A BILLION DOLLARS....

[Erich]

This is mostly for US Citizens but resident from other countries will find this interesting

Subject: A Billion Dollars

This is too true to be very funny

The next time you hear a politician use the
word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about
whether you want the 'politicians' spending
YOUR tax money.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend,
but one advertising agency did a good job of
putting that figure into some perspective in
one of its releases.

A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.

B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.

C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.

D. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.

E. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.

While this thought is still fresh in our brain, let's take a look at New Orleans It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division

Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D), is presently asking the Congress for $250 BILLION to rebuild New Orleans . Interesting number, what does it mean?


A. Well, if you are one of 484,674 residents of
New Orleans (every man, woman, child), you
each get $516,528.


B. Or, if you have one of the 188,251 homes in
New Orleans , your home gets $1,329,787.


C. Or, if you are a family of four, your family gets $2,066,012.

Washington, D.C .. HELLO!!! ... Are all your calculators broken??


Tax his land,
Tax his wage,
Tax his bed in which he lays.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes is the rule.
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,
Tax his shirts,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he tries to think.

Tax his booze,
Tax his beers,
If he cries,
Tax his tears.

Tax his bills,
Tax his gas,
Tax his notes,
Tax his cash.

Tax him good and let him know
That after taxes, he has no dough.

If he hollers,
Tax him more,
Tax him until he's good and sore.

Tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he lays.
Put these words upon his tomb,
'Taxes drove me to my doom!'

And when he's gone,
We won't relax,

We'll still be after the inheritance TAX!!

It is difficult to comprehend all the taxes we pay in the US

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Perm it Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax),
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax),
Liquor Tax,
Luxury Tax,
Marriage License Tax,
Medicare Tax,
Property Tax,
Real Estate Tax,
Service charge taxes,
Social Security Tax,
Road Usage Tax (Truckers),
Sales Taxes,
Recreational Vehicle Tax,
School Tax,
State Income Tax,
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA),
Telephone Federal Excise Tax,
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax,
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax,
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax,
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax,
Telephone State and Local Tax,
Telephone Usage Charge Tax,
Utility Tax,
Vehicle License Registration Tax,
Vehicle Sales Tax,
Watercraft Registration Tax,
Well Permit Tax,
Workers Compensation Tax.

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago,
and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.


AND NOW WE ARE THE MOST IN DEBT OF ANY COUNTRY ON EARTH!!!

What happened? Can you spell 'politicians!'

And when we call most federal govt numbers we still must press '1' for English.


HOW CAN WE AFFORD TO PUT THE ILLEGAL ALIENS (LAW BREAKERS) ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND GIVE THEM ALL THE OTHER BENEFITS WE HAVE TO PAY FOR - JUST SO THE POLITICIANS CAN GET THEIR VOTES??

[size=3Our entire Economy is dependent on the price of Oil and who is in control of that?[/size]

OPEC

Who is OPEC???

Country Joined Location
Algeria 1969 Africa
Angola 2007 Africa
Ecuador(**) rejoined 2007 South America
Indonesia 1962 Asia
IR Iran* 1960 Middle East
Iraq* 1960 Middle East
Kuwait* 1960 Middle East
SP Libyan AJ 1962 Africa
Nigeria 1971 Africa
Qatar 1961 Middle East
Saudi Arabia* 1960 Middle East
United Arab Emirates 1967 Middle East
Venezuela* 1960 South America

Gas is $4.00 a gallon and expected to go up to $5.00 within the next six mos.

www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed032908a.cfm

Did anyone see the Documentary:

"Who Killed The Electric Car"?

The technology for the Electric Car is here now and the Oil and Auto Companies are suppressing it!!

www.whokilledtheelectriccar.com/

I hope everyone in THE USA reads this at least 100 times

What the heck happened??

This United States of America is going down quickly.

Let's not forget world history and the demise of other so called "world powers"

Remember ROME??

