Republican Senators: Trump's Farmer 'Welfare' Won't Work

[Snellius]

Source: Daily Beast

President Donald Trump set off a wave of outrage on Tuesday among Republican lawmakers, who accused the president of authorizing a “bailout” and “welfare” for Americans caught in the crosshairs of his own tariffs.
,,,
Reactions—nearly all of them negative—poured in from Capitol Hill after the Department of Agriculture announced that it would authorize $12 billion in “emergency” subsidies to farmers whose businesses have been hurt by the president’s trade policies, which have sparked retaliatory tariffs from China, Canada, Mexico and the European Union.

Sen. John Thune (R-SD) said the Department of Agriculture’s decision is an acknowledgement of the “unintended consequences” and “collateral damage” of Trump’s protectionist policies, while Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) said Trump was creating a “Soviet type economy.” Others questioned the administration’s overall strategy but said the newly authorized subsidies were a necessary buffer to help farmers that have already been adversely affected by the swelling trade war.

“They’re not going to be able to survive if this continues down the same path,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) said of the farmers in his state. “If it means having a short-term aid package, that’s better than nothing. Certainly we all agree that a free-trade plan long-term is really what we need.”

Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/republican-senators-trumps-farmer-welfare-wont-work

---

They'll do nothing, of course.

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. I love tribal warfare...

...especially in that gaggle of misfits.

[iluvtennis]

2. All their boy Trump needs to do is take away the ridiculous tariffs. Those tariffs are only

hurting those in the US, not the other countries as they are passing tariffs on to the consumers

[pecosbob]

3. Will there be a work requirement for their farmer welfare? /s

Republican economic plan...put farmers out of work...pay farmers subsidy...make farmers work for subsidies.

[Snellius]

6. Or make them drive to another state to pick up their check. With proper ID, of course.

Better, stand all day in long lines and then sent back home because their ID doesn't match.

[wcmagumba]

7. and drug tests...

how about all of the rest of us faced with increased costs (bought groceries lately?) on most products, anything
with aluminum, autos...I want an "emergency" bailout...drumph and rethugs are moronic a-holes!

[True_Blue]

41. And mandatory drug tests too

Republicans always want to drug test anyone getting govt aid.

[Bengus81]

43. And they can ONLY draw $40-50.00 per day max out of a ATM....

[hibbing]

4. My two Senators Tweeted!

I am in farm country, my two R senators tweeted some impotent criticism of the tariffs, whoopie. Of course the majority of the farmers will still vote R.

Peace

[Snellius]

19. What's so damn special about farmers, anyhow?

Damn farmers think they live in the "heartland" and are rooted like potatoes in American soil. They're just corporate businesses who happened to be born somewhere else other than like New Jersey where they would be producing shock absorbers instead. Why are farmers more American than anyone else? There are too many states with two Senators but hardly anybody else.

[2naSalit]

22. ?

[Snellius]

23. Sorry, suddenly got a bad attack of farmer-phobia.

Upset, when a farmer in Iowa needs help, they come rushing to their aid, but when autoworkers in Detroit lose their job, it's just tough luck in the merciless game of supply and demand.

[2naSalit]

24. I get that part...

it was the complaint about the "two Senators" that I don't follow.

[Snellius]

27. I guess the Republic is to blame.

Many states, with lots of farmland and relatively sparse populations, are still constitutionally allotted 2 senators, no different than California or New York, who thus represent far fewer citizens than senators in more populous states. Despite that, many in those "heartland" states seem to consider themselves "truer" Americans and often ignore or hate the more ethnically mixed, "big city" US, a special place better than the "others", a sentiment which Trump's MAGA message readily exploits, and to which the republic nature of the Constitution gives disproportional weight. It's not by accident that the US Senate is traditionally skewed to Republicans. Equal representation does not apply to the Senate. Republicans will never give statehood to Puerto Rico, for example. Or allow California to be divided, with 2 senators each. It was a huge debate with the slave states when the Republic was formed.

