House Ag Committee: Cut Food Stamps, not Farm Aid - Michael Crowley

http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2011/03/16/house-ag-committee-cut-food-stamps-not-farm-aid/

I've never known why ag producers, as opposed to farmers, are the beneficiaries of such largess. It agree with Crowley that this issue should be low hanging fruit for Republicans, as it benefits very few and perversely incents prices.

I suppose that farmers maintain an especially nostalgic part of our hearts, and politicians are pretty sure that they will be punished come election time for coming down on the wrong side of farmers, even though the vast majority of the subsidies go to corporate ag producers, not local farmers.

Then again I see the political calculus. Its just not an issue that anyone can win on. Campaign commercials would be overflowing with down home farmers appearing with your opponent and shaking their head at the mention of you. A farmer, mesh cap and overalls, shaking his head at the mention of you is not a winning image.