Cotton subsidies make farmers rich, cities brown, children sick

At last the cotton crop is harvested, and the farmers are rejoicing at record incomes. I am so proud to have supported their success not only by killing my lawn but also by paying for their profits with my tax dollars.

Taxpayer-paid farm subsidies have got to be one of the farmers’ favorite free-enterprise systems. I hope next year we can kill off more of our greenery in our fair city to make sure the wealthy stay rich at our expense.

I especially rejoice at seeing the antiquated, diesel-powered water pumps along Highway 41 spewing fumes into our air. It takes extra pollution to keep our Fresno County asthma rates at double the statewide average.

So let’s figure out the benefits of cotton subsidies: brown lawns, dead trees, higher taxes and sick children.

This story was originally published November 14, 2015 at 3:47 AM with the headline "Cotton subsidies make farmers rich, cities brown, children sick."