As part of President Bush’s $2.57 trillion budget submitted on Monday, farmers can expect to see a proposed $587 million cut in farm subsidies.

This cut is expected to draw fierce criticism from people in agricultural states like Iowa, but we ask that citizens consider the local and global impact of subsidies before speaking.

Farm subsidies sound better than they really are. One of Bush’s proposals is to cap the maximum payment per farmer to $250,000 and to eliminate loopholes. As it stands, many corporate outfits cheat the system through clever business tactics and end up receiving multiple subsidies that are far from necessary.

In essence, corporate farms are using taxpayer money to drive up profits. Of all potential subsidies, those given to farms are generally more wasteful and unnecessary. With no end in sight to federal budget deficits, these kinds of programs must be eliminated if politicians are unwilling to raise taxes.

From a conservative standpoint, reducing farm subsidies is good policy. Incidentally, the same is true from a liberal standpoint.

The issue of U.S. farm subsidies is an important one outside of the country. At this moment, countries all over the world are looking to see what the U.S. government will do about it. These countries have one thing in common: they all oppose our massive farm subsidies.

Their reasoning is pretty straightforward — our farm subsidies are harmful to foreign farmers, and in some cases are crippling to their economies. Oftentimes in other countries, produce exported from the United States will sell for less than the same produce grown right across the street. Anyone who believes in internationalism has to recognize that farm subsidies, in practice, amount to economic warfare.

Rather than helping to grow fruits and grains, our farm subsidies, in effect, cultivate resentment and economic disparity.

At a time when our international standing is at a low point, anything that can be done to reduce tension and pave the way for genuine diplomacy must be considered with an open mind.

We believe proposed cuts to farm subsidies should be viewed on their merits alone and not by their position within Bush’s multi-trillion-dollar budget. It is true that cuts may appear hypocritical in light of cuts and additions to other programs, but that doesn’t change the validity in cutting farm subsidies.

Reducing farm subsidies is good policy at both ends of the political spectrum. Given that, citizens should re-examine the proposed cuts and consider them for what they are — good policy.