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Beet on the Brat
The good news? A boneheaded proposal in the lousy $300 billion-plus farm bill seems to be holding up its passage. The bad news? We live in a country where anyone within barfing distance of power thinks that what the U.S. sugar industry needs is more protection from the federal government. From the Wall Street Journal:
A proposal to sweeten government support for American sugar producers is emerging as a major sticking point between Congress and the White House in final negotiations on the farm bill.
The initiative is a priority for House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, a Democrat whose rural Minnesota district is among the nation's top producers of sugar beets. [...]
Rep. Peterson is proposing to increase what sugar farmers can borrow from the government, an amount that hasn't been raised in 20 years. He wants to lock in allotments for domestic producers at about 85% of the U.S. market.
He also proposes a mandate that sugar imports be used for ethanol production. The provision would shield the domestic industry from foreign competition, which has increased after a trade agreement with Mexico and several Central American countries. [...]
The sugar industry is lobbying strongly for Rep. Peterson's proposals. "It's been our No. 1 priority," said Phillip Hayes, a spokesman for the American Sugar Alliance, which represents domestic producers, processors and refiners. "We have an administration that seems more interested in supporting foreign producers, than producers right here in America."
Read reason's six great reasons to unilaterally dismantle all U.S. farm subsidies here.
UPDATE: Did you need a reason to hate Hillary Clinton more?
Hillary Clinton today said that Sen. John McCain was wrong to say yesterday that he would veto the 2008 farm bill as President, noting it would provide American family farms with priorities like permanent disaster relief, country of origin labeling, renewable energy advances and rural development broadband deployment. [...]
"Rural America is struggling in the face of skyrocketing energy prices, an economic downturn and rising food prices," Clinton said. "Saying no to the farm bill would be saying no to rural America." [...]
"This Farm Bill needs to move and the president needs to get out of the way so that we can start taking care of rural America."
BakedPenguin|5.6.08 @ 12:19PM|#
The American sugar "industry" should die a quick death. If there is a more disgusting welfare mooch anywhere, I haven't met it. A few years back, Florida's subsidies for can growers came up as a political issue. Instead of getting rid of the subsidies, the morons in Tallahassee decided that they should just let the voters decide if they wanted a couple cent tax on sugar instead - so we just got another layer of government.
|5.6.08 @ 12:23PM|#
We live in a country where anyone within barfing distance of
power thinks that what the U.S. sugar industry needs is more
protection from the federal government.
At first glance I interpreted that to mean that they were going to
get protected FROM the federal government, not by the federal
government. I thought to myself "I wish someone would protect me
from the federal government"
|5.6.08 @ 12:27PM|#
I'm someone who supports every single item on Hillary Clinton's list, and we most certainly don't need a $300 billion bill to do those things.
Neil|5.6.08 @ 12:27PM|#
If you don't like wasteful farm bills, vote for John McCain. He has pledged to veto these wasteful bills.
Neil|5.6.08 @ 12:30PM|#
Does the bill include subsidies for Belgian Endives and Arugula Root? I'm sure the whole-foods shopping Democrat candidates would consider those foods very important LOL!
|5.6.08 @ 12:37PM|#
So Hillary's saying that, as president, she wouldn't veto a bill
because it had ridiculous amounts of stuff in it that she didn't
like, as long as it had a few things in it that she did.
Good call there Hill
Neil|5.6.08 @ 12:42PM|#
I just want to know if the Democrat Party remembered to
subsidize all those foods they think all us stupid people in
Jesusland eat.
Of course that includes arugula root. LOL!
Calidore|5.6.08 @ 12:52PM|#
Episiarch,
Well, one of the great things about cultural diffusion is the
introduction of new food items. That's one of the ways that a free
and confident society works.
|5.6.08 @ 12:52PM|#
noting it would provide American family farms with
priorities like permanent disaster relief,
What, exactly, is this permanent disaster they need relief
from?
country of origin labeling,
What is this supposed to accomplish, again?
renewable energy advances
You mean, like more ethanol? That's working out real well, isn't
it.
and rural development broadband deployment.
While I'd like to see that, I'm not sure why my pocket should
picked to pay for it.
stuartl|5.6.08 @ 12:53PM|#
"...so that we can start taking care of rural
America."
She has such a way with words. It reminds me of her Christmas present
video. Remind me again, who is paying for these presents to the
farmers?
|5.6.08 @ 12:53PM|#
"Saying no to the farm bill would be saying no to rural
America." [...]
