Why Subsidize?

GRASS IN REVIEW

GRASSROOT INSTITUTE OF HAWAII

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WEEKLY GRASS IN REVIEW - June 4, 2008

Why Subsidize?
By Paul Jacob

When politicians push hard for something, ramp up your skepticism level. Democrat? Republican? Doesn’t matter much.

The recent farm bill passed and went to the president, who vetoed it. So it went back to Congress, which overrode the veto of this $300 billion bill, 316-108 in the House, 82-13 in the Senate.

So ask yourself, why do Democrats support these subsidies?

Democrats claim to be “for the little guy,” for equality. Trouble is, the federal government’s farm subsidies basically shovel money up the income ladder, not down it.

On average, farmers are better off than the people who pay the subsidies. Brian Riedl of the Heritage Foundation explains that most subsidies go overwhelmingly “to large commercial farms, which report an average income of $200,000 and a net worth of nearly $2 million.”

We pay $25 billion to these rich farmers. And add another $12 billion in higher food prices, which are the last thing we need now, with Congress’s idiotic ethanol subsidies already pushing prices up.

So why would any Democrat support continuing such absurdity?

Because Democrats like siphoning off our money through government and using it to buy friends and stay in power. That’s all they really believe in. Equality? Hah!

Why would Republicans support it?

Same reason.

Paul Jacob is a member of the GRIH Board of Advisors and is Senior Advisor at the Sam Adams Alliance and Foundation.

IN THE NEWS - HIGHLIGHTED COMMENTARIES
Grassroot Institute is regularly featured in news articles and broadcasts around the state. Here is a sample of some of our recent articles, research stories, and other articles of interest.

Mark Skousen at the Pacific Club
By Brandon Bosworth

GRIH was proud to host a luncheon featuring a talk by famed economist Mark Skousen last Wednesday.... A substantial crowd, including State Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland, Senator Will Espero, Senator Sam Slom and Representative Barbara Marumoto, showed up to hear his entertaining lecture. The debate over a possible new constitutional convention here in Hawaii opened the door for Skousen to examine issues relating to what a government should or should not do.

(To read more, click here.)

Tennessee Fights to Keep Open Charter Schools
By Ben DeGrow

Tennessee is fighting an uphill battle to save public charter schools from being rolled back, even though a recent survey shows the education option to be popular with parents statewide.

House Bill 3935, sponsored by state Rep. Richard Montgomery (R-Sevierville), would remove a sunset on new charter school authorization currently set to take effect July 1. The legislation, still pending at press time, would also expand student eligibility for charter enrollment.

(To read more, click here.)

GRASSROOT INSTITUTE NOW DOES PODCASTS!

GIR readers and visitors to the GRIH web site are now able to enjoy a new feature, "Grassroot Insights", a periodic podcast hosted by the Institute’s new Director of Communications, Tom McAuliffe. The audio interviews with community leaders and special guests at GRIH's monthly meetings are available for download to your iPod or for listening via the Internet. McAuliffe is a former major market on-air radio personality.

Some of the first episodes of Grassroot Insights will include interviews with new GRIH President Jamie Story; GRIH Founder Dick Rowland; and Hawaii State Representative Marcus Oshiro, who is Chair of the House Finance Committee and author of Act 272, the law creating a state fiscal transparency website. Another episode will feature Dr. Mark Skousen’s recent economics speech and his Q&A on "What a State Constitution Should Say…and Not Say". We hope you'll give Grassroot Insights a listen, and if you have any ideas for the show please let Tom know at tom@grassrootinstitute.org.

New GRIH president Jamie Story is the featured guest in the first of GRIH's periodic podcasts with leaders in the community and beyond. Click here to download or listen to it.

UPCOMING EVENTS
All of the Institute’s events, research publication dates and speaking engagements are available on our website.

SAVE THE DATE! On Thursday, July 31st, the Grassroot Institute will again be celebrating the birthday of Milton Friedman with a luncheon on what would have been his 96th birthday. The luncheon will be held at the Pacific Club, and University of San Diego School of Law professor Gail Heriot will be the keynote speaker.

HONOLULUTRAFFIC.COM
The mission of HonoluluTraffic.com is to seek cost effective ways to reduce traffic congestion on Oahu. Add your name to the list of supporters.

STOPRAILNOW.COM
The goal of Stop Rail Now is to collect the nearly 45,000 signatures necessary to put on the ballot: "Honolulu mass transit shall not include trains or rail transit." Go to the website to sign up or download a petition, due back July 10th.

FRESH PERSPECTIVE

Opportunity for Young Adults:
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii created the Fresh Perspective column exclusively to publish the work of high school and college students. In addition to work appearing on GRIH’s website, their work is also submitted to Hawaii Reporter. Submissions are welcome from any interested young adult, and we will publish work that is clearly written and grammatically sound. For earlier Fresh Perspectives please click here.

Contact: wendy@grassrootinstitute.org for more info.

TRY OUR BLOGS
Use these links to access various topics.

Dash of Calabash>>>57 Simple Rules to Attend the Olympics

Dash of Calabash>>>Welfare for Rich Farmers

Dash of Calabash>>>What do cars and cigarettes have in common?

Dash of Calabash>>>“Helping” Hawaiians

The Mystery of Hawaiian History>>>Recognition of the Republic of Hawaii - Japan

Read what others have written or add your own thoughts by clicking here.

LIBERTY NETWORK

GRIH Board Member Cliff Slater had an article published in Hawaii Reporter on 5/30/08, “While the Mayor Dismisses HOT Lanes as Too Expensive for Oahu, Experts Say They Can Be Built for Less than $900 million.”
GRIH Grassroot Insights Podcast #1: New GRIH president Jamie Story is the featured guest in the first of GRIH's periodic podcasts with leaders in the community and beyond.
Anne Stevens, candidate for State Representative (23rd District), signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge on June 4th. For more information about the pledge, please visit www.atr.org.

How fast does the state spend your money?
State spending is out of control. Watch the dollars fly out the window.....

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From taxation to education, from health care to transportation, the Institute’s staff is ready to address your group regarding the important policy issues facing all citizens of Hawaii. Call (808) 591-9193 to check availability and make arrangements, or e-mail us at wendy@grassrootinstitute.org .

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