Yes VS NO on Flood Help!

[bucket]

And just to be clear about ford - here is another one.

Grant, subsidy, or bail out?

Ford has finally taken a piece of the pie.

Having been the only US auto manufacturer that has yet to tap into government loans, Ford Motor Co. finally joined its US colleagues, General Motors and Chrysler, in receiving government financing to the tune of $5.9 billion.

The Detroit-based automaker is planning to use the added funds to further accelerate the production of fuel-efficient cars, which by all accounts are the only cars that are gaining in traction as far as popularity and practicality is concerned.

As part of the Energy Department’s program in promoting fuel-efficient cars, the government sector is releasing $25 billion in loans to automakers in their development and production of these cars. Ford was the first to take a bite out of this pie with more manufacturers expected to follow suit.

[oneoff]

You will note that you have quoted loan guarantees. Some would argue that research and development are in a totally different category than direct aid to the bottom line of the shareholders and investors.
I grant you it is a point; but not one that I'm going to pursue until many other issues are agreed to.

[bucket]

They all got loan guarantees. GM has paid them back. Ford and chrysler - not sure.

Repayable loans that helped the economy and kept millions employed.

It worked for the auto industry and the government should have done that for the ag industry. And went to 2-3 billion.

Repayable with a few extra clauses kept the auto companies honest to the point they didn't want the government involved any longer than need be.

[oneoff]

Very good point about repayable. That's what a loan should all be about. Too bad that farmers don't think about government payments as being repayable.

[bucket]

True.

But if farmers didn't have to wait a year and a half for their money things might be different as well.

50 percent of last years durum crop is being forced to be sold into a lower price.

Farmers not only pay a premium for that service it really screws cash flows.

[oneoff]

Nobody should accuse me of saying there are adequate reurns from the farm marketplace. Similarly; we will all feel better and be less of a burden to society; when we get paid by those we sell to.