-Caveat Lector- ======================================= NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100 Washington DC 20037 World Wide Web: http://www.lp.org/ ======================================= For release: May 28, 1999 ======================================= For additional information: George Getz, Press Secretary Phone: (202) 333-0008 Ext. 222 E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ======================================= New buffalo-meat bail-out program is "welfare for epicurean billionaires" WASHINGTON, DC -- Taxpayers are getting "buffaloed" again, thanks to a new federal program that is buying surplus bison meat at inflated prices -- a subsidy that's going straight into the pockets of people like billionaire Ted Turner. "The federal government has created a new form of food: Buffalo-pork," charged Libertarian Party National Director Steve Dasbach. "Taxpayers are picking up the buffalo bill, and welfare billionaires like Ted Turner are profiting." The Agriculture Department has announced that it will spend $6 million this year to buy surplus bison meat -- or about one-quarter of the industry's ground-meat production. The problem: There are 250,000 commercial bison in America now, a number that's growing by about 20% a year. Bison ranchers are producing more meat than the public wants and the surplus is piling up -- so the federal government has stepped in to buy the extra meat at $3.45 a pound. "This program is welfare for rich epicureans: Subsidizing the production of a luxury meat that most Americans can't even afford," said Dasbach. "Even worse, it's welfare for billionaires, since the single largest producer of buffalo meat is Ted Turner." Turner, the vice chairman of the mega-corporation Time-Warner, raises 17,000 bison on 1.4 million acres of ranches, sprawling across Montana, New Mexico, and Nebraska. "It's a pathetic sight: A billionaire like Ted Turner with a tin cup in hand, begging for hand-outs from the taxpayer," said Dasbach. "People who make the minimum wage are subsidizing a billionaire's hobby of producing high-priced novelty steaks for other wealthy people." Mindful of the negative PR generated by help-the-rich-get-richer government programs, the federal government has promised that the bison bail-out is only a "temporary" thing. In fact, USDA Agricultural Marketing Services bureaucrat Enrique Figueroa vowed, "We are not going to be buying bison infinitely." But Libertarians are cynical about such promises. "Remember the words of Milton Friedman: Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program," said Dasbach: "We suspect that as long as Ted Turner wants a hand-out, obliging federal bureaucrats will continue to roast the taxpayer for his financial benefit." Ironically, bison were nearly extinct at the turn of the century, when there were fewer than 1,500 animals alive. Now, thanks to the commercial success of bison burgers, steaks, and roasts, that number has skyrocketed -- especially in the past decade as buffalo meat has become more widely known and popular. "The buffalo-production industry seems to have set a new record: From zero to subsidy in just a few years," said Dasbach. "But buffalo were saved from extinction with help from the free market. Now it's time to let the free market work without government interference -- and make this bison bail-out program extinct." The Libertarian Party http://www.lp.org/ 2600 Virginia Ave. NW, Suite 100 voice: 202-333-0008 Washington DC 20037 fax: 202-333-0072 ================================================================= Kaddish, Kaddish, Kaddish, YHVH, TZEVAOT FROM THE DESK OF: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> *Mike Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ~~~~~~~~ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends Shalom, A Salaam Aleikum, and to all, A Good Day. ================================================================= DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
