Future of Family Farming a Moral Issue
Minutemanmedia
by George Naylor
Now that the election of 2004 is
history, voters must face some important questions. Will our political
system take time, amid political fund raising and heated rhetoric on
cultural issues, to focus on the plight of family farms and rural
communities? Will Wall Street be the only winner, as indicated in a
recent Associated Press article?
If
elections turn on personalities and cultural issues like these of 2004,
the future of family farming and rural prosperity must turn on voters'
attention to their elected officials. Benign neglect or policy that
benefits giant multinational agribusiness corporations will mean rural
America is relegated to being the home of private hunting preserves or
factory farms. These offer unhealthful and low-paying jobs along with
polluted streams and a stench that literally takes your breath away.
Gone will be diversified farming where livestock is raised with fresh
air and room to roam. Gone will be crop rotations that benefit the
environment and provide economic opportunities throughout the year.
Gone will be the rural communities of mutual support… and investment in
local schools and county hospitals. Election rhetoric and crazy TV ads
may get people elected, but what are we electing people to do, and will
their performance matter in future elections?
The
economic footing of family farming has been so neglected that 70
percent of farms earn less than 25 percent of their household income
from the farm. Less than 2 percent of rural residents earn their
primary income from the farm. Farmland in many regions is worth much
more for hunting preserves and development than for producing healthy
local supplies of food….Isn't the future of family farming a moral
issue, too?
Family
farming can be the engine for growth and economic opportunity if voters
focus on the issues that assure fair returns to family farmers,
widespread ownership of farms, and the promotion of free and open
markets not dominated by multinational corporations. If voters tell our
elected officials to write a new farm bill that restores price floors
under basic commodities, renews opportunities for farm ownership and
local markets, and halts free trade agreements that hurt our farmers
and those in other countries, America will deserve the respect of
people all around the world and of future generations. The 2004
elections are over; it's time for action!
* * *
Naylor is a corn and soybean farmer from Churdan, Iowa, a member of
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and President of the National
Family Farm Coalition. The National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) was
founded in 1986 to serve as a national link for grassroots
organizations working on family farm issues.
Blog For Iowa 
Those in the 'red' regions would say. “Atleast them fags can't get married, those heathen wanton women can't get 'bortions and I my taxes on my unemployment and farm bankruptcy loans will stay low.”
The joy of discriminating and restricting freedoms of your fellow 'man' is a mandate from Jesus as your ticket to heaven.
LikeLike