Subsidies for agricultural interests are a difficult addiction for any politician to shake; liberal, conservative, foreign or domestic. What is not always obvious is that it isn't just agriculture that's involved, the origin of all evil in all politics is politicians buying support by giving businessmen favors. Sometimes these favors are not just direct cash handouts, but regulatory or tax adjustments which have the same effect. When liberals do it it is criminal, when conservatives do it it is also hypocritical. The recipients of these subsidies, however, are always conservatives.

It may be necessary at times to provide special support or subsidies for a specific industry if it is in the national interest. For example, the support of aviation, nuclear power or space travel cannot be accomplished without government involvement. But these incidents should be managed with the largest possible dose of publicity and public debate. We should know what we are getting into and why.