Publius writes that "the farm bill was probably a lost cause this year anyway. But arguing in a more direct substantive way at least helps mobilize political opposition for the future. In fact, you could easily imagine a progressive-evangelical political coalition forming around this issue." Maybe. Problem is, neither group sees farm policy -- and its associated health and environmental costs -- as core to their mission yet. And an interest group with a position is not the same as an interest group with an interest. What I don't understand is why there's not more agitation on the part of business. So long as they want a big role in health care spending, they've got to be worried about obesity. And so long as we're subsidizing the hell out of corn and cow, we're going to have a problem with obesity. It's a bit of a bankshot argument, of course, but this public health stuff has real costs, and many of them are paid by business (not just in health premiums, but sick days, lost productivity, etc). Why don't they get on-board?
