Black Farmer Mega-Settlement Clears Way for Discrimination Claims by Women, Hispanics
by PubliusWhile we certainly hope the possibility of multi-billion dollar fraud was enough to pique your outrage, what may be the most frightening revelation from our research is that Pigford may be the proverbial tip of the farmer scam iceberg. Fox News published this report suggesting as much:
The congressional approval of a whopping $4.6 billion settlement for black and Native American farmers who claimed they were discriminated against has cleared the way for a similar pair of costly lawsuits — drawing complaints that the government may be buckling to pressure and rewarding dubious claims.
The so-called “Pigford” case involving black farmers who allege the Agriculture Department cheated them for decades drew to a close Tuesday when the House joined the Senate in approving the second settlement in the case to date. But the lawsuits don’t end there. Though Pigford has attracted the most attention, a separate set of cases filed by Hispanic and female farmers has been working its way through the courts since shortly after Pigford was filed more than a decade ago.
Those cases are set for a hearing in federal District Court in the nation’s capital on Friday, and once again a large pot of taxpayer money is on the line. The farmers were offered a $1.3 billion settlement back in May, but the plaintiffs have since then pushed for more. Some Democratic lawmakers argue they deserve it.
But the same lawmakers who fought Pigford warn that this week’s congressional vote could lower the bar for the other discrimination claims. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, declining to comment on the specifics of the claims by Hispanic and female farmers, said he remains concerned that the farmers won’t have to prove much in order to win a payout from Uncle Sam. He suggested anyone who’s not a white male could have a shot.
“I’ve always looked at Pigford as the issue that opens the door for the others,” King told FoxNews.com. “They will point continually at the Pigford precedent.”
He said that precedent will probably “embolden” the remaining plaintiffs.
Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., who has called on Congress to investigate the Pigford claims, told FoxNews.com last week that the upcoming cases represent the “next generation” of discrimination suits. She suggested the government was handing out “reparations” for the sake of political correctness.
The Hispanic farmers’ suit, called Garcia v. Vilsack, was originally filed in 2000 and claimed Hispanic farmers lost out on credit and disaster benefits because of USDA discrimination. They also alleged the USDA systematically refused to investigate prior discrimination complaints.
Similarly, female farmers claimed discrimination based on gender in a case called Love v. Vilsack.
A lawyer for the plaintiffs could not be reached for comment, but they have provided reams of testimony to back up their claims. In one filing, a 53-year-old Hispanic woman said her family had been farming in Santa Cruz County, Calif., since the ’60s but struggled in obtaining government loans when the family went through a period of low yields. She said the government gave them an “unworkable” plan with high payments that they had to accept. In a separate encounter, she claimed the government subsequently denied her family an emergency loan in 1995, qualified the family for separate assistance and then demanded that money back years later.
Read the full piece here:
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
| 
Follow Us on Twitter
Subscribe via RSS
Got a Tip?
116 Comments
This slippery slope is exactly why government must operate within Constitutional boundaries. If it actually did so, none of this would be happening in the first place.
I guess a lot of people will be making a living off lawsuits, with the rest of us picking up the tab.
What about Asian, Native American, and Transgender farmers?
The ones who get the most money are probably the blind left-handed black asian dwarf transgender farmers with multiple prosthetics and a single kidney.
it's almost getting tiring hearing of new abuses day in and day out while not being able to do anything to stop them.
this is probably not just the tip of the iceberg for the USDA, it's probably the tip of the iceberg for the past two years of this administration. it probably goes so deep it'd cost millions to research.
why exactly should the fedgov be involved in subsidizing farmers in the first place. these subsidies usually have rather devestating effects elsewhere in the food markets, and we can see a recent example of this with ethanol, which is not only raising the prices for us, but literally causing poor countries to starve bc they can't afford corn anymore.
My wife tried having some real house plants about 10 years ago… but they all died from lack of water, sunlight, or something. Does she qualify for a government check?
the government can cause they mix it up with lies and make it all taste good
Man, as a white person, I am startin to feel discriminated against. I'm jus sayin…
My jalapeño crop was dismal this year.
Actually it wasn't it was delicious.
Do you suppose I have a case if I say "I'm not a farmer, but I play one of Facebook?" Eventually, I suppose the FCC will discriminate against me with their regulatory regime.
