Mr. President, it may surprise my colleagues, but I am no fan of federal disaster programs for agriculture. They are difficult to pass and often a disaster to implement.
The big policy wins of the New Deal were actually offered as compromises. Because the alternative seemed to be revolution.
What in the hell would they do with the farm program without us?
I always assumed the Department of Agriculture was the farmer and rancher's friend.
Farmers have about given up hope of getting farm relief and have decided to fertilize instead.
Coolidge has the best idea on this farm relief. He said, 'Farmers, you are in a hole. I can't help you, but I will get in with you.' He did. That made it fine so the farmers were satisfied as long as Coolidge was going to get in with them.
When farmers and ranchers are confronted by weather-related disasters that are beyond their control, we need to do something to help.
We do participate in the government programs, like probably 95 percent of farmers do. People who aren't familiar with the agriculture industry, you know, try and make that look like something exceptional.
It's hard to believe President George Bush gave a speech in New Orleans about disaster recovery and failed to mention the word 'farm' or the word 'rural.'
