Democrats: Party of Parasites?


Photo: Donald Bradley/Kansas City Star

Are Democrats a party of parasites who give handouts to people who don't work, by taxing those who do? That's what farmer Donald Jungerman claimed when he put up a trailer along a freeway in Missouri with the words:

Are you a Producer or Parasite
Democrats - Party of Parasites

Well, it turns out that Jungerman himself got government handouts, to the tune of over $1 million!

After a story about Jungerman’s trailer ran in Sunday’s Star, however, some readers called him a hypocrite for criticizing others for getting government help while taking government subsidies paid for by taxpayers.

Jungerman said he put up the sign to protest people who pay no taxes, but, “Always have their hand out for whatever the government will give them” in social programs.

Crop subsidies are different, he said. When crop prices dip below a certain point, the federal government makes up the difference with a subsidy payment.

Donald Bradley of the Kansas City Star has the story of the classic "in my case, it's completely different" defense: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/06/21/2033746/party-of-parasites-author-took.html


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PS: As far as the original article, well Jungerman offers nothing more then typical hateful right-wing rhetoric and hyperbole with no substantial debate. These folks live in a world of exceptionalism that has no place in today's contracting realities, they damn well know it, but could not give a hoot. They will continue to dig in their heels and throw every last wrench into the works if things don't go their way, I don't expect this kind of home grown ignorance to dissipate any time soon.
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A friend of mine is a small farmer with a 50+ acre spread, he gets nada,zilch...in fact the local Ag groups are coming down (debilitating regulations) on the small sustainable growers. All the while never to be sustainable, or competitive, big sugar continues to extract millions in subsidies, not to mention it is a virtual poison that causes much of our country's health issues. So, there is lots of room in cleaning up gov./big-ag., I am certain every region can find a 'boondoggle'. Small anything is still ignored in this country, there just is not much help for ANY small enterprise.
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Nice guy, labeling others as parasites. Nothing like dehumanizing people to make yourself look wise and worldly. I wonder whether it was his mother, father, or pastor who said to him, "Donald, in spite of the fact that you will be relying on a government program for the survival of your business, it is your duty to label other people who need occasional assistance as parasites." And then he extrapolated that to an entire political party. Guys like this load their trucks up with explosives, eventually. Donald Jungerman, you are a living monument to every hateful impulse you've ever had.
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"The oil industry has had a free ride for too long, secretly ringing up a huge bill that the taxpayers have to pay. The oil industry may be the most subsidized industry on earth -- it's certainly the most polluting," declared V. John White of Sierra Club California.
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