Okay- NOOOOOO!!!
ps- Greetings from "rural America."
|5.6.08 @ 12:54PM|#
Neil -
I agree. All libertarians and conservatives are obligated to eat
nothing but iceberg lettuce. Also, there will be none of that
European bleu cheese on my salad, and none of that socialistic
orage garbage, unless it's renamed "Freedom Dressing."
|5.6.08 @ 12:58PM|#
Neil | May 6, 2008, 12:51pm | #
I'll stick to pork BBQ with an ice cold Coors,
Episiarch.
Coors? What a way to ruin some perfectly good pulled pork.
Episiarch|5.6.08 @ 12:58PM|#
I'll stick to pork BBQ with an ice cold Coors,
Episiarch.
With a side of arugula with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and
pepper. LOL!
|5.6.08 @ 12:58PM|#
If I recall correctly, sugar beets only came to be a viable crop because of protection of the cane sugar growers.
Neil|5.6.08 @ 1:01PM|#
What do you drink, Warty? Some European import in a fancy green
bottle? Or do you just skip beer and go for some expensive
Chardonnay?
I bet you don't like NASCAR, either.
Taktix®|5.6.08 @ 1:04PM|#
I'll stick to pork BBQ with an ice cold Coors,
Episiarch.
Wow, Neil, I wish I could be a real man like you! LOL! Are you a
lumberjack? LOL!
|5.6.08 @ 1:06PM|#
♪No sugar tonight in my coffee
No sugar tonight in my tea
No sugar to stand beside me
No sugar to run with me♪
Ska|5.6.08 @ 1:07PM|#
Neil, try one of the hundreds of American microbrews if beer
that's been made the same way for 400 - 800 years isn't OK with you
(because what could Europeans know about brewing beer).
Your love of coors just emphasizes the fact that you're a tasteless
shitbag. In the immortal words of Tom Nutall, suck dick by
choice.
gorgonzola\'s foil|5.6.08 @ 1:09PM|#
Coors? Molson Coors makes you Canadian... and that makes you a hoser, eh.
|5.6.08 @ 1:12PM|#
Taktix® -
Hhy yes. Kneel is a lumberjack. He was heard just the other day
singing
♫I cut down trees, I skip and jump
I love to press wild flow'rs
I put on women's clothing
And hang around in bars♫
|5.6.08 @ 1:12PM|#
The other day I got a 12-pack of Harpoon IPA. Tasty,
tasty.
People actually like NASCAR? I thought it was some sort of massive
inside joke that southerners use to confuse yankees.
Episiarch|5.6.08 @ 1:14PM|#
Molson Coors makes you Canadian
Did you hear that, Neil? I'll bet you just recently were discussing
how to roll a smoke while on your Skidoo with your brother on your
cable access program.
|5.6.08 @ 1:17PM|#
How does rising food prices cause "rural America" to struggle? If anything I would think high food prices make "rural America" exceedingly profitable.
|5.6.08 @ 1:18PM|#
fritoes, doritoes, and cheetoes. A good source of essential orange, and toes. With a nice cold schlitz...Ah, a healthy, nutricious breakfast
|5.6.08 @ 1:25PM|#
How does rising food prices cause "rural America" to
struggle? If anything I would think high food prices make "rural
America" exceedingly profitable.
That one was hilarious.
Rural America is struggling in the face of ... rising food
prices
Of course Hillary, and don't let any of those damn economists tell
you any different.
|5.6.08 @ 1:39PM|#
"Rural America is struggling in the face of skyrocketing energy
prices, an economic downturn and rising food prices," Clinton
said.
Because Urban America is facing none of those things.
And yes, you'd think rising food prices would be beneficial to
"Rural America" - but maybe they can think of a way to screw up
even that.
BakedPenguin|5.6.08 @ 1:42PM|#
People actually like NASCAR?
The truly weird thing is how many women like NASCAR. I was
shocked.
Myself, I think
Women's Golf
is much
more
interesting than it used to be...
|5.6.08 @ 1:49PM|#
"This Farm Bill needs to move and the president needs to get out
of the way so that we can start taking care of rural
America."
Spoken like a true under assistant vice principal of your average
middle school.
|5.6.08 @ 1:58PM|#
Neil,
Chardonnay is the drink of Republican wives - no self-respecting
liberal, even limousine liberal, drinks Chardonnay. You're still
living in 1981. Most of the rich liberal men I know drink Guinness
(less calories than lager and Irish street cred) and/or expensive
scotches. Absinthe is getting popular with the artsy set.
Neil|5.6.08 @ 2:03PM|#
Whatever, vanya. I bet B. Hussein hasn't had a PBR, Coors, Bud, or Miller in a long long time.
|5.6.08 @ 2:18PM|#
Guinness is very low in calories and alcohol. High in
anti-oxidants, too. Hmm...I think I will enjoy a black and tan
tonight.
