5/20/2020

DJT,

            How did you enjoy your visit with the farmers yesterday? Are you sure they all need our help?

I’m pretty sure that Robert Mills, Jr. would figure out a way to keep his farm no matter what happened. He’s the VA tobacco farmer who had the Southern accent that you admired. That guy is an entrepreneur! He somehow managed to start a farm, which is next to impossible given the cost of land & equipment these days, & is now experimenting with growing hemp. He’s diversified so he’s not dependent on any one crop for his livelihood, & he’s a great salesman. He does not need a subsidy.

Neither does Scott Sink, the first “farmer” who spoke. I put “farmer” in quotes because he also owns a fancy market & catering business. He knows how to borrow $ and make deals, too.

Some farmers may need assistance, but I’m not convinced it’s the guys you were talking to yesterday. More power to them, but I’m afraid that during this big $ handout, a lot of folks are getting cash that don’t really need it.

I’m especially troubled that we are subsidizing tobacco farming. CV is hardest on folks with compromised lungs, so it seems counterproductive to be using tax $$ to keep tobacco farmers in business.

Maybe it’s time to overhaul our whole ag system. Clearly, we are overly dependent on a few large corporations who own all of the giant meat packing facilities in the country. Have you & GEP (AKA Sunny) talked with Patrick Brown about his plant-based meat? His idea is to save the planet by creating products that meat-lovers will enjoy. The Impossible Burger is pretty good. Have you had it yet? If we ate more of them, we could get rid of some of those meat packing facilities that are such a headache right now.

I hope your visit with AK Gov Asa Hutchinson & Kansas Gov Laura Kelly goes well today. I wonder if they will wear masks. They both are worried about what to do with their prisons where CV is spreading like wild fire. I hope you have some good ideas for that.

HYITL,