Last week, I gave a ranch tour to Lilwen Joynson from Wales. Lilwen works with farmers and livestock producers in the United Kingdom. She wants to help them be more profitable and sustainable. She is very frustrated that most of the farmers she works with are reluctant to make the changes they need to make.
Lilwen said the primary reason they are so reluctant to change anything is because they are on the dole. The phrase “on the dole” refers to receiving financial aid from the government. Agriculture in the United Kingdom and the European Union is very heavily subsidized. Being subsidized to that extent prevents people from thinking for themselves.
I told Lilwen that it isn’t as bad in the US – but government subsidies are having a similar effect on American farmers and ranchers. Instead of farming and ranching for a profit and for the future, producers are farming and ranching for the government. Prior to the beginning of government subsidies in the 1930s, farmers and ranchers were forced to change what needed to be changed to stay in business. There was no safety net.
Although most American farmers and ranchers consider themselves to be self-sufficient, many are receiving enormous amounts of money in the form of welfare payments from the givernment. A whopping $539 billion has been handed out to farmers and ranchers in just the last 30 years. That’s a BILLION with a B! This includes givernment subsidized insurance payments. Don’t be deceived; there will always be a price to pay for so-called “free money.”
Quote Worth Re-Quoting
“A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.” ~ George Bernard Shaw