants to do to our nation's budget to cut the deficits in half.

Answer 1

We need to subsidize. It keeps groceries affordable. We could use the money slated for WORLD abortions to pay for it. We need to keep the Stimulus money in America to stimulate our economy.

Answer 2

Not exactly what he told farmers around here during the primaries. He'll reverse course on that and call them bio fuel subsidies instead.

Same result, different name.



John McCain, who loves to hate federal ag programs, says he would eliminate subsidies if he could - including the ethanol subsidies and mandates that created new markets for corn and raised prices for the grain. McCain says the subsidies increase prices for consumers and damage international trade relationships.



Barack Obama, who represents corn country, wholeheartedly supports ag subsidies but says he would shift some dollars from the biggest and richest farms to do more for small family farms, organic farms and young farmers starting out.

Answer 3

Subsidies were put in place to keep small family farms from failing and to crop prices steady. The corporate farms are just milking an antiquated system.

Answer 4

what I agree to is removing ALL subsidies, oil as well. Otherwise government is still meddling in market and causing malinvestment. Did you know the Model T was designed to be run on hemp ethanol, because Ford wanted to help the struggling farmers? Then the oil companies lobbied for oil subsidies and the nascent hemp ethanol business couldn't compete. Government is full of unintended consequences when it meddles in the market. SELECTIVELY removing subsidies, forgetting other actions that have been taken due only to the fact that those subsidies exist, could cause severe problems. His 'rush it through because people hate it' method of legislation doesn't lend itself to a thoughtful approach to this.



Having said that, done right I wouldn't have a problem with removing subsidies.

Answer 5

It's funny how Republicans are opposed to government intervention in the market, but when Obama tries to get government out of business he's called stupid and naive.



Subsidies are bad for globalization. If we subsidize anything, then it diminishes world wide competition. Do we want to do that?



I would definitely not subsidized tobacco farmers. In fact, we should tax every plant that is grown and heavily until we tax them out of business. A pack of cigarettes should be $100.

Answer 6

Subsidies are the reason our food supplies aren't as safe as they used to be and that family farms are almost a thing of the past. I for one would love to see an overhaul of our agricultural industries, break up the big farms, and return to local suppliers. I eat beef my brother raises, I buy local produce in season and I eat few if any processed foods. I am all for it.

Answer 7

I agree. Agribusiness is corrupt and too powerful. Do you know what a subsidy to agribusiness is? The government is essentially paying farmers to NOT grow crops, in order to artificially hike up the prices of crops. Subsidies only hurt the small farmer, while huge corporate growers laugh all the way to the bank while poor people all over the world are starving to death. It is really sick.

Answer 8

Obama will end subsidies to all but his rich friends.. banks, real estate etc... the small ones he will eventually take over and the others he will lend so much as to take them over too... then he will have complete government control.



Sound familiar.. check the old USSR

Answer 9

To those who agree have no clue.



You do realize that subsidies keep food prices down. If this occurs be expecting to pay $5.00 for a loaf of bread and $10.00 for a gallon of milk.

Answer 10

Farmers get paid _not to grow_ crops for which there is little demand. Thus, the more a farmer doesn't grow one of these crops, the more he is paid and the more land he can purchase not to grow even more of that same crop.



That is ridiculous.



The system needs to be revised, otherwise we're paying people more money the less they do.

Answer 11

I agree with him.....I am happy he is following through with his plans...he has always been against corporate agribusiness getting handouts over family owned/run farms. http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/11/obama-points-to.html

Answer 12

Yes because, millionares like David Letterman, get hundreds of thousands of dollars just because they own alot of land acres. It is amazing how much these people milk the system.

Answer 13

With this Cut when you get a Big Mac that cost $15 then remember you voted for him.

Answer 14

Do I "agree?"

I believe He "said it".

Do I think he "means what he says, or says what he means?" NO.

He's a Democrat, they NEVER tell the truth! They are genetically predisposed to say what people want to hear, then either do the opposite, or nothing at all.

Answer 15

He would save more money cutting off subsidies to the Baby Factories in America. Growing vegetables is cheap. Raising children is not.

Answer 16

He should end subsidies to all businesses and foreign countries.

Answer 17

I see no reason to subsidize massive corporate farming organizations.

Answer 18

I don't think we should subsidize farmers NOT to grow certain crops.

Answer 19

Should never have started them in the first place just like affirmative action should never have happened.

Answer 20

LOL anyone for 8.00 a gallon milk. Wow is he going to ruin America. The prophecy continues.

Answer 21

hope the farmers that voted for him in wisconsin, iowa, and minnesota heard that! but any state that elects jesse ventura governor, and (probably) al franken, senator really don't get it anyway!

Answer 22

Yeah of course.

Answer 23

Obama said EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE when he was campaigning in Iowa. Funny how that works.

Answer 24

it makes no difference to me since i am not involved in that type of work

Answer 25

I agree on that..... but there has to be a hidden ploy its Obama!