Farm Subsidies and Junk Food: An Unintended Correlation

Much is heard in the news about farm subsidies, but just what are they? The subsidies are monies paid to farmers by the government with no expectation that anything will be exchanged for the subsidy. Essentially, it is like a trip to the grocery store during which you put money on the counter, but take no food home with you when you leave. You are just helping to keep the store in business.

The payments of these subsidies do a couple of things: they ensure that farmers will have a steady income throughout the year and that the consumer's costs for certain foods will remain as low as possible. Overall, they keep the agricultural industries in business and running as cheaply as they do. However, health researchers say subsidies for soybean and corn farmers worsen the nation's obesity problem, particularly in low income areas.

Government financial support moves farmers to grow specific crops, which as an unintended side effect create a cheap supply of unhealthy soybean oil and high fructose corn syrup. These elements for burgers, chips, and soft drinks are the mortar that holds the building blocks together for what the medical experts say is an extremely unhealthy diet.

Again, as a consumer if you disagree with an established policy, you have the choice to buy what you want, when you want it, if you can afford it. That doesn't mean that there should only be good choices available to you. You make your own decisions about what to buy and when.

If you want processed, wheat-based morning pastries made with high fructose corn syrup as an ingredient, then you should have the chance to do that. If you don't want that, buy some imported fruit, get a $4 cup of coffee at a chain bean-a-torium, chew a stick of gum, or go hungry till noon.

Henry David Thoreau wrote his essay "Civil Disobedience" after spending a short time in jail for not paying his poll taxes as his protest to the US-Mexican war, a war that he saw as unjust. If, as your act of civil disobedience, you choose to buy only organic foods and drink water, which are not subsidized by the way, then go right ahead.

Focusing on the evils of the system that perpetuates what some see as a problem is not a productive use of time. Vote with your wallet daily and in the polling booth when you have a chance. When consumer preferences and voter desires change, the government will change also.

"The government made me buy the donut. It's cheap and I'm poor." This is reasoning that doesn't cut it for me.

For more details, click here.