Neil, PBR is cool these days among punk rockers. You better stop
drinking it lest you be thought of as a B. Hussein supporter like
most of them.
|5.6.08 @ 2:22PM|#
...noting it would provide American family farms with
priorities like permanent disaster relief...
What, exactly, is this permanent disaster they need relief
from?
President Hillary Clinton.
lunchstealer|5.6.08 @ 2:44PM|#
How does rising food prices cause "rural America" to
struggle? If anything I would think high food prices make "rural
America" exceedingly profitable.
No, you fool. The rising food prices are caused by the subsidies on
ethanol, which is killing the American food farmer. The number of
farmers growing food to feed this nation is plummeting! This
disaster can only be remedied by higher subsidies for food growers,
to encourage re-investment in this area.
BakedPenguin|5.6.08 @ 2:45PM|#
Guinness has less calories than lager?
Vegemite probably has less calories than salami, too. Who cares if
it tastes like shit?
Rick H.|5.6.08 @ 2:59PM|#
I'll bet my political enemies don't enjoy the same foods that I
do!
No, really, this is serious. Stop laughing.
zoot allures|5.6.08 @ 3:03PM|#
Harpoon IPA ... very tasty.
Sierra Nevada (Pale Ale) and the seasonal Celebration Ale ... very
tasty.
Saranac IPA ... heavenly.
Guiness ... very good.
Coors ... mule piss.
Neil|5.6.08 @ 3:11PM|#
Not all of us out in the heartland and flyover country what some
fancy, complex beer that costs $10/six pack.
We just want a light, ice cold, refreshing drink and the end of a
hard days work at an honest price.
Neil|5.6.08 @ 3:21PM|#
Dcooper I don't want to have to sit and think about how such and such beer tastes like pine cones and leather (which is what most elite designer beers taste like). I don't want to pay a hefty price. I want to relax and enjoy a simple light bodied refreshing can of brew.
|5.6.08 @ 3:23PM|#
This
you, Neil?
Working Man Proud Of Job He Hates
JANESVILLE, WI-Eagle Cooling employee Brent Festge takes pride in the semi-skilled, blue-collar job he loathes, the 39-year-old solderer reported during his lunch break Tuesday.
...
"I know there are more interesting, higher-paying careers, but we can't always do what we like, now, can we?" Festge said. "Nor should we. There's too much selfishness out there. People should work hard and shut up. That's how the world works. I'm the real deal. And at the end of a long, horrible day of backbreaking manual labor, that makes me feel pretty good."
Festge added that after punching out on Friday, he plans to get shitfaced.
Rick H.|5.6.08 @ 3:27PM|#
Dcooper I don't want to have to sit and think
Neil, maybe
this link could aid you in future posts about economics and the
Presidential race.
Neil|5.6.08 @ 3:29PM|#
Where do you live, Warty?
Boston? Manhattan? Malibu? Miami? San Fran or Seattle?
You need to learn the culture of your own country for a
change.
Come down to Charlotte sometime and see a NASCAR race here. You
might learn a few things. And don't bring any prissy beer, only
real basic American lager allowed.
lunchstealer|5.6.08 @ 3:35PM|#
UPDATE: Did you need a reason to hate Hillary Clinton
more?
I wouldn't say "need" exactly. More just "enjoy".
lunchstealer|5.6.08 @ 3:39PM|#
Come down to Charlotte sometime and see a NASCAR race
here.
Oh, please. You Cosmoconservatives with your newfangled racetracks.
A real NASCAR fan would be at Darlington.
Rick H.|5.6.08 @ 3:40PM|#
Where do you live, Warty? Boston? Manhattan? Malibu? Miami?
San Fran or Seattle?
uhh...those guys are fags!
|5.6.08 @ 3:41PM|#
Where do you live, Warty?
Boston? Manhattan? Malibu? Miami? San Fran or Seattle?
You need to learn the culture of your own country for a change.
I split time between my mansion in Malibu and my condo in
Manhattan. Only the most fashionable locales for an elite such as
I.
Seriously, though, I've never seen anyone take such pride in his
ignorance than Neil.
|5.6.08 @ 3:42PM|#
Not all of us out in the heartland and flyover country what
some fancy, complex beer that costs $10/six pack.
We just want a light, ice cold, refreshing drink and the end of a
hard days work at an honest price.
Finally, Neil's true identity is revealed!
He's Alabama
State Rep. Alvin Holmes (D-Montgomery)
Bingo|5.6.08 @ 7:38PM|#
Neil, you are an idiot. I can get a 6-pack of a beautiful
American microbrew for the same price as dogpiss Bud Light.
Out here in the "flyover country" mountain states we take pride in
our brewers and the beer they make. Fuck Coors and fuck
Anheiser-Busch. I'll take a New Belgium anyday.
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