The trials and tributlations….

….of the Farm Bill.  It’s up, it’s down…again.  Blocked in the House.

The Democrats are blaming the Republicans; the Republicans are blaming the Democrats.  Wish they’d decide who’s at fault so I know who to thank.

This monstrosity, like all those which went before, deserves a stake in the heart.

There’s been a slight improvement in all the machinations along the way.  At least some caps have been put on subsidies for big corporate farms but a lot of the pork is still there.  The “deal breaker” though apparently has been the Food Stamps half of the bill.  Conservatives wanted cuts; liberals wanted an increase.  And conservatives wanted Food Stamp recipients to prove they’re looking for work.  Unacceptable to liberals.

Food Stamps became a part of the Ag bill when big city lawmakers traded their support for farm subsidies.  The two unlikely allies have continued bilking the taxpayers for a generation.

We’d like to see Food Stamps pulled out of the bill now and have both elements debated and decided on their merits.  You think?  Nah.