Sorry for the long-winded explanation. Just always seemed undemocratic in today's union but likely will never be fixed.

To add, it's not just a matter of farming, it effects things like mining, oil, conservation, gun control, climate skepticism, and land use as well,

[2naSalit]

35. Hmmm

Seems this idea that having two Senators/state is somehow unfair all of a sudden in the mire we find ourselves, I tend to disagree with this concept and offer that the balance to this is the representation in the House which is based on population size. Both houses have to agree on policy proposals for them to become law. I don't agree with the rationale you presented in that regard. As a political scientist in small population Montana, which has only one rep in the House, a vast ag economy and can be considered an annexatiion of whitemenistan in the valley of drumpf...

There is a lot of pain going on in the state and the tepublican legislators are at permanent war with our Democratic Governor and half the time with the one Democratic Senator (we have one of each) are dead set on making sure that the poor either suffer to death or leave the state, they'll even pay for a bus ticket for you to go to another state.

[Snellius]

36. Not really "unfair all of a sudden".

Sorry for sounding so pedant but I was trained as an historian (though not US). And as I'm sure you know with political science, the style is a hard habit to break.

From its very foundation the unique American compromise between independent but federated states has been a dynamic and contentious problem. There's no doubt that the representation is unequal. The vote by a senator from California has 1/40 the representational weight in the Senate as a senator from Montana. I suppose if you're from Montana that's a good thing. But it's certainly not equal. It's a concession we make to preserve the sovereignty of independent states but, especially after the Civil War, that idea of states as independent little countries is not what it was in 1776 and increasingly makes less and less sense. Coal-fired plants in Pennsylvania adds to a change in climate everywhere.

Why it matters "all of a sudden" is that the Senate has special powers that only it has. One is "advise and consent" of appointments. Another is to give single senators from smaller states critical veto power on legislation. But why it's important in the present circumstances, is the power to actually convict a president that has been impeached by the House. It is very likely that, even if Trump is impeached, a Republican Senate will refuse to throw him out.

[2naSalit]

37. I already knew that

and have been anxiously waiting to see if we would even have an election this year as I suspected that the 2016 election might be the last that we see which we can also recognize as an actual election, I'm still not so sure. I am okay with how the system is set up and supposed to work, not a problem if you don't experience a coup like we had here. That, my argument, is the whole problem, infiltration and overthrow with international help.

[Snellius]

39. I get what you're saying. You're right.

The really scary thing is that the electoral system has already been thrown in doubt. Whether tampered with or not. Enough doubt to justify an unconstitutional "enabling act" of one form or another. My own "conspiracy theory" is that Trump is right. The "deep state" does exist and is out to get him if he crosses certain lines. In the military as well. And, like Strzok and Comey and Mueller, are as horrified about what's going on in this country as we are. Not a coup so much as a slow-walk resistance.

[markses66]

5. Public Loudspeaker: "Happy Farmer, Patriotic Farmer! The Two-Year Plan calls for sacrifices!"

"Patriotic Farmer! The Central Committee has decided to save your Brothers in Steel first. You must tighten the belt for the Great Success of the Two-Year Plan, which will be followed by the next Two-Year Plan! We have set aside a small portion of the great success of the Two Year Plan to tide you over! Happy Farmer! Patriotic Farmer! Take pride in your sacrifices for your Comrades in Steel and Other Heavy Trades! The Central Committee is with you, Happy Farmer! MAGA!"

[Ohiogal]

15. Hilarious, markses66!

It's coming .....

[brer cat]

21. Well done!

Welcome to DU.

[The Blue Flower]

33. Perfect!

My hat is off to you.

[Squinch]

8. "Soviet type economy." Snap. And duh.

[Snellius]

10. No. That's Chi..na! We make it on our own in the land of free markets. Right?

We don't manage and manipulate our economy like they do in foreign Communist states.

