Farm Subsidies

* In your article on GATT and the farmers (Dec. 12), you state that a Kansas farmer receives “a relative minimum of government assistance,” which this year was 50 cents a bushel. Since he harvests 30,000 bushels, this comes to $15,000 per year. I wonder how many other Americans would like the government to add $15,000 to their yearly incomes? I know I would. Subsidies such as these are one reason our deficit is so large. Next year I should just make my tax payment to the farmer directly and cut out the IRS, the middleman. I wonder how our government officials decided the farmer is more deserving of a $15,000 bonus of taxpayers’ money than the rest of us?

JODY PEDRI

Costa Mesa