They must have taken him a back room and shown him the Real State of Financial Affairs...
And he realized what his job would entail, convincing the hungry that starvation was good for a country's long term health.
A pretty hard script to read with a straight face!
Hope he likes yoghurt.

The power of knowledge is in mortal combat with the knowledge of power. It really is that simple... That's the Edenic apple we are all munching on.