The following is 2008 Military Defense Budgets and percentage of amount spent throughout the world

USA- $711 BILLION in DEFENSE- 48%

ALL of Europe Defense- $289 Billion- 20%

China Defense- $122 Billion- 8%

Russia Defense- $70 Billion - 5%

OPEC Countries Defense- $92 Billion- 6%*

*estimated

===================

If you are outraged... Please pass this on to everyone you know

Erich

[Erich]

Like most everyone else I am down right MAD when I pull into the gas station to fill up these days. There is very little doubt that the govt [our politicians] are pushed to the limit and probably controlled by oil and auto company Lobbyists who have a major interest in maintaining the status quo.

Depending on who you believe, the technology is there for electric cars now. The problem is getting the Govt to subsidize a company to mass produce something like the EV1 which was developed by GM in the 1990's. See:

www.ev1.org/

================
The above website states in part....

California Air Resources Board (CARB) fails California and the USA

The Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate (ZEV) was intended to be a requirement for actual production, contrary to Board Member Dan Sperling's assertion that it's merely "technology forcing".

It was not intended as a research program. It was intended to put real Zero Emission Vehicles into the hands of willing buyers, on the free market. Enough of them to make a real difference, 10% by 2003. Previous CARB weakness led to retreat after retreat, until now even the Board fails to remember its purpose.

Part of the whittling-away of the program was the crushing of the battery Electric cars, based on auto company solemn promises in 2003 to actually build fuel cell cars. Even the few demonstration fuel cells, too few to make a difference, were just a sham they had no intention of honoring.

Their already faint promises were not kept. Now CARB is formally releasing auto makers from even the simulation of compliance with the original ZEV mandate.

The failure continues the mistakes of former CARB Chairman Alan Lloyd.

Mr. Sperling, then, is not as knowledgeable as he is supposed by the Board that acquiesced in this latest destruction of the ZEV mandate.

There is no longer need to be "technology-neutral", as CARB Chair Nichols and even opposition groups maintain; the technology HAS been tested, and we KNOW what works:

-1997 EV1 with lead batteries from Panasonic Storage Battery Co., up to 110 miles at up to 80 mph;

-1997 HondaEV with NiMH batteries from Panasonic Energy PEVE, up to 140 miles at up to 80 mph;

-1999 EV1 with NiMH batteries from GM-Ovonics, up to 160 miles (140 EPA certified) at up to 80 mph;

-1997 Toyota RAV4-EV with NiMH batteries from Panasonic Energy, up to 120 miles at up to 80 mph. Last sold in Nov.,

-2002, these are still running fine, even though Toyota has refused to sell replacement batteries;

Various battery scooters, Neighborhood EVs, motorcycles and city cars.[/b][/size]

AND THAT'S IT. You don't see any fuel cell car in there, and there never will be, because fuel cell cars will never be offered for sale on the open market. If they ever were offered for sale at normal prices, buy about 10, and sell the components for a gain of 1000%!

What's needed is a recognition that all the research and testing has already been done, and it's time for PRODUCTION.

If these oil-free EVs had been improved each year, allowed to be owned and modified, with new models as people see them running, we would be in a much different world. The original vision of 1990 was valid, it was betrayed by intimidated, misguided or weak regulators. Slow charging at night is a boon, not a problem; an EV need not have a range of more than 200 miles, long-distance trips should be done via the airport or train station.
======================

There is hope now that the American public has finally been forced to open up their eyes and demand something better than what we have now... The 2006 documentary "Who Killed The Electric Car" is now getting more notice than when it was first broadcast


www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1669723_1669725_1670578,00.html

www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/06/sunday/main3239838.shtml

Mass Transit, Bus, Bicycle and Motorcycle companies might be a good investment opportunity right now....

Erich

[Roy]

Erich,

I too, don't like paying more for gasoline or more for PPC from search engine neither. However, you cannot has your cake and eat it too. The law or supply and demand determine gasoline prices.

China population is over 1,323,846,000. China is becoming an industries country that consumes oil, more and more every year. The demand for oil is only going to be going up in the end as China consumes more and more oil. In the short-term oil, prices may dip but it will continue increase until the public in mass wants non-gasoline vehicle. Then and only then will the demand be fill by the auto manufactures.

