Dear Senator Grassley: get out of the way

Dear Senator Grassley--

I was sad to read your comments in today's New York Times about the White House's latest intiative with Brazil. One of the fundamental values of the Republican party used to be that of free-market enterprise. As I'm sure you know, the Washington Post has been reporting on the record growth of farm subsidies, including $1.3 billion to people who don't farm.

Rather than trying to protect the corporate agriculture industry that has destroyed a true American way of life, I urge you to consider looking at non-corn-based ethanol alternatives that can bring back the American family farm. Any kind of cellulosic product, from sugar to switch grass to trees, can be grown quickly and cheaply and without federal subsidies.
The Republican party has become exactly what it was supposed to be against: a machine that siphons tax dollars away from tax payers and towards special interest groups. The only difference between Republicans and Democrats is who they give my tax money to -- because it sure isn't me.

This country is in danger of a financial catastrophe because we'be borrowed ourselves into oblivion to pay for the Medicare Drug benefit, billions in farm subisidies, a failed war in Iraq (instead of the promised war on terror), and tax cuts for the rich etc. Meanwhile most American tax payers do not benefit from any of these policies, and the recent volatility in the stock market highlights how vunerable we really are.

I say all of this because you are in a position to do something about it. Stop protecting your corporate benefactors from free market competition. Stop spending my tax dollars to prop up companies and business practices that can't survive the free market your party is supposed to stand for. Get out of the way of progress please.