The most satisfying aspect of the contentious elections in Florida may be the thorough drubbing of heavily subsidized Big Sugar, and the exposure of yet another feared special interest as a paper tiger.

The sugar industry in the U.S. is dependent on government support. Most notably, the U.S. government throttles sugar imports, thus driving up the price. Uncle Sam bolsters that protectionism with a crony capitalist web of subsidies, loans, and purchases of excess sugar. This kills jobs in the food industry (candymakers move overseas where they can use market-price sugar), but it increases profits for the U.S. sugar producers. Big Sugar recycles these crony profits into campaign contributions.