They also assert that eliminating the sugar program would mean higher profits for companies that buy sugar and not lower prices for consumers. However, all four of these assertions are false. Taxpayers pay for the sugar program. The program s defenders assert that it costs taxpayers nothing. Although it is true that taxpayers do not pay a direct subsidy to sugar farmers, it takes taxpayer money to make the program run.
Someone pays for government bureaucrats and agents to administer the program.
The government also pays higher prices when procuring sugar for the military and bears higher food stamp costs. It is taxpayers who pay these unnecessarily high costs. But most importantly, taxpayers pay dearly for this program because they are also consumers. The fact that this money is paid at the supermarket rather than on a 1040 form makes it no less costly to Americans. Fixing prices for the privileged few.