Just in time for Halloween weekend, conservative group Americans for Limited Government produced a striking video touting Rep Ted Yoho’s (R-FL) Zero for Zero Legislation, which calls for an end to global sugar subsidies in favor of the free market. Yoho’s bill would instruct the administration to target foreign sugar subsidies that are distorting world sugar prices. Once foreign subsidies end, so also would US Sugar policy end. Supporters of the resolution this way, “it advocates a halt to all market-manipulating policies worldwide, without jeopardizing U.S. jobs or America’s ability to produce a homegrown crop”.

The video, posted on YouTube yesterday, shows three children dressed as movie characters from “The Hunger Games”, “The Matrix” and “Gladiator” out trick or treating. At one house, the adult hands out broccoli, coupons and 1 piece of candy, while at another house, the adult gives each child one gummy bear, while complaining about the high price of candy.

The children appear baffled by the bizarre “treats” they receive until they are attacked by three zombies called Death Taxes, Market Intervention and Foreign Sugar Subsidies. One by one, the children “kill off”, rather graphically, each of the zombies ending with the foreign sugar subsidy getting an arrow to the head.

The video ends with a commentator touting Yoho’s Zero-for-Zero plan as a common sense approach to ending sugar subsidies while allowing the free market to set the true price of sugar. The American Sugar Alliance has come out in support of Yoho’s resolution, stating, “We’ve long advocated for a free market and recognize that something must be done about the rapid run-up in foreign subsidization.”

Critics of the plan charge that the United States should end subsidies to the sugar and other industries now, and not depend on the actions of foreign governments.