What does it mean to be a Republican anymore?
I have been critical of Bush on a number of spending issues, but the other day he came out in opposition to a tobacco buyout to relieve tobacco growers. Living in a tobacco state, Kentucky, it has made a small splash around here. A number of GOP senators and candidates have tried to sway Bush on this issue and of course John Kerry is all for it.
My question is two fold. One, should we be in the business of propping up tobacco farmers? Now I can see the strategic need to have food crop and livestock growers stay in business, but tobacco is hardly a strategically important crop. Two, and on the same lines, how odd is it to spend all this money to help prop up tobacco growers when we turn around and spend billions to fight tobacco and treat tobacco related illnesses?
These are Republicans? Let the Democrats stick to the subsidy programs, we are supposed to be in favor of SMALLER government!
We ought not be propping up, buying out or otherwise interfering in the growing of tobacco. It kills people and serves no real purpose, so let it die and if need be use those funds to help farmers who grow food (although I would prefer we not prop them up at all, given the world farming situation it is vital we maintain our own food supply and not become dependent on foreign supplies)
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