[Squinch]

12. Right? He's so dumb it hurts.

[Achilleaze]

9. Socialist Republicans are following the kremlin script to a T

[SamKnause]

11. Drug tests.

Work requirements.

Loss of tax breaks.

[Liberalagogo]

13. Trump was creating a "Soviet type economy."

Is the clue phone ringing in the Republicans' tiny minds?

[Renew Deal]

14. Where is $12 Billion for Flint?

[llmart]

32. Or Puerto Rico?

[PearliePoo2]

16. LOVE all these comments. LOVE DU!

What’s so cool is I read about breaking news on DU BEFORE it even hits the news! DU is ON it!

[bucolic_frolic]

17. If you needed free trade all along, you opted for tariffs why, exactly?

We are going to wind up with high prices, inflation, and scarcity. That is the path down which Trump has launched us.

[keithbvadu2]

18. Will he subsidize the rest of America suffering from his tariffs?

[BeyondGeography]

20. How is that even constitutional?

Maintaining the agricultural economy? More like the Trump Voter Emergency Act.

[The Liberal Lion]

25. Do I love watching

republicans make apologia for trump's form of socialism ("...Others questioned the administration’s overall strategy but said the newly authorized subsidies were a necessary buffer to help farmers that have already been adversely affected by the swelling trade war.

“They’re not going to be able to survive if this continues down the same path,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) said of the farmers in his state. “If it means having a short-term aid package, that’s better than nothing. Certainly we all agree that a free-trade plan long-term is really what we need.”)?

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's side splitting
Behold as the Nationalsozialismus takes root, in Amerika!

[Snellius]

28. And it's all Republicans at war with themselves

The Republican Party is completely, ideologically bankrupt at this point. Just power for the sake of power. They stand for nothing anymore. Yet Trumpism is a powerful personality cult and Democrats need a clear, inclusive vision of what they stand for, other than "Trump is a moron. Throw him out!"

[KY_EnviroGuy]

26. I'll bet the tea-baggers are throwing a hissy fit...

Keep your own party at war with itself, Dotard and we'll be waiting for November!.....

[Freethinker65]

29. It will work for the farm vote temporarily, but many others still forced to sacrifice will be irate

[Bernardo de La Paz]

30. Trump puts tariffs on nations like Canada cause he perceives "subsidies". Therefore: Trump subsidies

[kacekwl]

31. The only farmers if any who will receive assistance

Will be the corporate farmers. Count on it , more corporate welfare.

[SayItLoud]

34. EVERY sector that's impacted by tRUMP tariffs should...

DEMAND a bail out! How can the F'n Moron justify one and not another?

[roamer65]

38. Most businesses don't get subsidies.

Farming should be no different.

All subsidies to farming should be ended.

[SCVDem]

40. Soylent Green!!!

IT'S FARMERS!!!

Thanks dump!

[Bengus81]

42. Let me guess..vote for this BAILOUT and the 5B for the wall gets approved too..............

[Bengus81]

44. And of course this "farmers don't want welfare" is horse shit..........

They'll take those Trump mid-term welfare checks in a SECOND--and then CONTINUE TO BITCH about others on welfare,unions,gays etc,etc.....

[oasis]

45. Talking the talk. nt

[duforsure]

46. If farmers believe trump will save them

All they have to do is look at his past. He's done this many, many times before only for his victims (people that voted for him) to get conned again, and screwed over even worse. Farmers trusting trump will deliver is another bad mistake on them.

[Achilleaze]

47. republican welfare for corporate farmers is freaking KGOP socialism

sick

[Javaman]

48. and who will be the recipient of these "subsidies"?

the repukes like to make us all think that the "farmer" in this question is some guy working his family farm that's been in a family for generations!!

but less than 3% of the farms out there actually are owned by actual "family run" farms.

the other 97%?

corporations. massive corporations. Agra-corp, Cargill, etc.

this is nothing but corporate wellfare.