The Department of Agriculture has authorized payment of $50,000 each to 12,000 black farmers who claim that because of racial discrimination they were denied farm loans they applied for between 1981 and 1997. The bill: $600 million (www.usda.gov/da/status.htm)

The standard of proof required to qualify for the money is exceedingly low. In the vast majority of cases the department can't verify that a loan was even sought, much less that it was denied on racial grounds. It keeps records of rejected loans only 3 years. This is such an open invitation to fraud that Hispanics, Asians and even whites are trying to get on the gravy train. To learn more, get a copy of the AIM Report, 2001 #3. Call 1-800-787-4567 or go to www.aim.org.