New Report: Iowa Produces The Most Factory Farm Waste In The Country

Posted on September 27, 2024 by Trish Nelson

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch
September 24, 2024

Factory farms in Iowa produce 109 billion pounds of waste each year, according to a new report from Food and Water Watch about concentrated livestock operations in the U.S.

That’s 25 times more waste than what all Iowans combined produce, according to the report.

“Factory Farm Nation” is an analysis of the 2022 U.S. Department of Agriculture census of agriculture compared with previous ag census data.

Over the past 20 years, the number of animals living on factory farms, which the report defines as operations with at least 500 head of cattle, 1,000 hogs, 500,000 broiler chickens (annually) or 100,000 egg laying chickens, has increased by nearly 50%.

Iowa’s concentration of hogs in factory farms as defined by the “Factory Farm Nation” report. (Courtesy of Food and Water Watch)

The top 10 counties in the country with the highest density of factory hog populations are all in Iowa and North Carolina.

Ninety-five percent of counties in Iowa produce more animal manure than human manure, and all but six of Iowa’s counties qualify as high or severe hog density counties.

Compared to other states, Iowa stands out on the map showing the concentration of all livestock on factory farms: 

The Factory Farm Nation report shows the concentrations of animals on what it calls factory farms, throughout the country. (Courtesy of Food and Water Watch)

The heavy concentration of these farms causes environmental harm, like polluted water and air. And, the report says, it causes economic problems too.

The report points to rural Iowa as a “tragic case study in the social and economic harms associated with factory farm expansion.”

As operations grow in size, the number of farms decline. In fact, from 1997 to 2022, Iowa hog farms decreased from more than 17,000 farms to just over 5,000, while the number of hogs in the state increased from about 14 million head in 1997 to more than 23 million in 2022, according to USDA census data.

The Food and Water Watch report links a rise in factory farms to increased rates of poverty and economic inequality in a community.

“We found that the Iowa counties that sold the most hogs and had the largest operations experienced declines in real median income and population from 1982 to 2017, as well as losses in wage jobs and local businesses that exceeded the state average.”

The report says Iowa must enact a moratorium on new factory farms, stop the expansion of “industry scams like factory farm gas, ethanol, and carbon pipelines” and pass the Clean Water for Iowa Act, a bill that was introduced in the House last year, but never advanced.

Iowa is most heavily concentrated in hog operations, but the maps from the same report show some counties with severe concentrations of beef cattle, milk cows and egg laying hens.

In addition to excessive amounts of waste, the report alleges that concentrated animal feeding operations cause increased health risks for workers, water shortages, declining farmer profits and increased consumer prices.

The report puts the blame on corporations who “dominate every step along the food supply chain” and the elected officials who fail to uphold antitrust laws and clean water and air acts.

“We need to organize and educate within our own communities on the countless harms of factory farms and the need for new farm policies that work for people and animals — not corporations,” the report reads.

Food and Water Watch, via the report, said elected officials need to prioritize investments into local and regional food markets, reestablish supply management controls like price floors and expand crop insurance to more specialty food crops, in addition to banning new factory farms and enforcing existing laws.

“We need to vote for candidates who share this vision of a more just and sustainable food system — and who are willing to take on the agribusiness giants that are only out to promote their corporate interests.

Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and X.

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Legislative Update: 40 Days To Election Day

Posted on September 26, 2024 by Trish Nelson


Do you subscribe to your Democratic statehouse representative’s newsletter?   It’s a good way to get information local to you without searching through the vast wasteland we call the internet.

Check out this legislative update/newsletter from my state Rep. Elinor Levin.

Fewer than 40 days until Election Day, and the energy and power around House District 89 is fantastic. Early voting will start on October 16, and I recommend you get to the Auditor’s Office or to one of the Satellite Voting locations around Johnson County to ensure your voice is heard. If you prefer to vote on election day, know that some polling places in our District have changed due to construction (my own in Precinct 27 is one!), so check your location at https://gis.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/pollingplaces/ and then click to view your sample ballot! We have contested races for President, Congress, Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioners, and County Agricultural Extension Council. AND, on the back, we have judicial retention, two proposed constitutional amendments, and a public conservation measure to consider.

