Do tobacco farmers get subsidies in the US?

AThousandYoung

1st Dan TKD Kukkiwon

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12 Dec 11

AThousandYoung

1st Dan TKD Kukkiwon

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Joined: 23 Aug 04
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12 Dec 11

If so, why?

techsouth

Garner, NC

Joined: 04 Nov 05
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12 Dec 11

They used to. I don't think so anymore.

Furthermore, for quite a while there have been "quotas". You could not grow tobacco unless you were allotted an adequate quota. This was to support the price of tobacco.

The reason was that some people seem to think the government can manage production priorities better than a free market.

normbenign

The Catbird's Seat

Joined: 21 Oct 06
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12 Dec 11

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
If so, why?

Yes, but they've changed in nature recently.

Kunsoo

Joined: 03 Feb 07
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12 Dec 11

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
If so, why?

Yes, because they have a strong lobby and enough gutless pols to indulge them.

normbenign

The Catbird's Seat

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Moves: 2598

12 Dec 11

Originally posted by Kunsoo
Yes, because they have a strong lobby and enough gutless pols to indulge them.

Farm subsidies in general are probably the best example of corporate welfare.

spruce112358

It's All A Joke

Joined: 23 Oct 04
Moves: 4402

13 Dec 11

Originally posted by normbenign
Farm subsidies in general are probably the best example of corporate welfare.

I've read that Japan has something over a 700% tariff on imported rice. That's also a pretty good example.

Kunsoo

Joined: 03 Feb 07
Moves: 199181

13 Dec 11

Originally posted by spruce112358
I've read that Japan has something over a 700% tariff on imported rice. That's also a pretty good example.

Considering that rice is so cheap, I don't even understand that.

Kunsoo

Joined: 03 Feb 07
Moves: 199181

13 Dec 11

Originally posted by normbenign
Farm subsidies in general are probably the best example of corporate welfare.

Yeah, especially since the family farms don't qualify for most of it.

Eladar

Joined: 12 Jul 08
Moves: 13814

13 Dec 11

Originally posted by Kunsoo
Considering that rice is so cheap, I don't even understand that.

It means that rice is more expensive in Japan, so the rice farmers can make more money in Japan.

Either Japanese rice farmers are simply making a killing on the Japanese market or you won't find much Japanese rice outside of Japan.

normbenign

The Catbird's Seat

Joined: 21 Oct 06
Moves: 2598

13 Dec 11

Originally posted by spruce112358
I've read that Japan has something over a 700% tariff on imported rice. That's also a pretty good example.

Subsidies and tariffs are two sides of the same coin.

normbenign

The Catbird's Seat

Joined: 21 Oct 06
Moves: 2598

13 Dec 11

Originally posted by Kunsoo
Yeah, especially since the family farms don't qualify for most of it.

They qualify for just enough to get them on the bandwagon demanding more.

finnegan

GENS UNA SUMUS

Joined: 25 Jun 06
Moves: 64930

13 Dec 11

Do weapons manufacturers get subsidies in the US or is that a free market too?

Do subsidies result in over production of nuclear weapons compared to the number actually needed for useful purposes?

normbenign

The Catbird's Seat

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Moves: 2598

14 Dec 11

1 edit

Originally posted by finnegan
Do weapons manufacturers get subsidies in the US or is that a free market too?

Do subsidies result in over production of nuclear weapons compared to the number actually needed for useful purposes?

Some would argue that there is a useful purpose of nuclear weapons.

Actually small arms manufacturers in the US, don't get subsidies, and for example the M9 handgun is foreign made (Beretta), and the small arms of most special forces are German made (Heckler Koch). Tell me that Colt, or Smith and Wesson can't make small arms.

Even the great majority of police in the US are armed with foreign made handguns (Glocks).