I'm not a farmer, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
If congress goes ahead with all this bull $hit there will be a revolt, and thats what they are pushing for. God help us, God help these United States.
We are in deep do do.
With the white male picking up the tab and being left behind.
aye.
I tried going into a ladies rest room once, by mistake, and they wouldnt let me. I was discriminated against, can I get a check?
I think you spell that doo doo.
I could be wrong, but … I'm not. </Adrian Monk>
LOL Could be Harry, I dont use doo doo often, I usually just say shit, but I was trying to be nice.
Clarity in all things is important my friend.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=do...
When discussing statism we need to know all the various ways to describe and converse about shit.
So the proper phrase is "We are in deep doodoo."
And you are right.
When the going gets tough, the tough get…Oh never mind, it's pointless anyhow.
- The true meaning behind the slang term "Obama's Stash" is becoming more and more apparent. It's code for "you all's"
LOL yes sir.
Damn SOBs at the USDA never gave me a loan
Pure insanitity!
A transgender minority farmer would be wealthier than rich Uncle Pennybags with this administration.
There is great potential to turn every Democrat core identity voting constituency against one another here. Black Reparations have passed…so where are our Gay Reparations…where are our Jewish Liberal Reparations…where are our Hispanic Reparations…etc?
THAT would be interesting…to educate the various Democrat constituencies as to what sort of "Obama Money" has been given to blacks with Pigford and then gin them up to demand Democrats push for their free "Obama Money" too.
The Democrat Party will implode in a spectacular huff of in-fighting over these Pigford Black Reparations.
Anybody who says there was racial discrimination against "black farmers" is a left-wing fascist liar, just like Obama; that deeply stupid affirmative-action parasite. For the past 50 years, the only racial discrimination in this country has been on the part of the government against White people. This Pigford business is just another in a long, long line of scams from beginning to end. It's based on lies and false assumptions and the evil, unconstitutional left-wing laws that have been passed based on those lies and assumptions. Not a single penny should be paid out to any "black farmer" or any other third-world savage or parasite whether they claim to be a farmer or not.
And the funny thing is the very same people getting pay outs pay for the pay outs in taxes. So blacks are paying so some blacks can get some pay out.
"Gee why did my taxes go up?'
Unless this money came out of Obama's "stash".
You moved up 10 points in like a day or something right?
Awesome.
There will be new sheriff in town come January. Congress controls the money, “Cut The Funds Off!”
All you Washington politicians looking in, it’ll be your ass in 2012!
Redistribution by any and all means possible while maximizing debt.
November 2nd was only a small skirmish. It will take a long series of battles to put these amoral statists down for good.
I want my Australian-American reparations for all those "shrimp on the barbie" jokes!
Pigford?
It can be reduced down to one essential element: fraud.
Those perpetrating this fraud, the farmers, have co-conspirators, who have aided and abetted them. CONgress is the co-conspirator. Further, as it relates to simple business practices, as the Pigford Plaintiffs Co-CONspirator, this particular CONgress has embezzled in excess of 4.6 billion dollars from US, the American Public.
Pigford is criminal.
Leaked memo of Reverend Jeremiah Wright applying for Pigford money, read it here…
http://beautifulletters-bls.blogspot.com/2010/12/...
Please enable snark detector before reading.
People should go to prison for this fraud. Democrat politicians can share a cell with those [the vast majority] that filed false claims.
This nation has become a banana republic; the democrat politicians have completely sold out this nation to special interests and unions. They're letting the leftwing vultures raid the coffers before they're thrown out of power.
If I were in charge people would be hanged for this.
If she is black she does.
Stan,
I wish I could echo your sentiments.
Nothing will change.
"If you see something, say something."
Here is a thought http://www.infowars.com/big-sis-invades-wal-mart-... . Granted, it has nothing to do with Pigford, but JNap is encouraging folks to get involved and drop a dime on their fellow citizens.
Wouldn't it be a hoot, if everyone here called the CONgressional swithcboard, and the Department of Justice, and reported a bankrobbery?
Pigford.
/sarc off
Through Pigford the UNITED STATES of AMERICA will eventually become South Africa, a broken
country of chaos, once the breadbasket of Africa, now unable to feed itself.
