Critics say farm bill subsidizes obesity

I'm back. I like getting out on the street. A couple weeks ago I saw a man with a white cane pick a quarter up off the sidewalk. Somehow made me think of the farm bill.

From InsideBayArea:

... But the debate is not limited to what we eat. Growers of biofuels are major players for the first time. Last week, Environmental Defense released the results of a study showing that shifting subsidies earmarked for Midwest corn growers to conservation programs would benefit farmers in the districts of 36 out of 55 freshman lawmakers, including Democratic Rep. Jerry McNerney of Pleasanton.

Here's the Environmental Defense Inc. press release, it reminds me of Finley Peter Dunne's line, "Politics ain't beanbag":

"Shifting subsidy payments to voluntary U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs that provide cleaner air, energy and water would support more farmers in 36 of the 55 districts represented by freshmen members of the U.S. House of Representatives, according to an analysis by Environmental Defense."

I bet that got their attention.

You've probably seen the story, the Feds sent over $1,000,000,000 to dead farmers. If not here's the WaPo version: Deceased Farmers Got USDA Payments

Here's EWG passing on Oxfam's farm bill thoughts:

FISCAL CONSERVATIVES, ENVIRONMENTALISTS, FAITH GROUPS, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTIVISTS OPPOSE SHAM REFORM BILL

Sounds like that tent's almost big enough to hold the new, larger size, American electorate.

and to be self-reverential, this post from three weeks ago:
How the obesity epidemic is aggravating global warming