Robert Samuelson, who writes political economics for the Washington Post, takes on the need to stop farm subsidies. His analysis is reasonable, and he's correct that meats, fruits and vegetables aren't subsidized. I remember growing up in an orange orchard and wondering why we didn't get federal aid, since grain producers did.
Samuelson chooses not to mention that many farm states have little population but two senators apiece, senators who are committed to keeping federal subsidy dollars coming their way. Grain-farming acreage is over-represented in the U.S. Senate, no doubt about it and no way to change it.
As many as 20-25% of senators come from major farm subsidy beneficiary states. They trade votes with senators from urbanized states who need HUD and other subsidies - I'll vote for your pork if you'll vote for mine. Don't hold your breath waiting for any of this pork to end.