In between knocking doors and registering voters, I’m heading to the National Renewable Energy Lab in Denver to better understand the kind of resilient, sustainable grid Iowa can create for our future.

Locally, we have just wrapped up a fantastic Welcoming Week, we’re in the middle of Climate Fest activities, and there is so much more to enjoy this fall, whether you’re into sports, arts, food, or SPOOKY season! I hope you enjoy some of the cooler weather and take the opportunity to gather, learn, celebrate, and engage!

Putting People Over Politics

We are all proud of our state’s long history of strong public schools and vibrant communities where neighbors look out for one another. Iowans expect their elected leaders to put politics aside, listen, and work together to make progress on the issues important to them.

We couldn’t agree more. That’s why we’ve developed a policy agenda that puts people over politics.

The agenda has four main components, all of which are supported by a strong majority of Iowans, aimed at improving the lives of everyday people: lowering costs and raising wages for Iowans, protecting reproductive freedom, investing in public schools, and legalizing marijuana.

Lowering costs for Iowans

Too many Iowans are struggling to make ends meet today. Their wages simply aren’t keeping up with the rising costs of healthcare, food, childcare, and utility bills. We need to make housing and childcare affordable, cap healthcare costs while expanding access to mental healthcare, and lower taxes for working families instead of giving more handouts to big corporations.

Protecting reproductive freedom

Everyone deserves the right to make their own healthcare decisions, especially when it comes to reproductive care and abortion. We will guarantee reproductive freedom by adding it to Iowa’s Constitution and fighting for Iowans to have access to abortion care, IVF, and birth control.

Investing in public schools

Iowans have always counted on our great public schools to educate our kids and be the heart of our communities large and small. But we’ve lost ground and our public school kids are losing out and teachers are leaving the classroom. We must fully fund public schools to keep up with rising costs and make sure every kid in every zip code gets a great education. We also need to raise pay for all educators to give them a seat at the table, end vouchers and keep public money in public schools, empower local schools and AEAs to do what’s best for students, and end book bans passed for the special interests.

Legalizing marijuana

A majority of adult Iowans support legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Legalizing marijuana for adult use will keep Iowans safe, stop our tax dollars from going to neighboring states, improve the quality of life for Iowans suffering from chronic illnesses, and stop wasting state resources to punish Iowans unfairly.

House Democrats will use this People Over Politics agenda to guide their work during the 2025 legislative session. Iowans have every right to be frustrated with politics today. While we may disagree, we’re committed to listening and fighting for the Iowa values we all share.

Overwhelming Majority of Iowans Want Reproductive Freedom

64% of Iowans say that abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to a new poll released by the Des Moines Register. An even larger share of women, 71%, believe they should be able to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions without interference from politicians.

After the six-week abortion ban went into effect in Iowa this summer, Iowans could soon be seeing the dangerous effects of the ban that have already been seen in other states with similar legislation.

Recently a woman died in Georgia, a state that has a six-week abortion ban like Iowa, due to not getting the emergency care she needed. Because of the law, she was denied necessary life-saving care. She was the mother of a 6-year-old child. Another woman died in Georgia because she was scared to go to the doctor due to the ban. She was the mother of three young children.

The Republican lawmakers’ 6-week ban has real-life, deadly consequences for the citizens of Iowa. Time and time again, these restrictive bans have cost women their lives, and have led to fewer options for people in emergencies.

Iowans know that personal decisions should be respected and valued. All Iowans deserve the right to reproductive freedom, and access to quality medical care.

Do You Have a Plan to Vote? Vote Early from Home!

As Election Day gets closer it is important to have a plan to vote, ensuring your voice is heard on November 5th.

