Priceless?

The cost of Pell Grant cuts                             $   5.7 billion
Proposed cuts to EPA                                    $   3.0 billion

Subsidies to Big Oil                                       $   4.6 billion
Subsidies to Big Agri                                     $ 20.0 billion

Our representatives in Washington (mostly Republicans but also some Democrats) are trying to cut the budget and our deficit. This by itself would be a noble endeavor but on the back of the poor, the hungry and OUR environment is nothing but reprehensible.

I would ask any of my Republican friends to explain to me why Big Oil needs subsidies when they are making record profits across the board and many of them are paying little to no taxes. In addition, in 2009 the industry spent over $159 million dollars lobbying Washington and probably even more in 2010.

Agricultural subsidies are even larger and less needed. Originally intended to help small farmers, stabilize  large fluctuations in food prices and help in case of disasters. Most of the subsidies now go to large, extremely profitable argi-businesses and not small farmers. Food prices are relatively stable and except for rising prices in food grains caused mostly by ethanol subsidies (there's that word again).

Completely eliminating oil subsidies and a major reduction in agricultural subsidies could pay for Pell Grants, EPA funding, Banking and Financial oversight and much more. While we are at it, lets cut our war spending by 1/3, use the money to rebuild our infrastructure and put everyone back to work.

Priceless