E Pluribus Equine

Having solved all other problems on their agenda, the House
voted bravely last week (263-146) to ban the slaughter of horses for
meat. It was not immediately clear why horses exist on a more exalted plane
than, say, cows and pigs, or why the assumed preferences of U.S. consumers
should keep farmers from exporting meat to Europe and
Japan
, where it’s very much in demand.