The US government has programs to promote cheese and programs to reduce cheese consumption

(written by Lawrence Krubner, however indented passages are often quotes)

I realize it is very unlikely to ever get all government programs to line up to promote an idea in a clear way, but this article brings out the contradictions. The Agriculture department subsidizes the marketing of cheese, while the various health departments all issue warnings about the increasing amount of fat (and cheese) in the US diet. Cheese consumption has tripled since 1970. The US government ends up recreating within itself all the contradictions of the wider society. While this may make sense (that such a thing would happen, and perhaps be inevitable), it also undermines the act of actual governance, to the extent that that word “governance” suggests offering some kind of leadership.