From Bloomberg Businessweek.  The farm Bailout is now twice the size of the auto bailout after the 2008 financial crisis.  Remember that this farm crisis is self-inflicted and was never part of a vote by Congress or any legislative body.  Just the president declaring a “Trade War” on China. One also has to wonder how that money is being spent.  How much goes to big argibusiness and how much to small farmers?

Here in Austin, property taxes are coming due again with big jumps in the urban areas (my own property value assessment went up over 50% this year).  I wondered how much this property tax heavy state relies on revenue from the ‘blue’ cities like Austin, Houston and Dallas to support the rural ‘red’ parts of the state that seem to have all the political power.  Seems like this is a national trend too.  Funny system when you look at it that way.  I remember an old quote someplace about taxation without representation.

Trump’s $28 Billion Bet That Rural America Will Stick With Him