As for fuel-efficient vehicle, how many of you drive one. Yes we complaint about gasoline price, but what are we doing about them. Mostly nothing. Until the gasoline ready hits us where it really hurt we will still be driving cars that consume a lost of gasoline. True we don't like high price, but we continue to buy if for ours gas hogging vehicle.

The cost of gasoline is in the hand of the consumer in the end. True in the short run speculator can drive up price, but they can not keep them their, But like the current housing market, speculator ran the average price up, but the law or supply and demand will always correct the price as it is now in the housing market.

Do you really believe that if a truly cost efficient vehicle could be made today a Business Enterprise would not be producing them now, just think about how must money could be made by producing verse not producing vehicles that fill a mass consumer need.,

Just my Opinion
Roy

May 17, 2008 12:46:36 GMT -5 Erich said:

Like most everyone else I am down right MAD when I pull into the gas station to fill up these days. There is very little doubt that the govt [our politicians] are pushed to the limit and probably controlled by oil and auto company Lobbyists who have a major interest in maintaining the status quo.

Depending on who you believe, the technology is there for electric cars now. The problem is getting the Govt to subsidize a company to mass produce something like the EV1 which was developed by GM in the 1990's. See:

www.ev1.org/

================
The above website states in part....

California Air Resources Board (CARB) fails California and the USA

The Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate (ZEV) was intended to be a requirement for actual production, contrary to Board Member Dan Sperling's assertion that it's merely "technology forcing".

It was not intended as a research program. It was intended to put real Zero Emission Vehicles into the hands of willing buyers, on the free market. Enough of them to make a real difference, 10% by 2003. Previous CARB weakness led to retreat after retreat, until now even the Board fails to remember its purpose.

Part of the whittling-away of the program was the crushing of the battery Electric cars, based on auto company solemn promises in 2003 to actually build fuel cell cars. Even the few demonstration fuel cells, too few to make a difference, were just a sham they had no intention of honoring.

Their already faint promises were not kept. Now CARB is formally releasing auto makers from even the simulation of compliance with the original ZEV mandate.

The failure continues the mistakes of former CARB Chairman Alan Lloyd.

Mr. Sperling, then, is not as knowledgeable as he is supposed by the Board that acquiesced in this latest destruction of the ZEV mandate.

There is no longer need to be "technology-neutral", as CARB Chair Nichols and even opposition groups maintain; the technology HAS been tested, and we KNOW what works:

-1997 EV1 with lead batteries from Panasonic Storage Battery Co., up to 110 miles at up to 80 mph;

-1997 HondaEV with NiMH batteries from Panasonic Energy PEVE, up to 140 miles at up to 80 mph;

-1999 EV1 with NiMH batteries from GM-Ovonics, up to 160 miles (140 EPA certified) at up to 80 mph;

-1997 Toyota RAV4-EV with NiMH batteries from Panasonic Energy, up to 120 miles at up to 80 mph. Last sold in Nov.,

-2002, these are still running fine, even though Toyota has refused to sell replacement batteries;

Various battery scooters, Neighborhood EVs, motorcycles and city cars.

[/b][/size]

AND THAT'S IT. You don't see any fuel cell car in there, and there never will be, because fuel cell cars will never be offered for sale on the open market. If they ever were offered for sale at normal prices, buy about 10, and sell the components for a gain of 1000%!

What's needed is a recognition that all the research and testing has already been done, and it's time for PRODUCTION.

If these oil-free EVs had been improved each year, allowed to be owned and modified, with new models as people see them running, we would be in a much different world. The original vision of 1990 was valid, it was betrayed by intimidated, misguided or weak regulators. Slow charging at night is a boon, not a problem; an EV need not have a range of more than 200 miles, long-distance trips should be done via the airport or train station.
======================

There is hope now that the American public has finally been forced to open up their eyes and demand something better than what we have now... The 2006 documentary "Who Killed The Electric Car" is now getting more notice than when it was first broadcast


www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1669723_1669725_1670578,00.html

www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/06/sunday/main3239838.shtml

Mass Transit, Bus, Bicycle and Motorcycle companies might be a good investment opportunity right now....

