Conservatism and free enterprise are supposed to stand for something besides advancing the interests of profit-seeking powerful businessmen. Liberals in government and the media often don’t understand the distinction between pro-business and pro-market. This month, we’ll learn whether Republicans actually see the difference.

The farm bill, packed with handouts for farmers and agribusiness, will come to the House floor this month. All the subsidies in this farm bill deserve to be tossed aside like so much chaff, but they are entrenched enough that it would take a herculean effort to destroy them all.