Who Should I Thank?

Doc has been on a roll of late.  In response to a sign that said "If you ate today, thank a farmer," he responds:

Why should I thank people who, acting to maximize their own utility, provide me with something I am willing to pay for? I would much rather thank "the invisible hand" of Adam Smith. I would much rather thank the private property rights system that provides incentives for people to produce so much food so inexpensively. I would much rather thank the common law system that enforces contracts made between willing individuals seeking gains from trade.

But I feel no particular sense of gratitude for the work done by people who think I owe them something more than they get from the market. And I especially feel no particular sense of gratitude toward those who think the gubmnt should subsidize their lifestyle.

Turning the logic around, because of the ethanol subsidies received by farmers, you could also rightly add "If you paid high prices for your food and beer today, thank a farmer."

Update:  King has thoughts here.