I’m Ripping You Off

Published: August 2, 2007, 11:42 am

Tags: kristof nicholas, times select, farm bill

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF Published: August 2, 2007 YAMHILL, Ore.One measure of the inanity of our national farm policy is that you, as a taxpayer, are paying me not to grow crops here in Oregon.Democratic House leaders have rammed through another grotesque farm bill on the assumption that the only people who will pay attention will be the beneficiaries. Let's hope that they're wrong, because this is a classic example of weak-kneed politicians caving in to special interests.I grew up on a sheep and cherry farm here in Yamhill, Ore., and still have some timberland outside of town. Every year I get paid $588 not to farm it, under the Conservation Reserve Program.That's right: taxpayers are subsidizing a New York columnist not to plant crops in a forest in Oregon.But at least I'm alive. The Government Accountability Office last month found that the government had handed out $1.1 billion over seven years to dead farmers. In one case, payments were made continually to a

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