Even though the government promised it would pay a good price for his rice, Mana Nutchyoo hasn’t seen half the money. “It’s in the system,” he said hopefully, held up by the turmoil sparked by opposition protests in Bangkok, 90 minutes to the south. But even if the political crisis eases, Nutchyoo may never see the rest of the money: the government is having serious trouble funding its rice-buying scheme and other pro-poor subsidies. If the fiscal crisis worsens the “Red Shirts” could end up turning on their government patrons.