Erich[/quote]

[Nancy]

You are both right. However, coming from a state that is at the heart of the debate over fuel research, I have to say that a lot of the innovations in fuel economy cars, are not ready for the mass market. Yes the research has been done, yes they work. However as long as the government blocks attempts to put the infrostructure in place for these innovations, then they are not going to happen.

I have family that works in the design departments of two of the major auto companies. The technology is there, and they are working to improve that technology for everyone, but it is not cost effective for the average consumer.

And yes Roy, we are the culprits of higher fuel prices. We demand fuel for our autos and to heat our homes. But until this country understands the need for mass transit, we have to rely on the automobile to get us to work, school, and other necessitites. Not everyone lives in an area that is easily accessible for walking, biking, or taking the bus (which is also a gas hog). So until a better system is in place in this country for moving people without the use of autos, we are dependent on gas.

Another point I would like to make, two actually. In political office right now we have two oil men. Their business now and before elected was oil. A lot of congressmen from both sides of the aisle are oil people, or come from oil producing states. Do you really think they care? Another fact: In Saudi Arabia, they pay .64 a gallon for gas.

I won't even get into your comment about the housing market, as I have some very strong opinions on that subject. I will just say that the crisis in our housing market today is not due entirely to people buying big homes or over their limit. There are more factors involved, including de-regulation of the mortgage industry and no oversight.

I was fortunate in that I could stay home and raise my children, and I feel sorry for the mothers who have to work outside the home, not just to help with the mortgage payments, but to feed and cloth their children. The average person is not sending their children to private schools, or buying them expensive cloths, they are struggling to make it day to day to give their children the American dream.

That is more than I have said on this forum all year...and I could go on about these subjects as taxes, housing, gas prices and everything discussed is a major sore spot with me...but I won't for now.

Nancy

[Roy]

Nancy

Glad that you gave your opinion.

Yes there are two side to every coin!

Roy

[chrisse]

G,day Forum members - Having read about your fuel prices in the USA I thought I would let you know how us Aussies are paying over and beyond fair pricing. Our fuel at the moment is around $1.50AUD per litre and Diesel is $1.70-$1.80AUD per litre. There are 4 litres to the US gallon and our money is 0.93c to the USA dollar. On conversion we are paying approx. the equivalent of $5.60US per gallon for petrol and $6.70US per gallon for diesel (Farmers & Graziers get Diesel slightly cheaper).

Our Tax system is such on fuel that included in our pricing is 10% GST (Government Service Tax) on the excise amount before it gets to the petrol bowser and then another 10% when we purchase.

Every industry in the country is bound to pass this high pricing to the consumer at the retail end of the line - we are, as a nation, paying extremely high prices for food, clothing and necessary services (those on fixed incomes such as pensions are finding it very difficult).

We have the Toyota Prius model car which runs either fuel or electricity and there are more on the roads than there were 12 months ago BUT the purchase price for these cars are beyond the means of normal working class families.

We have been warned that fuel could go as high as $2AUD per litre by the end of the year ($1.85US) quite an increase!!

Of course, all our politicians don't pay for their fuel - we as Tax payers do - they seem to have no idea what is happening in the real world to real people.

Chrisse & Maree

[Sandi Moses]

Chrisse and Maree make a good point with their last comment about politicians having no idea what is happening in the real world to real people.

Several years ago some politicians and others made a big deal out of living for a week (or some such ridiculously short time) by spending only what a minimum wage earner made. At the end of the test they said, "See? You can do it! We did fine!"

I was *SO* angry with that whole process because a week is not long enough. It's a safe bet that during that week no kid grew out of shoes or any other clothing, the car did not break down, no one had to visit a doctor or dentist, no one needed school supplies or a present for a birthday party, etc. I don't think the people doing the test bought household items or personal care items, either. But real people *DO* have to deal with these things and more that I am not thinking of right now.

Over in another forum there is a discussion about gas prices. The topic of carpooling and public transportation came up, but for a lot of people, that just isn't an option. If no one where you work lives near where you live, you can't carpool. Public transportation may not even exist. Distance, health, and safety are reasons not to walk.

The most annoying thing in all this is the record profits the oil companies report every quarter.

