And Congressional Agricultural Committees have to keep cash from farm subsidies flowing. But! They want to show they’re doing their part to reduce the budget deficit! What to do, what to do? Herewith an imaginary colloquy:

“Well, what else do we have jurisdiction over?”

“Food stamps.”

“Okay! Then let’s cut them!”

The budget letter, endorsed by both Lucas (R-OK) and Peterson (D-MN), argues that subsidies need to be in place for when record-high prices “inevitably” fall, and that higher prices have actually increased risks for farmers.

Meanwhile, those higher prices mean that food stamps don’t go as far as they used to, so recipients of such are hard-pressed as it is. But no matter, they’re too generous for those city-dwelling bums (on average, a monthly $200 a person to households at or below 130 percent of the poverty level!).

I despise these people with the strength of a thousand suns.