Retroactive subsidies

I think this one must be purely handing out money to friends of some Congressional representative: the fiscal cliff bill includes retroactive subsidies, meaning that people get paid for doing things last year that they didn't know warranted government support. Huh? 

Biodiesel sounds like a good idea, and in some cases it is. If we can make use of grease leftover from barbecue restaurants by turning it into fuel, I'm all for it. However, turning crops into a weak gasoline substitute turns a good into two bads: overpriced fuel and more expensive food. Not something that seems to me like a good investment.

Your government at work, ladies and gentlemen.