The people of the U.S. should buy me a new combine. In fact, they should buy all corn farmers a new combine. Subsidies can cut our tax burden to zero, allowing us to put the excess cash we have towards our business. I have heard subsidies are free money since the government never balances the books. It doesn’t hurt anybody.
We will also need you to buy us rippers, sprayers, tractors, discs and grain carts. We could extend it to seed, fertilizer, other various inputs and land payments too. Since Iowa corn farmers are raising energy, we fall into a new category according to our government. Energy companies are not supposed to pay for costs on anything. Name one energy producer that is not supported by massive subsidies and special favors. We need in on that. The government has been very clear that energy producers should not have to pay their own way or take any risks, they should only profit.
Farmers will need to have access to eminent domain too since the public is using our product and the public benefits from our raising corn. Clearly this is how “public use” is defined by our Constitution. Our corn consumes CO2 which makes us “green” and clearly champions of the greater good.
As energy producers; we are on that wide open playing field of free ride. Come to think of it, after all our equipment is paid for, we will need extra money for lobbyists, advertising, front groups and wheel-greasing to help protect the tax dollars we invested. The price of corn will have to go up and we can’t keep the price up artificially if we don’t have the money to “play the game”. It is expensive, hard work to not spend any money yet still make loads of profit, the public needs to understand that.
Author: Janna Swanson
Janna Swanson helps her husband Paul farm in NW Iowa with their two young daughters. Since 2013 Janna has volunteered her time and energy for her community. She was a key member of the Preservation of Rural Iowa Alliance that protected landowners from the Rock Island Clean Line. From there she helped start and facilitated the grassroots group, The Coalition for Rural Property Rights to help protect community members from industrial wind installations. She is also a board member of National Wind Watch, a 25-year online collection of information of the industrial wind opposition from around the world. Most importantly Janna is a follower of Christ and seeks to help others to know and understand Him. Yet because she is also seeking deepening her own knowledge and understanding she welcomes critical, constructive debate. No one has the corner on truth, we all see “through a glass, darkly”. (I Corinthians 13:12)
ain’t it the truth! Get in line with both hand out! Don’t notice your back pocket is being picked clean! It’s all for the greater good!
OK, I know this article is well said to point out the hypocrisy. But really?
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF IOWA ARTICLE I. BILL OF RIGHTS.
Laws uniform. SEC. 6. All laws of a general nature shall have a uniform operation; the general assembly
shall not grant to any citizen, or class of citizens, privileges or immunities, which, upon the same terms shall not
equally belong to all citizens. / How many of our existing laws conflict with this and are thus null and void? If only we the people knew.
ARTICLE I.
BILL OF RIGHTS. Political power. SEC. 2. All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for the
protection, security, and benefit of the people, and they have the right, at all times, to alter or reform the same, whenever the public good may require it. / If only we the people knew.
ARTICLE VIII.
CORPORATIONS.
State not to be a stockholder. SEC. 3. The state shall not become a stockholder in any corporation, nor
shall it assume or pay the debt or liability of any corporation, unless incurred in time of war for the benefit of
the state. / If only we the people knew.
ARTICLE XII. SCHEDULE.
Supreme law – constitutionality of acts. SECTION 1. This constitution shall be the supreme law of the
state, and any law inconsistent therwith, shall be void. The general assembly shall pass all laws necessary to
carry this constitution into effect. / If only we the people knew.
Ron Fravel,
Thank you for this fine follow through on this article! The government has got to get out of “business”!! We need to vote only for lawmakers who understand this and will support it.