How are Iowa farmers taking Bush's ag budget cut proposals?

[CoffeeCat]

I live in Iowa, but I don't know anyone who farms.

I was wondering if others here, who do farm, have an opinion on Bush's proposed ag-budget cuts?

Has anyone heard from farmers or other rural folks--regarding their opinions about these cuts?

[Hobarticus]

1. Dubuque's paper today had a two-column article on it

in the ag section. The writer basically said expect more to come.

Don't know any farmers personally, but from what I've read, they aren't too happy.

[CoffeeCat]

2. I wonder if most of these farmers voted for Bush?

I would assume that many of them did vote for Bush.

I pulled the transcript from Bush's speech at the Farm Progress show this summer, in central Iowa.

Bush said nothing about cuts. In fact, he droned on and on about the importance of supporting farms and farmers.

I imagine Harkin isn't very happy.

Shame on Grassley for not fighting harder for Iowans. I am continually amazed at how Grassley sucks up to the president, at the expense of Iowans. We elected him to serve us, not that pisher in the White House.

[Hobarticus]

3. Driving in the farmlands around here, saw a lot of Bush signs...

out in farmer's front lots.

No, Bush was shrewd enough not to mention farm cuts.

[progressoid]

4. Clearly it's bad, but

part of me wants to see it happen. Rural and working class Iowans that voted for this asshat need to feel the sting of his actions. It's time to pay the piper.

Having said that, I'm mourning for our dying state.

[Hobarticus]

5. Don't know if I want to see it, but it'll be hard to feel bad...

The whole selfish attitude of "who cares about you...I got mine" is certainly going to bite the people who get hurt first and worst that you mentioned.

Hell, I mourn for the whole philosophy that I was raised on here in Iowa. Remember when we used to look out for one another? What was good for my neighbor was good for me?

Gone. Out the door. Lost your subsidies and lost your farm? I got my $200 tax cut, who cares?

That's not how I feel, but damn. You can see it in the op-ed pages. Cut my taxes, screw my neighbor.

[CoffeeCat]

6. Do you really think the Iowa philosophy...

on which you were raised, is dead?

I still find Iowans to be incredibly friendly and down-to-earth.

I used to jog along the highways, but not anymore. Every 5 minutes, some kindly couple would stop and ask if I needed help or a ride somewhere! :)

I do think that people are more insular, in general. It's a private-backyard-deck" culture today, as opposed to a "front-porch" culture. However, I've found incredible neighborhoods in our area, with friendly families and a genuine, tight-knit, community feel to them.

I remember growing up in Cedar Rapids. I used to leave after lunch, and play all day in the neighborhood with the other kids. We'd play in the creek and all over the neighborhood, until we returned home at dinner time. That was in the 1970's. It's very sad that parents have to be so vigilant with their children today. However, that's attributable to national--not Iowa--issues and changes through the years.

My husband and I continue to hang here, mainly for the kids. The schools in our area are superb.

I hope the old Iowa culture isn't dead.

[progressoid]

7. This is true. I think a lot of the small town friendliness is still here.

But, it's amazing to me that Iowans (hell, the whole country) don't see that this administration isn't about that at all. I suppose Iowa is typical in that it's (conservatives) have fallen prey to the neo-con bull. It's the "What's the Matter with Kansas" effect. They actually think their party is about morals and family values.

One wonders how much more blatant hypocrisy and outright graft will have to take place before they sit up and take notice.

[Hobarticus]

8. Oh no, not dead....just misguided.

I agree, probably in general we've become a much more insular society. The things I used to be able to do as a kid....long gone.

People are still wonderful here in Iowa.

If you haven't read "What's The Matter with Kansas?", yet, do so. Very eye-opening in regards to the midwest and rural conservative id. That's why I mention the "cut my taxes, screw my neighbor" mentality. It's only so long before someone ELSE is screwing them.

In a nutshell, that's the shortsightedness of the rural conservative movement: sure, there's no gay marriage...but the things they used to be able to count on, like farm subsidies, are eroding day by day.

How long until they wake up?

[Rambis]

9. I know some

The guys that got huge under Reagen by buying out their bankrupt neighbors love republicans. i was sitting with this absolute prick one night and he was going off on how if the person on this note pad he was handed in our town parade was a dem or a pug. Once someone told him it was a pug he said he would use it. I asked how much land he had and he told me. I said so yo got big between 1982 and 1984 then eh? He said how did you know... Just an asshole, the kind of guy that coudln't wait for his neighbor to go under to buy him out. Small farmers are still Dems in some cases but most are republicans now. If they sink I know 2 of them that I actually like will lose big time. Corp farms will be fine and the small farmers will continue to die. I had one guy tell me after 1992 you couldn't make a profit on a small farm because the land prices were to high. That was the breaking point for the small farmer.

[terryg11]

10. anyone got a link to his ag cut proposals?

haven't had a chance to read up on them but am curious wht he's asking for.
I would personally like to see some changes made to the system, too many large farmers getting tons of money when they don't need it. I'm all for helping the farmers especially when they are putting land aside for conservation purposes or wet land reclamation projects and the like