[Nancy]

Chrisse, I just want to say that my daughter just got back from your beautiful country after a three week stay. First she is in awe of your country and didn't want to leave. Secondly she was staggered by your cost of living. We thought ours was high, yours is outrageous. Not only gas prices, but food, clothing and just living. Your taxes are much higher than ours, and your pay scale is not much higher. And yet, she says, she did not see the poverty she sees here. I am sure it does exist, as it does in every country.

Sandi, no one in Washington knows the real world, they live in a bubble. If only one of them had to live on what we bring in monthly, with no hope of savings, investments, or handouts, they would be appalled and downcast. There is no one that can make a dollar stretch further than a retiree.

We need a better system of mass transit, health care for everyone, and a better educational system for all, not just those who can afford it.

Whew...another two cents.

Nancy

P.S. Erich you really opened a can of worms with this one. I love it

[talfighel]

I personally think that the prices will go up all the time.

Right now here in Toronto, we are paying about $1.25 per liter.

I drive a Nissan Sentra and it takes me about $35 to fill her up fully.

I remember 3 or 4 years ago, I used to fill the car up and it cost me only $20-$25.

I believe that the prices will go up and it will sooner or later cost $50 to fill up.

I hate this but it is all about POLITICS.

Tal

[Roy]

If all mankind lived the way God wanted us too, then we would all work for the benefits of all of mankind, and share equally. However, mankind don’t lived the way God wanted us too so there is inequality among mankind. True, I don’t know how a person in the US lives on minumum wage, but it is better living then the average person in the world. Count your blessing. We can complain about gas price, some people of the world could care less; they cannot even get gasoline nor has a reason for it use. We in the US got shoes, another in the world don’t. Count your blessing.

Speculators – not supply and demand – are to blame for skyrocketing gas prices

www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?backgroundid=100&fuseaction=Background.view

www.markethingych.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7B7877854B-C6AB-4743-AFAF-A26B3932D0FB%7D


I personally agree this is why oils price is high in the short terms, but supply and demand will drive it up in the end.

Here is how the Hunt Brother made silver shoot up in the 1980.

www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=137827


Gasoline Price History:
www.randomuseless.info/gasprice/gasprice.html

As you can see from the chart gasoline prices is adjusted for inflation: At $4.00 per gals is equivalent to the 1980 prices of $1.20, but the pike on 03/21/1980 at $1.45(adjusted for inflation in 2008 is about $4.85).

Roy

[Sandi Moses]

May 18, 2008 9:01:57 GMT -5 Nancy said:

Whew...another two cents.

Nancy

It' a good thing you're making money working from home the way you've been throwing it around lately - even if it is just 2 cents at a time! ;D

Sandi

[Nancy]

Sandi,

You are right it is a good thing I am making money online, otherwise I couldn't even afford the two cents. ;D

Nancy

[Erich]

I am happy to see some interest and feedback in this thread.

Roy... I agree that if everyone lived according to God's plan then this would not be a problem but unfortunately [and as you seem to indicate] that will never happen in this world.... and yes speculators have been a factor in the increase... but according to your article... only a small part of the problem.

I believe OPEC and our govt's [other countries too] failure to put pressure on OPEC has been the major cause of the dramatic rise. The US has only 5% of the world population but we use 25% of the oil. A big part of that is our defense and govt usage of gas and oil.

We are a spoiled and pampered nation [compared to other countries] and whose to say that we don't deserve this hit??

I think the bottom line is that we are going to need to seriously work on developing alternative energy sources AND adjust our lifestyles and lower our own personal consumption... that is the only way I can see where "supply and demand" will kick in and result in the price going down. Once OPEC sees the sales of crude declining then they will be meeting to determine how to get sales back up.... lower prices will do it.

I noticed the other day John McCain is now advocating more Nuclear power plants. This has worked well in France.

One other thing we must all do is become more proactive in our Govt's political process.

Erich

[maggiemae]

Hey, guys. Some of you are right. It is a pretty complex web of supply, demand and speculation. We just arrived back to Canada from Mexico where we paid $.715 per litre for gasoline. Their oil industry is owned by the government. There is an argument to be made that some industries are so important to the security and well being of the population that they cannot be left to the free market.

