The Government Steals Raisins
Why does the federal government steal one-third to one-half of the raisin crop every year?
Why aren’t the farmers paid for the stolen crop?
Why does the government then sell the stolen raisins to foreigners at below-market prices?
Why has this been going on ever since 1948?
Why haven’t you heard it through the grapevine?
Ray was right. It’s a sweet deal . . . just not for American consumers.
There are at least 29 other programs just like it. These programs, once begun, last forever. They make no economic sense. They never did. But they continue, despite making no economic sense.
How many government employees spend their entire careers enforcing laws like this one? No one knows. Congress does not care.
A story like this never makes it into high school civics textbooks. Stories like this one make the federal government sound like a loony bin.
Continue reading on economist.com.
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Posted on April 18, 2013. The original is here.