That is our future. Be sure to learn the names of the CONgressmen who voted to fund this payout.
.
I have two breastesses…can i get $50k per ????
I had a passing thought about becoming a farmer once…..
…I have a potted Ficus tree in my living room.
If you are black.
The Native American Asian Transdendered farmers have started their own support group.
NAATs.
Not to be confused with nits.
I am part Injin, does that count.
Oh, I know. But we’ve just started with the phenomenal 2010 election. If we can keep pounding these statist bastards in two or three more election cycles perhaps 1st principles (sanity) can be “somewhat” restored. It is imperative that we not allow apathy to set in, or as sure as the Good Lord made little green apples, we will slide father left. One election does not a sound Republic make.
I have a touch of Creek, my wife has some Cherokee, and I have an ant-farm, I wonder if we qualify for some government graft?
So am I.
As far as I am concerned, no, it does not count.
I have never taken a handout in my life.
I'm not a gonna start now.
but she has to prove she attempted to game the system, and was denied
Very true and well stated ~
I am one quarter American Indian.
I have never taken a handout in my life.
Most of my friends live on the Crow Rez in Hardin,Montana, the Northern Cheyenne Rez in Montana, and the Sioux Rez in Mission, SD. I have alienated them all throughout the years. We never talk politics.
They have a name for me, that isn't spoken with reverence. It is spoken as a derogatory term:
"Many Ponies Who Can't Be Bought."
Kindly an Indian double entendre'.
Too bad there are so many that will rip off the taxpayer. Including so many in congress, and now the POTUS.
I am so sick and tired of the corruption I could just spit.
I want to know who the idiotic lawyers are, just how much money do they gain by ginnin up this crap
Folks can call Pigford whatever they want to call it, to make themselves feel better.
It still amounts to Cabbage Patch Negroes.
They have finally figured how to make a silk purse from a sows ear.
Just for comic relief, wanted to share that we have a nasty troll amongst us (nothing new, I know)
it's amazing the kids are still so fascinted with thumbs down!
The plural of 'y'all' is 'all y'all'. As in "All y'all send your money to the Feds, we will send back what we think you need."
Gosh I am turning into a grammar nazi today.
Oh well.
I sure hope you are sitting down http://www.forthepeople.com/mike_espy.htm .
Talk about a conflict of interest.
NOBODY is talking about this conflict of interest http://www.forthepeople.com/mike_espy.htm .
Mike Espy is representing Pigford, yet he was Secretary of Agriculture under Clinton.
The Pigford abuses happened then.
Subsequently, is Mike Espy suing himself for poor performance?
Amen brother, and neither have I. Our American Indian blood line is very old and very distant. No Cowboy you don’t strike me as a man with his hand out, unless it’s been earned.
I wish I could stop throwing up over this long enough to make a comment!
All y'all need to keep your eye on the ball.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704...
"Other possible elements of the still-developing deal include a temporary reinstatement of the estate tax at 35%—the level favored by most Republican lawmakers—as well as an extension of jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed"
Paying unemployment means; the producers need to pay the bill, thats you and me if you still have jobs. A)This is not a benefit, and that b) non producers can live off of government cheese for another 1.5 years, further destroying our society.
Why are the Republicans compromising is the question I am asking, they have the people behind them, they have the power to stop this and they sit back and take it up the ass while trying to make kissy face with the Marxist Democrats. I have just effing had it with this whole lot of corrupt lying statist cheats and thieves, Democrat and Republican alike. You hear that Boehner, you hear that Cantor, you hear that McLame? All of you? DO YOU HEAR US?
You know what why don't one of you jerks (Boehner, Cantor, any or you in the leadership) come over here and man up and answer the damn question. WHY DO YOU COMPROMISE WITH THE STATIST? They lie, they will only lie and they are only trying to screw us. Why do you play their game if you stand with the people? Why do you allow this? ANSWER ME. Cowards is what I fear.
There are simple easy things we could be doing to put the economy back on track, put people back to work and to save homes and lives, yet not a single damn one of them are done.
Citizens, this is looking worse and wose hour by hour.
I am off to buy ammo.
F this.
