Last year a panhandler came up to me in downtown Atlanta and asked for 50 cents. No big deal. The guy looked poor, so I gave him something I could clearly spare.
This year a panhandler, clearly a wealthy man, snuck up on me and lifted a $20 right out of my pocket! I exploded! Surely this guy didn't need the money as much as I did, but I guess he figured he could get away with it... and he has NO CLUE about the wrong he has done.
The real problem is that he took it from all of you, too...
You see, this guy is the U.S. cotton farmer. On average he lifted $21 per year from you, the Average Taxpayer. When I don't see owners of shoe repair stores, drycleaners or lawn services getting any funds from the government, I don't get how these millionaire farmers justify taking you money. Also, I am flummoxed (don't you like that word?) by any politician who would vote for taking your money to give to them!
"In 2005 cotton subsidies totaled $3.3 billion [$21.60 per taxpayer], up from $30 million in 1995, according to the Environmental Working Group, which tracks U.S. subsidies. This industrial policy primarily benefits large corporate farms and their wealthy owners. Of the $19.1 billion [$121 per taxpayer] that EWG says was paid out over that decade, the top 10% of cotton-subsidy recipients got more than 80%, or almost $15.5 billion [$101 per taxpayer]. The bottom 80% of recipients had to make do with $1.4 billion. This is a brazen wealth transfer to fat cats from the tax-paying middle class."
After all, YOU are the one who votes for the politician. A little loyalty isn't too much to ask. But maybe you want to make such a donation.
It's your money. You decide.
Comments