http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2993101.stm "The US, which is a net exporter of cotton, gave their cotton farmers $3.9bn worth of subsidies last financial year, three times more than the aid it gives to Africa." "The subsidies have led to massive over-production of cotton, causing cotton crops to halve in value since the mid-1990s. Oxfam estimates that Africa is losing $300m a year as a result of the cotton subsidies and that prices would rise by a quarter if the unfair subsidies were eliminated." "They are asking for the gradual removal of subsidies, and a clear deadline for their total elimination, together with compensation for their farmers in the interim." Remember when American's complained in the 80's about Japanese government involvement in Japenese industry? Note that these are 4 of the poorest countries in the world
The World Trade Organization is. They are OKing up to $4 billion worth of punitive taxes by the Europeans on US goods unless the US stops subsidizing its industries. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030507/wl_nm/trade_wto_dc_4
Can anyone argue that this country is set up for the rich? It is like something I heard from a musician in an interview, "When your poor people won't give you a second look, when your rich they give you evrything for free."
I'm not going to make any comments on our cotton subsidies because they are not too much compared to our peanut & sugar subsidies. And our steel tariffs. And the fact that cattle ranchers & timber companies get to use public land for free. (almost) And all the other Corporate Welfare we hand out. What's your next big complaint, Iman? "The sun rises in the East!" Of course, we give out heinous Corporate Welfare to millionaire farmers. Those farmers have all kinds of cool pictures of congressmen with farm animals.