What do all the rural DUers think about capping subsidies?

[TheFarseer]

I think capping farm subsidies for one entity at $250,000 is a good idea. It will only hurt megafarms. Is there more to this paln? I'm worried that we are not hearing about the other parts of the plan that hurt all farmers. There's got to be more to this than just capping payments. Republicans wouldn't hang corporate farms out to dry would they? We all know, bush and his ilk are not above lieing through their teeth to get a plan through congress and past the American people.

[Wickerman]

1. I worry about the folks who have grown dependent

on the subsidies and with no warning will lose what they have come to depend on.

I don't know that much about it yet, but I know some small family farmers are worried. They hate the subsidies, but have used them to stay profitable in years of low prices.

If small farmers are forced to give it up, their valuable land comes on the market for the mega corps to grab up. Might be a part of the plan?

[vpigrad]

2. I do taxes for a lot of farmers...

and not a one ever shows any profit but they all live in nice houses, have nice clothes, and drive expensive vehicles. Funny how that works.

End the cash pay-outs to the larger farmers. Why should they get more money free from the government than the average citizen?

[Kali]

3. maybe the ones

who don't drive expensive vehicles, have nice clothes or a big house don't use CPA's.

:eyes:

I do my own taxes.

[vpigrad]

4. I'm not a CPA

I change $35 plus $20 per hour after the first half-hour. I'm not a CPA. I'm just a guy who does a few hundred tax returns each year for a local CPA firm for a little extra money.

Also, I know most of them outside of work, and they always seem to have tons of money but never show any income. It's very strange that the IRS doesn't go after more farmers due to their rampant tax fraud.

[tooncesj0nes]

5. arent the subsidies responsible for 'dumping'?

..which if I am correct, US produced crops are sold in Mexico for example at prices that are cheaper than the mexican farmers can produce them at..which leads to the mexican farmer losing their livlihood...please correct me if I am wrong..

[Kali]

6. if they are commiting fraud

doesn't that make you some kind of accomplise?

[vpigrad]

7. Did you actually think that through before posting?

When you do someone's taxes, you just put-down the numbers they give to you. Short of spending 100's of hours going through their books, I can't verify the number they give to me. No one can.

[Kali]

9. Well I'm no expert but I did sit on a Jury for a pretty

huge civil trial involving the matter of (several of the big 4 at the time I think it was) accounting firms and whether and how much they were responsible for the fraud being perpetuated by the principal company. And we did find them guilty.

Also as mentioned by another poster, it is perfectly legal to plan your spending so that you reduce tax burdens at the end of the year.

[sendero]

10. Most accountants..

... (like mine for example) make me sign a disclaimer that basically says "I'm using the number you gave me and if they are incorrect it is your problem".

An accountant hired to do a tax return couldn't do it any other way - do you think they can spend 20 hours going through every receipt and deposit?

I suspect the case you are talking about was not a tax return case. You do know the difference, don't you?

[cattleman22]

8. I don't think it is necesarily fraud

My father has a farm that is not profitable and he works to subsidize his habbit. my father-in-law has a profitable cow/calf farm (no price subsidies, only disaster payments if horrible weather). He always keeps a close eye on his profits at the end of the year and spends any profit on equipment for the farm. He would rather show no profit but have better equipment.

[Wapsie B]

11. I think there should be a cap

on the size of farm that would qualify for ANY subsidy. Maybe I'm wrong but I thought the whole idea for these programs was to save the family farm. But it's done the exact opposite. Big farmers lust over getting more and more acres under their control so they can qualify for this welfare. It's gotta stop dead in it's tracks.