Proud stupidity is one of the hallmarks of Donald Trump‘s second term, which should have the motto: “we don’t understand and we don’t care!” As proof of that, please see what the Office of Management and Budget now considers a waste of government money: $4 million for “legume systems research.” pic.twitter.com/6bIcSr5eqP— Office of Management and Budget (@WHOMB) June 3, 2025 You can imagine the adolescent MAGA minion chortling over the keyboard as they type it. “Legume research”? Beans?! What kind of idiot would spend taxpayer’s money on BEANS!? People are going to love this!” Well, newsflash, most regular people understand why beans are important and why research into higher crop yields is a great way to spend $4 million of government money could be spent. These are sentiments the replies quickly point out, saying: “y’all don’t want to improve crop yields on crops that actually improve the soil”, “i thought we cared about agriculture” and, succinctly “lol we’re going to starve”. To bean or not to bean But how important are legumes and beans to the United States? Legumes are one the nation’s most lucrative crops, with soybeans in particular making the country around $44 billion every year (according to the USDA). The U.S. is one of the leading global exporters of all types of beans, including dry beans, peanuts, lentils, chickpeas, and peas, each of which generates billions of dollars in revenue. Beyond that they’re critical for crop rotation systems as they fix nitrogen in the soil, they’re environmentally sound as they sequester carbon, are a low-cost and nutrient-rich source of protein, and a way for individual farmers to keep their heads above water. All in all they’re a critical agriculture industry that’s at the heart of American farming and an economic powerhouse. With a rapidly changing climate that’s playing havoc with agriculture, now is absolutely the best time for research that’d ensure the United States bean production is resilient and secure over the coming years. But hey, those egghead scientists want to spend $4 million on studies that would generate billions more bean dollars. Let’s cut that off immediately and focus on what matters, spending countless more billions of dollars on military boondoggles – perhaps replacing the two $60 million jets that accidentally fell off an aircraft carrier by mistake? Or, alternatively, Trump’s North Korea style birthday parade is projected to cost the nation $45 million. Why not throw this useless bean money into that fund in order to get a few more Abrams tanks tearing up Washington’s asphalt?