Big Fat Subsidies
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talkpoliticsDavid Sirota writes today about the effect of government subsidies on the eating habits of the average American. This has been a bit deal in recent news, what with the increasing prevalence of obesity in the US. Importantly, despite the high-sugar content of fresh fruits, "a dollar [can] buy 1,200 calories of potato chips or 875 calories of soda but just... 170 calories of fresh fruit."
The subsidy issue has always been contentious, especially those for corn. And nowhere is corn more important, and its politics more heavily felt, than in Iowa. Few have come out against the $5 billion in annual ethanol subsidies, afraid that it will cost them political points in the first national caucus. It would be hard to imagine Bachmann coming out against subsidies, given her history with them (though she denies it. So, Republicans are unlikely to clearly address ethanol this cycle, and Obama is moving to up the ethanol content of flex-fuels.
So where does the madness stop? When can we put actual policy over winning votes this election? Probably never. Such is the nature of rent-seeking. $8 billion a year in corn subsidies is a drop in the federal bucket, but it sure buys a lot of votes and political support, and the detrimental effect on final outcomes are remote, with hard-to-make connections that most people don't bother with. Meanwhile, the dollar menu is just a good value.
Edited to add: A lot of the conversation is focusing on fast food. It was a poorly chosen example. Rather than debate the dollar menu, look at this: at the local supermarket here in Boston, $2 can buy you about 2 apples, or a rather large bag of chips with a dozen or so servings. That's a terrible comparison to have to make, if you're trying to feed a couple of kids on a tight budget.
The subsidy issue has always been contentious, especially those for corn. And nowhere is corn more important, and its politics more heavily felt, than in Iowa. Few have come out against the $5 billion in annual ethanol subsidies, afraid that it will cost them political points in the first national caucus. It would be hard to imagine Bachmann coming out against subsidies, given her history with them (though she denies it. So, Republicans are unlikely to clearly address ethanol this cycle, and Obama is moving to up the ethanol content of flex-fuels.
So where does the madness stop? When can we put actual policy over winning votes this election? Probably never. Such is the nature of rent-seeking. $8 billion a year in corn subsidies is a drop in the federal bucket, but it sure buys a lot of votes and political support, and the detrimental effect on final outcomes are remote, with hard-to-make connections that most people don't bother with. Meanwhile, the dollar menu is just a good value.
Edited to add: A lot of the conversation is focusing on fast food. It was a poorly chosen example. Rather than debate the dollar menu, look at this: at the local supermarket here in Boston, $2 can buy you about 2 apples, or a rather large bag of chips with a dozen or so servings. That's a terrible comparison to have to make, if you're trying to feed a couple of kids on a tight budget.
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Date: 16/7/11 00:40 (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 16/7/11 00:44 (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 16/7/11 01:02 (UTC)And this right here is what all the food stamp police miss every time. When you can't afford to get whatever you want to eat you need to maximize your calories with every meal. Often times the unhealthier options fill that need far better than the healthy ones.
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Date: 16/7/11 02:05 (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 16/7/11 04:45 (UTC)That being said, in Ruston, Louisiana - no way.
In fact, here in San Diego, produce in most of the grocery stores is crazy, but the farmers markets are dirt cheap. I mean organic oranges for 40 cents a pound, cheap.
But there is a certain level of knowledge that is required. Farmer's markets do not advertise, they are hard to find.
Plus, we have some individual habits that are hard to get over if we want to be less obese. Like portioning, eating three four to six ounce portions of meat a day rather than three two ounce portions of meat a day is not good (hint, a Wendy's triple is a days worth of meat not a lunches worth and a large fry is four or five carbohydrate servings). Eat local, an apple in Virginia or Oregon is a good deal (at a farmers market), an orange probably is not - reverse in San Diego.
Plus, IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT THE FOOD. One summer, I ate Raisin' Canes every fucking day for lunch and lost weight. This is a restaurant where "Texas Toast" is the healthiest option. Of course, I do not drive, except for work.
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Date: 16/7/11 14:23 (UTC)Fried chicken fingers
Coleslaw
French fries
Texas Toast
Special sauce
Chicken fingers on a bun with lettuce and sauce
Lemonade
Tea.
They're the Five Guys of chicken fingers. But you could get a whole meal for 5 dollars at 1AM at the north gates of LSU.
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Date: 16/7/11 06:23 (UTC)For some reason, potato chips are always compared with fresh fruit. Of course the calorie dense food is cheaper per calorie than the low calorie option. This is by definition. Celery and cabbage provide almost no calories per dollar. This has almost nothing to do with subsidies.
Rice, potatoes, bread, milk, pasta, and eggs all provide quite a few calories per dollar. Add some cheaper meats, some vegetables, and cooking oil and you have a decent diet for a decent price. You'll also be healthy. You can even throw in some highly subsidized corn, it's a staple in some parts of the world after all.
If people like David Sirota had tried to put together a reasonable diet at a decent price but were unable, they might have a point. The problem is, with just a little thought, it's easy to get the calories and nutrition you need in America for a pretty low cost.
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Date: 16/7/11 07:53 (UTC)Although I don't doubt that in many ares there are food deserts where healthy food simply isn't available.
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Date: 16/7/11 12:59 (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 16/7/11 23:35 (UTC)I can really only speak for my locality, but here in Argentina McDonalds doesn't have the Dollar Menu or anything equivalent. Same for Burger King and Subway, the other two fast food places available to me. Items on the menu at these places are typically 20—30 pesos, which is about what I spend for two to three days' worth of food in a single meal.
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Date: 16/7/11 12:53 (UTC)I have to admit, whether intentionally or not, that line made me laugh. :)
This topic is one reason why I think it's an issue for the Iowa caucuses to be the first primary in the election. I've read that the residents "take it as a big responsibility and read up on the candidates," but it gives them more power than voters of other states, and they have biases like this one.
I view farm subsidies as welfare for farmers. I think that anyone who receives them has no right to complain about government handouts. (Well, they have the right, of course, but it would be hypocritical.)
(By the way, I think that jpeg needs to be updated. I'm pretty sure the double cheeseburger is $1.20 now, and that the McDouble - which has less cheese or no cheese - is on the dollar menu in its place.)
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Date: 16/7/11 12:57 (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 16/7/11 20:05 (UTC)Also on ethanol subsidies, I read yesterday that 40% of this year's corn crop is projected to go to ethanol refineries. That's insane.