Iowa voters have a few options when deciding how to cast their ballot, including having the option to vote from home. Iowans can either request to vote from home or vote early in person at their local County Auditor’s Office. Absentee ballots must be returned to the County Auditor’s Office by 8 pm on Election Day.

On November 5th polls will be open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm, for voters to cast their vote at their local polling place. Those voting in person on Election Day must show a form of identification, the most common being a driver’s license or non-operator ID. Iowans can register to vote now through Oct. 21st or on Election Day.

Capitol and Community Updates

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RECERTIFICATION ELECTIONS: Public employee union recertification elections start at 7:00 am on October 8th and run through 9:00 am on October 22nd.

GOVERNOR REYNOLDS USES FEDERAL COVID RECOVERY DOLLARS TO FUND CHARTER SCHOOLS: Governor Reynolds has once more redirected funds designated for COVID recovery to finance her favored initiatives. This includes over $4 million in assistance allocated as grants to 11 charter schools.

SEPTEMBER IS COLLEGE SAVINGS MONTH: When Investing in a 529 plan like College Savings Iowa, children are six times more likely to attend an institute of higher education or training if they have a savings account in their name according to educational researchers.

STATE PARK VOLUNTEER DAY SEPT. 28: Several state parks and forests are hosting volunteer events with a variety of projects. Find a park near you to volunteer to help!

ALLIANT ENERGY RATE INCREASES: The Iowa Utilities Commission approved Alliant Energy’s request to increase the average residential monthly charge for electric customers from $13 to $15.50 and a revenue increase of $14 million for natural gas rates.

URBAN WATER GRANTS AVAILABLE: The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is accepting pre-applications for urban water quality improvement projects. Over the last decade, the state has supported nearly $15 million in these cost-share urban conservation projects.

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Trump, GOP Working Harder To Disenfranchise Voters

Posted on September 25, 2024 by Trish Nelson


The Al Franken podcast:

“Trump and the GOP are working harder to disenfranchise voters NOW than they were in 2020. They are no longer a majoritarian party and want to disrupt our electoral process as much as they can. How will we preserve the integrity of this election? What are some of the ways that Trump and GOP lawyers will attempt to derail the will of the people? Our friend and top Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias from Democracy Docket joins us to break down some of the ways that our democracy is under attack and what we can do to fight it. Support Marc and Democracy Docket: https://www.democracydocket.com/”

“Join the excitement of our LIVE podcast taping in St. Louis on October 10. I’ll be recording a live podcast with special guests Emily Wales, Jason Kander, and Diana Kander. Come join us! https://www.alfranken.com/appearances”

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The Education Wars Coming To Iowa

Posted on September 24, 2024 by Trish Nelson


Upcoming event announcement from Iowa CCI:

All of us – including future generations – benefit from strong public schools because they’ve helped make our country far more equal, educated, and democratic. That was one of my main takeaways from the new book, The Education Wars.

And I am incredibly excited that one of the authors, Jennifer Berkshire, is coming to Iowa in October for a series of conversations on what we can do together to win honest, equitable, and fully-funded public education. Learn more and sign up to join us at one of our stops here!

Public School Strong – Iowa orientation
September 24 @ 6pm:  RSVP here

The Education Wars book talks
October 5 – October 8

Honest, equitable, and fully funded public education does not serve the ruling elite well. Reynolds and her statehouse allies want to remain in power and are using a national playbook to push vouchers, ban books, and gut the AEAs at our expense.

As Jennifer Berkshire and Jack Schneider write, “We have a strong economy, a better society, and a healthier democracy as a result of our free and universal approach to K-12 education.” That’s why we reject Reynolds’ vision for our public education, and we’re going to do something about it.

I hope you’ll join us and author Jennifer Berkshire in Ankeny, Des Moines, Tama, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, or Iowa Falls. Learn more and RSVP here.

For strong public schools!

Tim Glaza
Special Projects Director

P.S. – books will be available for purchase at each stop, and Jennifer will stick around for book signings and conversation after the meetings

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Iowa’s State Capitol Is Not A Church

Posted on September 23, 2024 by Trish Nelson

Dual readings in Tama County remind us: Iowa’s state capitol is not a church

Dave Leshtz is the editor of The Prairie Progressive.

