Your Opinion: Taxpayers subsidize flood, crop insurance

Dear Editor:

A Washington Post article stated that in 2014 there were 11,781 people registered to lobby Congress, 22 per member of Congress. Those lobbyists have as many as 90,000 support staffers. Lobbyists spent over $3 billion buying Congress in 2014, about $6 million per Congress person. I doubt that figure includes campaign contributions (legal bribes) given to politicians.

Most of those in office are interested in two things. First, who will provide them with the nicest "feathers" for their nest, and second, what "free stuff" can they hand out that will buy them the most votes for the least cost per vote. Vote buying and handing out favors lead to policies like those noted below.

In 1968 the National Flood Insurance Program was born. Congress had decided all should have a "fair share" of the losses suffered by those who purchased flood prone properties. Taxpayers pick up over 60 percent of the cost of the program. Even with massive taxpayer subsidies the program is still deep in debt. Government's answer, as it is to almost everything, "borrow more money." In 2013 Congress approved increasing the programs borrowing authority from $20.7 billion to $30.4 billion.

If you are one of those who refused to take advantage of the heavily subsidized flood insurance don't worry, the government will find a way to make others pay their "fair share" for your irresponsibility. FEMA hands out money for rental payments, home repairs for the non-insured, replacement of personal property, unemployment, low interest loans for those who chose not to buy flood insurance, etc. How many times should taxpayers in non-flood areas have to pay to rebuild homes/businesses that suffer damage from flood after flood.

Did you know that we taxpayers pick up 60 percent of the cost of the USDA crop insurance program? The taxpayer subsidized percentage of program costs has more than doubled since the mid 90's. I'm certain that there are also programs that reward the irresponsible farmers who chose not to buy crop insurance.

Perhaps none of us need to buy insurance. We just need to bribe enough people in Congress to pass a program that will insure all our businesses and homes against any loss.

As long as we continue to allow the "sugar daddies" in government to buy favors with our money, our downhill slide will continue.