A Disgraceful Farm Bill: Editorial

Editorial

A Disgraceful Farm Bill

President Bush should veto a $307 billion farm bill that rewards rich farmers while doing nothing to help the world’s hungry.

I was going to blog about this yesterday when I read the article, but didn't. Unfortunately, that meant that the New York Times beat me to it. Those journalists are too fast!

I agree wholeheartedly with the editorial. Farm subsidies at this point in time are not appropriate for both the US economy and the world economy. Nancy Pelosi, whom I usually respect, does not get it, and seems to be pandering to the (all-too-powerful) farm lobbyists. The food stamp part of the bill is a great measure, however, and I'm all for conservation. But it is too bad even if Bush vetoes it, congress still may override.

Much Too Little, Too Late

President Bush's tour through Mexico and Central and South America (highlighted in the NY Times article "Answering Latin Left, Bush Pledges to Help Poor") is hypocritical. While Bush has been focusing on wars about oil and forcing US democracy in the middle east, the governments and people of the southern West hemisphere have been acting.
I don't blame Hugo Chavez in trying to find an alternative to the market system that hasn't been working in Venezuela. His instillation of anti-US sentiments isn't unreasonable either. Bush has condoned building a wall to block off all southern nations!
Bush's trip is most likely the sightseeing tour of a lame-duck president. (Just look at the picture in the NY Times article!)