Government subsidies tax benefits

[aurora]

This is not helpful, but I'd actually argue that some ag subsidies are extremely harmful (specifically corn and soy).

On the pro side I would list basic research in medicine and science -much more basic than industry would fund on its own.

[aurora]

Feb 1, 2015 11:21:36 GMT -5 mockingbird said:

Feb 1, 2015 11:18:08 GMT -5 aurora said:

This is not helpful, but I'd actually argue that some ag subsidies are extremely harmful (specifically corn and soy).

On the pro side I would list basic research in medicine and science -much more basic than industry would fund on its own.

Oh, I completely agree with you. 

Apparently an old peripheral friend is anti-vax. And he's all - why should I care about social responsibility.  So I was pointing out all of the things he GETs from society, including cheap food.

In that case I would argue social stability. We don't all have to carry around all our stuff all the time guarded by weapons because we're just not at high risk of our homes being looted every time we leave.

[Cicero]

I don't know if I'd bring up the farm subsidies. Those are pretty much universally despised. Stick to roads, bridges, police forces, etc.

ETA: if you mention them you open up the argument to being detailed in a variety of ways (the gov't shouldn't be messing with price controls, the government has no business propping up a market, the government is making us fat by making nutrition less calories so inexpensive, HFCS!, yada, yada yada). Leave it out.

[gumi]

Feb 1, 2015 11:21:36 GMT -5 mockingbird said:

Feb 1, 2015 11:18:08 GMT -5 aurora said:

This is not helpful, but I'd actually argue that some ag subsidies are extremely harmful (specifically corn and soy).

On the pro side I would list basic research in medicine and science -much more basic than industry would fund on its own.

Oh, I completely agree with you. 

Apparently an old peripheral friend is anti-vax. And he's all - why should I care about social responsibility.  So I was pointing out all of the things he GETs from society, including cheap food.

Ew, I would just de- friend him.

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