I do not get why the farm bills being contemplated this week by Congress would slash food-stamp aid.

Yes, it's 80 percent of the bill's cost to taxpayers, but it's got upsides on all sides. Even if we put aside the obvious "up," that people who are the least advantaged in our country have a better chance to eat. That ought be enough. But who gets the money that's spent by the family but thousands of local businesses! It's humanitarian aid that doubles as a stimulus bill for the food and grocery sectors.

Meanwhile, the only benefit I can see for the committee members who seem bent on reducing this benefit is that they can boast that they cut bloat. Got some of those chiselers off the federal teat. Of all the places to cut, this seems least defensible.