Political Quotes

“As I understand it, if you happened to be the heir of someone who owns a farm and has been getting Federal funds and that person dies, you then inherit the land. You do not have to go to that land. You do not have to grow anything. You do not have to touch a farm implement. You simply get the money. This is the greatest deal going, and this from the believers in free enterprise, stand on you own two feet, get your nose to the grindstone, your shoulder to the wheel, get the government's hand out of your pockets. Well, the government's hands will not be in your pockets, because there will be too much money in those hands to fit in your pockets. We are talking about $35 billion a year over 7 years that go to citizens of this country, or the owners, wherever they are. I do not know why I said citizens. That go to owners of this land no matter what. I am sure many of these people, most of them, may continue to farm, but that is not here. By the way, it is 7 years. My amendment would say that you continue the current agricultural program, phase them down. I want to get rid of them. I do not like the current programs either, but I would rather get something for the money we are giving these people, and I also decided we should phase it out in 5 years rather than 7, for this reason. I think if we are going to say that 5 years is the outer limit for you to receive Aid to Families with Dependent Children, that that probably ought to serve for the farmers as well.”