I say there needs to be a well-organized national tax revolt to hit this runaway Federal government right where it hurts – the pocket book – to bring them to their knees. Because it would be a peaceful act of civil disobedience, they wouldn't be able to declare martial law and seize control, nor would the IRS be able to go after everybody who participates, especially if you could get hundreds of thousands to participate, like those in the Tea Party movement. To attempt to do so would only overwhelm the system and shut it down. So they would have no real choice but to start listening to and addressing our grievances with this bloated, corrupt and inept Federal government.
Smedley most likely or one of the Smeldey-Lites.
Unless you see something I haven't picked up on.
LOL…No, I meant "you all's"…or "All of You's" would suffice I suppose. And of course "you all's" would be you, me, and every other person that payes federal taxes.
I wasn't going for the Texan twang
Class actions on CO2 emissions, treating CO2 like tobacco are already ongoing.
Hot digity dog,…
I just knew being a bato,…….
would pay off big time some day.
Now if I can just figure out how to get rid of my;
pride, upbringing, integrity, honor, principles, etc,…….
I'll be able to be just like Mrs. Sherrod.
What makes you think they stand with the people to begin with?
'The people' are just a source of income.
How about a class action verses the banks from the Americans that pay taxes!
I feel the same way Harry. I'm on the "purchase one new fire-arm/ month" plan.
By the time president Bend Over is out of office…………I'll have purchased at least 50 new fire arms and ammo for them.
To fight off the rioting mobs that are in our near future.
0bama presidency ends in 776 days.
Who knows what is left of our liberties.
Congress is criminal.
Well, if Steve King and Michele Bachmann are your only sources, it's hard to believe you.
Yeah, and if they keep this shit up, they're going to find out what the "year of the angry white male" would REALLY be like.
LOL That's funny.
I guess a normal, white guy of Polish descent doesn't stand a chance.
Gee your argument and your logic are just impeccable and incontrovertible… except for the fact that you present nothing that is. Wanna try again?
"God help these United States."
Thank you for using "these" United States. It's time for the States to reassert their positions of power.
For conservatives, two steps forward, one step back. Obama had to cave on tax hikes. In return, he got to redistribute additional billions of borrowed money…without actually accomplishing anything lasting other than more giveaways of money we don't have..
I'm disappointed by the Republican compromise too. Imagine the class warfare rhetoric if they had not.
There are no quick fixes unfortunately. Progressives have been digging in for a century, and are getting close to their goal of toppling the system.
GGG time indeed.
I live on 10 acres, 8 of them are full of trees, some old growth. I want my money. Oh, wait, I'm white. What was I thinking. Oh, and I work to live where I do, damn..
My great grand mother was full blood Cherokee, my husband is half Mexican, 1/4 Blackfoot. We have never asked for anything from the government. Maybe we should start.
"November 2nd was only a small skirmish."
In times past, a switch of 63 seats in the House would have shamed the opposition into absolute obscurity.
Today, we're dealing with psychopaths, so it will take a lot more to teach the "progressives" a lesson.
I suggest prison cells.
didn't she try this before? Besides that, why do we have to do her job? This woman is a complete failure. Just like the rest of the idiots who deem themselves in charge.
Here's a funny coincidence: An anagram for Cloward-Piven is Cropland View.
Cloward-Pigford Strategy?
Heh. Another anagram for Cloward-Piven is "Pelvic Onward."
What a surprise.
Hey can I sue? I'm a middle aged white man who grew up in poverty and worked and educated myself without any government assistance. I was never even offered the opportunity to buy a farm with government money. The government should have been beating down my door to let me know that I could farm for a living.
Which part is true and well-stated? The ' …any "black farmer" or any other third-world savage or parasite… ' part, perhaps? (emphasis mine)
This is the corollary to this Pigford mess I feared: more racial scapegoating. I've got news for the Mobys and real racists here. This garbage would not have been passed without the votes of a legislature which is predominantly white. Yet, somehow, black farmers who are not party to any Pigford-esque lawsuit are now lumped together with "third-world savages."
What disgusting rhetoric this is.
There isn't example of a particular section of society more bound than the American Born White Male. All my life I have heard how I have it so good, how I have all these advantages, how the world is shaped for me and those who look like me.
Yeah, whatever.
Mine too!
I have been calling for this for two years now, as has the TP, I guess Obama is gonna take credit but this ain't all bad and the TP guys haven't even been seated yet.
