How Uncle Sam's Making Us Fat | Patrick Basham | Cato Institute: Commentary

How Uncle Sam's Making Us Fat | Patrick Basham | Cato Institute: Commentary: "This year, the USDA will spend more than $1 billion subsidizing the growth of four common food additives: corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, corn starch and soy oils (hydrogenated vegetable oil)."

"The USDA lectures and hectors us to avoid anything that's fatty, salty, sugary or filled with processed ingredients — like the ones our tax dollars subsidize."

"Last year, taxpayers subsidized farmers to the tune of $16 billion, reports the Congressional Budget Office. Among the more idiotic subsidies are $5 billion in so-called "direct payments" to farmers of corn, soybeans and other crops. These are paid simply for owning tillable farm land, even if the farmers don't plant on it.

On top of costing huge sums that could be better spent (or saved) elsewhere, farm subsidies perversely redistribute wealth to a comparatively few affluent farmers and agribusinesses."