Mexicans were fairly annoyed with the US subsidization of bio fuels which drove up price of corn. Their government had to subsidize corn flour or their people would be starving.

While I am a great proponent for free enterprise, sometimes it has to be curtailed and regulated. For instance, I think our one payer medical system is great. With all its faults, it is better than a totally free enterprise model.

One problem with all our western governments is that while they talk free market economy, they are busy subsidizing this industry or that to encourage growth. I have always felt that if there is a profit to be made, people will invest the necessary capital.

I regularly write my MP and MLA. I don't hesitate for a minute because there are special interest lobbyists hounding them all the time. What really woke me up was the actions of a co-worker.. His religious group got some city legislation passed by simply showing up to meetings. No other people or groups were taking an interest in the matter.

Just my 2 cents, Maggie

[tab426]

I don't like the gas prices, But having the government try to "fix" the problem is a MUCH scarier thought.

I also don't see that the oil companies should be blamed for making a profit. I don't recall anyone thanking them when they showed loses.

A fair price is what a willing buyer and a willing seller agree to, so as long as we continue to pay... they'll continue to sell.

A simple "poor" man's hedge strategy for rising gas prices would be:

1. Determine where you think gas prices will be in be future. (Let's say $6.00)

2. Start paying the $6.00 now. (First the price at the pump and then invest the difference in a natural resource mutual fund.)

If prices continue to rise you will start sharing in the oil companies record profits.

[Erich]

Maggie

I believe you are right about western countries claiming we operate under a free enterprize but the Govt steps in and subsizes so many different sectors including transportation, agriculture...etc... I found the following article on US Farming.

Farm Program Pays $1.3 Billion to People Who Don't Farm

By Dan Morgan, Gilbert M. Gaul and Sarah Cohen
Washington Post Staff Writers


EL CAMPO, Tex. -- Even though Donald R. Matthews put his sprawling new residence in the heart of rice country, he is no farmer. He is a 67-year-old asphalt contractor who wanted to build a dream house for his wife of 40 years.

Yet under a federal agriculture program approved by Congress, his 18-acre suburban lot receives about $1,300 in annual "direct payments," because years ago the land was used to grow rice.

Matthews is not alone. Nationwide, the federal government has paid at least $1.3 billion in subsidies for rice and other crops since 2000 to individuals who do no farming at all, according to an analysis of government records by The Washington Post.

Some of them collect hundreds of thousands of dollars without planting a seed. Mary Anna Hudson, 87, from the River Oaks neighborhood in Houston, has received $191,000 over the past decade. For Houston surgeon Jimmy Frank Howell, the total was $490,709.

"I don't agree with the government's policy," said Matthews, who wanted to give the money back but was told it would just go to other landowners. "They give all of this money to landowners who don't even farm, while real farmers can't afford to get started. It's wrong."

The checks to Matthews and other landowners were intended 10 years ago as a first step toward eventually eliminating costly, decades-old farm subsidies. Instead, the payments have grown into an even larger subsidy that benefits millionaire landowners, foreign speculators and absentee landlords, as well as farmers.

Most of the money goes to real farmers who grow crops on their land, but they are under no obligation to grow the crop being subsidized. They can switch to a different crop or raise cattle or even grow a stand of timber -- and still get the government payments. The cash comes with so few restrictions that subdivision developers who buy farmland advertise that homeowners can collect farm subsidies on their new back yards.

The payments now account for nearly half of the nation's expanding agricultural subsidy system, a complex web that has little basis in fairness or efficiency. What began in the 1930s as a limited safety net for working farmers has swollen into a far-flung infrastructure of entitlements that has cost $172 billion over the past decade. In 2005 alone, when pretax farm profits were at a near-record $72 billion, the federal government handed out more than $25 billion in aid, almost 50 percent more than the amount it pays to families receiving welfare.

The Post's nine-month investigation found farm subsidy programs that have become so all-encompassing and generous that they have taken much of the risk out of farming for the increasingly wealthy individuals who dominate it.

The farm payments have also altered the landscape and culture of the Farm Belt, pushing up land prices and favoring large, wealthy operators.