Ag Subsidies

Although the hardy capitalists growing vegetables rarely get any government subsidy, or at least any direct payments, anyone who puts a plow into the earth has a stake in the debate over ag subsidies.   Everyone seems to agree a program that pays farmers for not planting crops is crazy.  Ditto the payments to farmers who are on the ethanol bandwagon or who are cashing in on the corn and soybean bonanza.  But the will to actually stop the taxpayer funding of these dubious programs is sorely lacking.  Meanwhile, programs to promote healthy eating (more veggies please), or even to help the poorest among us survive, i.e. the WICK program and foodstamps, are under a gleefully wielded ax.  Why is it that the impulse to deny aid to the defenseless is so much stronger than the will to ask the wealthiest to do their biblical duty.