Lawmakers and administration officials also are considering a White House plan to encourage more investment in plant and equipment, by letting companies claim deductions on 100% of most kinds of investment.
How about raising transgendered livestock? Does that count?
I mean, the cost to rear queer steer can be quite dear.
yeah, which i'm sure will be used by our hyper-vigilant brethren as clear evidence that i'm a troll.
Thee Constitution eliminates class. Special protections, special rights, for certain classes is outside the Confines of Constitutional Governance even if the Legislature passed such a thing.
I am only a third generation American. My family roots were not here for any of the slavery and had no authority regarding urban segregation out there on the farm my grandfather worked to buy. How many generations must pass before descendants of slaves can't blame white people living today – some of whom had zero to do with any of it? (when black people and brown people owned slaves and sold people into slavery in the first place)? Will it stop at my kids? How about their kids?
I once watched Sean Hannity ask Al Sharpton what would be enough. How much would put it to an end? Al had no answer, nothing but crickets chirping. It is sad to say this, but it will only end when enough white people say enough is enough. I believe we approach that point this day.
The choice is stand down the race card or watch society burn defending against it. Slaves were rightly set free but there appears to be this error in understanding – for that did not mean their posterity gets everything for free.
More young black men in jail than in school, 70% of black mothers to age 25 are single parent homes and the urban blight created by business fleeing ultra crime and gang infested neighborhoods is not the white man's fault. It is not slavery's fault. Part of freedom is accepting responsibility for one's self. The Reverend Wrights of the world must stop their god damn America and the Louis Ferekahns must stop their blue eyed devils and the Father pflegers have to stop their self hate – or- the people have to shun their garbage publicly being unafraid to call it exactly what it is. It is time for Equality to Win the day.
yeah this has been tried to no avail. there was a movement like this and there just wasn't enough support so a handful of people really got nailed. soon, though, i think you might be right, we might have enough support for such a thing.
here's the kicker: odds are, by the time our country has the 'ah-hah' moment it's been waiting for–ie the one that would draw lots of support for something like this–all of this will likely be the least of our worries.
I'm surprised how limited the selection of 22LR has become, at some of the major outlets.
as much as i hate to say it, i think cowboy is right.
Restore the Constitution of, by and for these united States, actually adhere to its boundaries and we can avoid the drama you spotlight. We can stand tall and prosper in a bath of Liberty and Personal Responsibility. We can show the entire world that it is possible to stand side by side with people who look just like us or as different as it gets and remain equal in the eyes of freedom, justice and accountability. We can be a rainbow that shines over the whole world – for the proverbial pot-o-gold would exist right here and be sought for the world over.
It is time Patriots stand shoulder to should not just in the voting booth, but in the streets and neighborhoods as well. United, we stand.
unfortunately it's a small skirmish bc it's not just the progressives.
And "Crap, Devil Won" is another.
My skin is starting to crawl.
it depends…did a white man somehow cause them to go unwatered, whether directly or indirectly? were you that white man?
if so…ding ding ding. we've got a winner.
This tit for tat quest for greater personal endowment will result in the cleavage of this great nation.
We'll go bust, unless we stop racking the country with further debt.
Me three! Season enders got the grill treatment and then frozen for wintertime additions to pizza and eggs and, well you know, just about everything….
Glad you said it. It was floating around my synapses earlier…..
just like the DHS itself. another large, useless bureau. we need to pick one….FBI or DHS. we don't need both. it's assanine.
sooo-eey! here pigpigpigpigpigpig… well, that's how we called 'em down on the farm. But nowadays you just wave some taxpayer reparation dollars and the swine come a runnin' fer their social justice.
On the subject of (Estate Tax reinstatement), evidently the exemption would be 5 Million. Not that I am for it mind you, as it is nothing other than double taxation.
I am torn over the unemployment extention however. I understand that it destroys incentive and digs a deeper hole. If nothing is done to stop Obama and Company from raiding our future prosperity and create the conditions conducive to new hiring, those folks will then be on welfare. It is about the same.
Many things need to be completely changed to create those conditions, starting with the corrupt congress, the mob-like labor unions, outsourcing of jobs due to tax loopholes/incentives, the IRS and so on……
Our Country has changed and we are just now realizing how badly that we have been screwed.
You must be logged in to post a comment.