--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are many farm handouts; but let's…" description: "\"There are many farm handouts; but let's call them what they really are: a form of legalized theft. Essentially, a congressman tells his farm constituen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/walter-e-williams-2709_congressman_there-are-many-farm-handouts-but-let-s-c_1958600.png" --- # There are many farm handouts; but let's call them what… ![“There are many farm handouts; but let's call them what they really are: a form of legalized theft. Essentially, a congressman tells his farm constituency, "Vote for me. I'll use my office to take another American's money and give it to you."” quote by Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/walter-e-williams-2709_congressman_there-are-many-farm-handouts-but-let-s-c_1958600.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/walter-e-williams-2709_congressman_there-are-many-farm-handouts-but-let-s-c_1958600.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/walter-e-williams-2709_congressman_there-are-many-farm-handouts-but-let-s-c_1958600.png) > “There are many farm handouts; but let's call them what they really are: a form of legalized theft. Essentially, a congressman tells his farm constituency, "Vote for me. I'll use my office to take another American's money and give it to you."” [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker labels farm subsidies as legalized theft, describing politicians as taking money from one group to give to another. **In simple terms:** Farm aid is portrayed as theft, with politicians redistributing money. Key Takeaway Question the fairness of government handouts. Themes economics politics justice government Mood critical analytical Type political economic When to use this quote - tax policy debate - agricultural reform - public discourse - legislative lobbying Key Concepts public policy redistribution ethics Questions to Reflect On - Is all redistribution inherently immoral? - How do subsidies affect farmers’ livelihoods? A Different Perspective The view may ignore benefits to food security and rural stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congressman/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Theft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theft/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) ## Related quotes > [Vote for me. I'll use my office to take another American's money and give it to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/vote-for-me-i-ll-use-my-office-to-take-another-american-s-money-and/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [I had this notion that I could convince people who were skeptical of national Democrats to vote for me because I could bring home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-carson/i-had-this-notion-that-i-could-convince-people-who-were-skeptical-of/) [Brad Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-carson/) > [Ed Koch had the best line: if you agree with me nine out of twelve times, you should vote for me. If you agree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/ed-koch-had-the-best-line-if-you-agree-with-me-nine-out-of-twelve/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [I posted a video a day for almost two months and was hardly sleeping, but I think it really pushed me to give music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kina-grannis/i-posted-a-video-a-day-for-almost-two-months-and-was-hardly-sleeping/) [Kina Grannis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kina-grannis/) > [I'm constantly meeting people who said that they cast their first vote for me, or that they cut their eye teeth on the 1972…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-m-constantly-meeting-people-who-said-that-they-cast-their-first/) [George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/) > [The polls show that 10 percent of the public are ready to vote for me even though they don't know I'm running. We hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/the-polls-show-that-10-percent-of-the-public-are-ready-to-vote-for-me/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [This partisan decision by a packed GOP state Supreme Court takes away worker's rights to bargain for a safe place to work. It underscores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-larson/this-partisan-decision-by-a-packed-gop-state-supreme-court-takes-away/) Chris Larson > [“Ballot papers don’t determine who leads; they determine who takes which position. As to whether that person occupying the position will lead or will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/ballot-papers-don-t-determine-who-leads-they-determine-who-takes/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [If you think I would have gone to war the way George Bush did, don't vote for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/if-you-think-i-would-have-gone-to-war-the-way-george-bush-did-don-t/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [I read an article that said one in five Americans thinks Elvis is alive. I want to find those morons and get them registered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/i-read-an-article-that-said-one-in-five-americans-thinks-elvis-is/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) > [I assume most people trust me, if they vote for me in elections. And it is the most important thing. It places great responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/i-assume-most-people-trust-me-if-they-vote-for-me-in-elections-and-it/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Arnold Schwarzenegger announced he's running for governor. He's got a great slogan - 'Vote for me, or I'll make 'Kindergarten Cop II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/arnold-schwarzenegger-announced-he-s-running-for-governor-he-s-got-a/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [I would not ask anyone to vote for me based on my last name. I am certainly not campaigning to be president because my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-would-not-ask-anyone-to-vote-for-me-based-on-my-last-name-i-am/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [As for the (Ballon d'Or) criteria, I'm not really sure how it works. Sometimes it's a World Cup year, sometimes it isn't. Let them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/as-for-the-ballon-d-or-criteria-i-m-not-really-sure-how-it-works/) [David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) > [I'd like to thank everyone who voted for me. And the one guy who didn't vote for me, thank you, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-d-like-to-thank-everyone-who-voted-for-me-and-the-one-guy-who-didn/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) ## More by Walter E. Williams > [Vote for me. I'll use my office to take another American's money and give it to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/vote-for-me-i-ll-use-my-office-to-take-another-american-s-money-and/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Elect me to office. I will protect and defend the U.S. Constitution. Because there's no constitutional authority for Congress spending on the objects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/elect-me-to-office-i-will-protect-and-defend-the-u-s-constitution/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [More important than anything else is for Americans to wise up to class warfare demagoguery and reject the politics of envy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/more-important-than-anything-else-is-for-americans-to-wise-up-to/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Wal-Mart has become the whipping boy for political demagogues, unions and anti-traders. I suggest that they have the wrong target… Wal-Mart exists and prospers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/wal-mart-has-become-the-whipping-boy-for-political-demagogues-unions/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [When the Founders thought of democracy, they saw democracy in the political sphere - a sphere strictly limited by the Constitution's well-defined and enumerated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/when-the-founders-thought-of-democracy-they-saw-democracy-in-the/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Reaching into one's own pocket to assist his fellow man is noble and worthy of praise. Reaching into another person's pocket to assist one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/reaching-into-one-s-own-pocket-to-assist-his-fellow-man-is-noble-and/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [If there's a distinct group of Americans who harbor open contempt for constitutional principles and rule of law, it's lawyers, judges and members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/if-there-s-a-distinct-group-of-americans-who-harbor-open-contempt-for/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Conservatives and liberals are kindred spirits as far as government spending is concerned. First, let's make sure we understand what government spending is. Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/conservatives-and-liberals-are-kindred-spirits-as-far-as-government/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Students who are alien and hostile to the education process ought to be removed. You say, "What will we do with them?" I say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/students-who-are-alien-and-hostile-to-the-education-process-ought-to/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Minimum-wage laws are one of the most powerful tools in the arsenal of racists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/minimum-wage-laws-are-one-of-the-most-powerful-tools-in-the-arsenal/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [What we call the market is really a democratic process involving millions, and in some markets billions, of people making personal decisions that express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/what-we-call-the-market-is-really-a-democratic-process-involving/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The bottom line is that the true test of one's commitment to freedom of association doesn't come when he allows people to associate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-bottom-line-is-that-the-true-test-of-one-s-commitment-to-freedom/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The difference between a thief and a congressman: When a thief steals your money, he doesn't expect you to thank him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-difference-between-a-thief-and-a-congressman-when-a-thief-steals/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The global warming scare has provided a field day for politicians and others who wish to control our lives. After all, only the imagination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-global-warming-scare-has-provided-a-field-day-for-politicians-and/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Legislators aren't known for being rocket scientists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/legislators-aren-t-known-for-being-rocket-scientists/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) [Explore all 153 Walter E. Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) ## More Congressman quotes > [Unpleasant questions are being raised about Mother's Day. Is this day necessary? . . . Isn't it bad public policy? . . . No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/unpleasant-questions-are-being-raised-about-mother-s-day-is-this-day/) [Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/) > [You don't have to be a spiritual seeker, you can be a businessman dealing with the revolution in computers. You could be a congressman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-spiritual-seeker-you-can-be-a-businessman/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Here is your government at work. A congressman from Colorado said he wants to draft a rule that would make it unethical to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/here-is-your-government-at-work-a-congressman-from-colorado-said-he/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Jack Abramoff is going to testify against some of the other weasels in Congress. A lobbyist testifying against congressmen? How many Bibles are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/jack-abramoff-is-going-to-testify-against-some-of-the-other-weasels/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [ Leo Crowley, Harry \[Truman\]'s Foreign Economic Administrator, tells Congressmen the theory...: 'If you create good governments in foreign countries, automatically you will have better… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/leo-crowley-harry-truman-s-foreign-economic-administrator-tells/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dan Coats, retiring senator from Indiana, a mild-mannered man, a former United States ambassador to Germany, former congressman, said of Ted Cruz he's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/dan-coats-retiring-senator-from-indiana-a-mild-mannered-man-a-former/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [African American Congressman Bobby Rush wore a hoodie on the floor of Congress to make a point this week. And they threw him out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/african-american-congressman-bobby-rush-wore-a-hoodie-on-the-floor-of/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [The sport of wrestling is a tremendous builder of the values and characteristics which are needed to succeed in any walk of life. Much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/the-sport-of-wrestling-is-a-tremendous-builder-of-the-values-and/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [It's amazing to me that people have any interest in such a low-level sex scandal. If I were sleeping with a congressman, maybe, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-cutler/it-s-amazing-to-me-that-people-have-any-interest-in-such-a-low-level/) [Jessica Cutler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-cutler/) > [That's what a Congressman or a Senator is for -- to see that too much money don't accumulate in the national Treasury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/that-s-what-a-congressman-or-a-senator-is-for-to-see-that-too-much/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [So, the point I'm making is, we are not going to cut spending in Washington if we think it's the job of every congressman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-demint/so-the-point-i-m-making-is-we-are-not-going-to-cut-spending-in/) [Jim DeMint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-demint/) > [Talking with most people usually involves a search for truth. Talking with congressmen is strictly special effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/talking-with-most-people-usually-involves-a-search-for-truth-talking/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [America, not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath on,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/america-not-keith-ellison-decides-what-book-a-congressman-takes-his/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [ Now, \[Donald\] Trump has thus far gotten endorsements from illustrious group, that includes Sarah Palin, David Duke, Dennis Rodman, racially profiling birther sheriff, Joe… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/now-donald-trump-has-thus-far-gotten-endorsements-from-illustrious/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [Congressmen are like diapers - You need to change them often, and for the same reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-mccloskey/congressmen-are-like-diapers-you-need-to-change-them-often-and-for/) [Pete McCloskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-mccloskey/) [Browse all 284 Congressman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congressman/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are many farm handouts; but let's call them what they really are: a form of legalized theft. Essentially, a congressman tells his farm constituency, \"Vote for me. I'll use my office to take another American's money and give it to you.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter E. Williams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/there-are-many-farm-handouts-but-let-s-call-them-what-they-really-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Congressman" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/there-are-many-farm-handouts-but-let-s-call-them-what-they-really-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/walter-e-williams-2709_congressman_there-are-many-farm-handouts-but-let-s-c_1958600.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/walter-e-williams-2709_congressman_there-are-many-farm-handouts-but-let-s-c_1958600.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/walter-e-williams-2709_congressman_there-are-many-farm-handouts-but-let-s-c_1958600.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are many farm handouts; but let's call them what they really are: a form of legalized theft…” — Walter E. Williams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Walter E. Williams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There are many farm handouts; but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/there-are-many-farm-handouts-but-let-s-call-them-what-they-really-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/there-are-many-farm-handouts-but-let-s-call-them-what-they-really-are/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```