::: Thumbs ::: Next >> ::: the rancher is king. when looking at this country, i'm reminded of the american cowboy, forcing a living from the land thru rugged individualism. the real story, under the image, is these ranchers are subsidized substantially by the government. most wouldnt even be in the cotton business if not for the subsidies. the landowners, however, have great wealth, which means lots of political power. they are paid by the government to grow, paid not to grow, and paid if they have failed crops.