To the editor:

In response to Brian Leimbach’s “Response to Farm Crisis” last Tuesday, I give Mr. Leimbach credit for being “confident” on his views, but Mr. Leimbach has not done his homework. With farm subsidies being so “important,” perhaps he will find the following educational. When a corporation or small business fails to pay taxes because it made less profit than the previous year, that is a subsidy, and society rationalizes this.

We stand behind federal subsidies that are paid to companies facing bankruptcy and loss of jobs to help its employees get back on their feet.

When corporations agree to expand their operations, they are given tax incentives and perks to encourage this.

It is ironic that subsidies are condemned when small farmers are in need of them because the price they receive for their product is often less than it costs to produce it.

Subsidies bring rural communities income that keeps the area viable. Why in the hell do we accept small businesses in the urban sector but object to them in the rural sector?

Real capitalism in America is failing, along with our downtowns, family-owned food stores and hardware stores.

Subsidies enable those who want to farm to stay on the land. If subsidies are what it takes to do this, then we should be in support of them. Criticizing small farmers and telling them that their financial problems are due to their “failing as businessmen” plays into the hands of those who think that a sign of a progressive country is one that can produce food for the whole by using the few.

What is so progressive about destroying our rural infrastructure and creating abandoned farm communities?

When we are prepared to stop all privileges for big business and not offer tax breaks, low-interest loans, subsidies and other perks that are available to all of us, then we can take a look at agricultural privileges.

Not only do you not understand what is going between our government and rural America, but you do not understand why farmers have auctions or what a John Deere combine is actually worth, which really pisses me off.

You can measure success how you wish, but I will use the American farmer as my ruler, and from what I see, they have brought us a long way.

I hope the public is wise enough to see through this “problem” and understand that the real problem is allowing this charade to continue.

Beau A. Carlson

Senior

Animal science