Washington, DC has spent decades – in bipartisan fashion – making the lives of our farmers more and more miserable.
Ridiculous tax policies. Most especially the Estate Tax – aka the Death Tax:
“Death taxes are taxes imposed by the federal and/or state government on someone’s estate upon their death. These taxes are levied on the beneficiary who receives the property in the deceased’s will or the estate which pays the tax before transferring the inherited property.”
Farmers have always been amongst the hardest hit:
“The value of family-owned farms and ranches is usually tied to illiquid assets such as land, buildings and equipment. With 91 percent of farm and ranch assets illiquid, producers have few options when it comes to generating cash to pay the estate tax.
“When estate taxes on an agricultural business exceed cash and other liquid assets, surviving family partners may be forced to sell land, buildings or equipment needed to keep their businesses running. This not only can cripple a farm or ranch operation, but also hurts the rural communities and businesses that agriculture supports.”
Even worse than the ridiculous tax policies? The ridiculous regulatory policies.
Burdensome Federal Regulations Hurt American Farmers and Ranchers:
“From the dairies in Vermont, to the wheat fields near the Chesapeake Bay, to the corn farms in the Midwest, American agriculture is under a constant barrage of irrational and unworkable regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency, which are burdensome, overreaching, and that negatively affect jobs and rural economies.”
Especially obnoxious? The Waters of the US (WOTUS) panoply of regs.
The EPA is Turning Water on Farms Into a Weapon Against Farmers
And then there has been DCs warped, anti-US, anti-US farmer, fake “free trade.”
Trading Down: How Unfair Trade Hurts Farmers
How anti-US insane are foreign nations’ policies?
Here’s How the European Union Runs a Trade Surplus With…Itself
Perhaps most damaging: US farmers have for decades been screwed by foreign governments dumping money into crops – and then dumping the mass-subsidized crops into our market.
The Bitter Impact of Foreign Farm Subsidies:
“(G)lobal subsidies threaten the livelihood of America’s farmers and ranchers. Every year, foreign nations funnel billions of dollars to prop up inefficient producers, negatively impacting global trade and harming American farmers, consumers and taxpayers alike.”
All of this accumulated sclerotic DC nonsense – all piled upon our farmers.
Enter presidential candidate Donald Trump. Who promised tax, regulatory and trade reform. Which resonated with our farmers.
Farmers Voted Heavily for Trump
And Trump’s tax, regulatory and trade reforms – commenced apace.
Trump Announces Tax and Regulation Cuts for US Farmers:
“Describing US farmers as ‘just the most incredible people,’ Trump announced that he was the first US President to address the American Farm Bureau in over 25 years. He added that he intends to come back next year.
“‘We’ve lowered tax rates; nearly doubled the standard deduction; and doubled the child tax credit. Under this new law, the typical family of four earning $75,000 will see an income tax cut of more than $2,000 each, slashing their tax bill in half each year,’ the president (said)….
“Following what the president described as ‘relentless intrusion from an army of regulators at the EPA, the FDA, and countless other federal agencies,’ Trump claimed that, under his administration, 1,500 planned regulatory actions or assaults have been cancelled or delayed; while ’22 regulations have been cut for every one new regulation’ so far.”
What about the ridiculous Waters of the US?
Farm Bureau Praises Trump’s WOTUS Action:
(American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said) ‘President Trump’s executive order to ditch the Waters of the U.S. rule is a welcome relief to farmers and ranchers across the country today.’”
Which brings us to Trump, farmers – and trade.
Trump FINALLY has the US addressing the omni-directional rip-off that has been global trade.
Which has in fact had some short-term negative impact on farmers. In no small part because….
China Targets Farmers to Go After Trump Base
Trump has mitigated the trade war damage done – by dedicating a small fraction of the tariff money collected to farmers.
Farmers Received Billions of Dollars to Compensate for Tariffs
But here’s the most important takeaway:
Farmers understand the trade war was not only necessary – but LONG overdue.
In no small part – because they have LONG been the victims of DC’s fake free trade and its anti-US farm, anti-US insanities.
Why America’s Tariff-Hit Farmers Still Support Trump
Why Farmers Still Support Trump
Farmers Are Huge Trump Supporters. Here’s Why
‘Great Patriot’ Farmers Back Trump’s Trade War
Farmers Back Trump’s Tariff Fight
Three Reasons Farmers Back President Trump on China Trade
American Farmer Support for Trump Rises Despite China’s Tactics
US farmers continuing to back Trump – has DC utterly flummoxed.
Farmers Are Losing Money Thanks to Trump – But They Still Support Him:
“There’s a disconnect between the negative effect of Trump’s policies on his voters in farm country and their unwavering support for him.”
Farmers Are Hurting, But They Still Support Trump and His Trade War
Betting the Farm: Why the Heartland Still Believes in Trump Despite Plunging Prices
Farmers Know Trump’s Trade War Is Hurting Them. That Doesn’t Mean They’ll Vote Democrat
Why Do So Many Farmers Support Trump?
Why, they ask? I’ll let actual farmers answer that question.
Farmers Sticking By Trump Even As Trade Wars Bite:
“Sara Wyant, president of Agri-Pulse Communications who’s been polling farmers on Trump for years, says they’ve stood by him through it all….
“(Kansas farmer Luke) Ulrich is not mad at Trump. He loves Trump’s hands-off approach to environmental regulations.”
‘He’s Doing The Right Thing’: Iowa Farmers Back Trump, Brush Off Trade War:
“‘He’s doing a good job and trying to make sure we’re treated fairly,’ said Kevin Prevo, a fifth-generation farmer who raises corn, soybeans, cattle and hogs on about 1,400 acres near Bloomfield, Iowa.
“Mr. Prevo showed zero uncertainty when asked whether he would vote for Mr. Trump again in 2020. ‘You bet,’ he said.”
Why Farmers Still Support Trump
“‘The Chinese do not play by the rules,’ one Illinois farmer said. ‘They cancel shipment orders that are not in their favor. They continue to steal our patents. Only President Trump has tried to stop these unfair trade practices.’”
Why America’s Tariff-Hit Farmers Still Support Trump
(New York farmer Paul Molesky) didn’t support Trump in 2016. Molesky says he finds himself impressed by his effectiveness.
“‘Even though I didn’t vote for him, I’ve been very pleasantly surprised with a lot of the policies and a lot of the actions that he’s taken.’”
Poll: Farmer Support for Donald Trump Jumps to 76 Percent
Which yet again highlights a DC-Establishment disconnect.
Instead of Swamp Creatures asking each other how farmers could possibly continue to support Trump – perhaps they should instead consider asking farmers.
This first appeared in Red State.