The mind is its own place, and in itself

Can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.

           –John Milton, Paradise Lost

It was a beautiful day for a drive, with big clouds billowing in a vast Iowa sky. My destination was the town of Toledo, where an “Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon” was taking place on September 16.

Iowa’s past two governors have signed annual proclamations encouraging Iowans to read the entire Bible at the state capitol building and at all of Iowa’s county courthouses.

When I arrived at the Tama County Courthouse, a balding man in overalls and a white t-shirt stood at a podium in the center of a large concrete platform about five feet off the ground. He was reading from a bible: “God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved.”

But the man in overalls was not the only one reading.

Only a few feet from the platform was a stand of fir trees. Behind the trees was a tall concrete monument with the letters GETTYSBURG chiseled near the bottom. Nestled between the trees and the monument was a large table with a microphone and two speakers. The table was draped with a large black sign with white letters: The Satanic Temple of Iowa.

Behind the table sat a bearded man who was reading from Paradise Lost, John Milton’s epic poem from the 17th century: “Better to reign in Hell, than to serve in Heaven.”

How did these side-by-side readings come to pass in a town of 2,388 people?

****

The Satanic Temple of Iowa gained statewide notoriety last December, when a defeated legislative candidate from Mississippi traveled to Des Moines and vandalized the temple’s display at the state capitol. The display featured a statue of Baphomet, a pagan deity popularized by British writer Aleister Crowley (you can see Crowley’s picture on the album cover of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band).

The statue of Baphomet, damaged beyond repair by the Mississippi loser, had been permitted in the Capitol rotunda as part of an annual holiday display. The perpetrator of the damage was immediately charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. Soon after, the Polk County Attorney’s Office raised the charge to felony third-degree criminal mischief – and a hate crime. (Prior to trial, the vandal pled guilty to reduced charges and received a deferred judgment with two years’ probation.)

This alleged hate crime didn’t prevent The Satanic Temple from marching in Pride parades over the summer, sponsoring a book club, and planning a two-day public reading of Paradise Lost, an epic poem that the temple considers foundational to a contemporary understanding of Satan. Milton’s blank verse masterpiece, according to The Satanic Temple’s Facebook page, has been “pivotal in imbuing the figure of Satan with enlightenment-era values in Romantic literature, the religion of Satanism, and popular culture.”

The marathon reading was planned for the state capitol rotunda in Des Moines, but a strange coincidence occurred. The same day the temple’s event appeared on the Capitol Building Complex’s calendar, Iowa’s Department of Administrative Services changed its policy on multi-day events, no longer allowing them on the Capitol grounds.

And that’s why two marathon readings took place on this fall day in Iowa. The Satanic Temple of Iowa had followed the lead of the Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon and scheduled its reading of Paradise Lost on the grounds of the Tama County Courthouse.

****

Milling near The Satanic Temple’s table were four temple members dressed in black. As I approached, one smiled at me and asked, “Would you like a slice of pizza? We’re on our lunch break.” That’s how I met Adramelech, a thirty-ish man with a goatee and sideburns. (Adramelech, roughly translated as “magnificent king,” appears in the Hebrew bible as well as in Assyrian demonology.)

Adramelech and his colleagues, they told me, are all Iowans. One of the women is from Waterloo; her brother-in-law taught in the Tama school district. Adramelech’s grandfather worked at the nearby Meskwaki Casino. The group started The Satanic Temple of Iowa five years ago.

Adramelech and the other church members laughed often as we talked, occasionally exclaiming “Hail, Satan!” in response to something from Paradise Lost being read aloud at their table. They turned serious when explaining why their multi-day reading was at the Tama County Courthouse rather than at the state capitol in Des Moines, as originally planned.

They were concerned that the state’s abrupt policy change also affects a three-day resource fair for homeless veterans held annually on the Capitol grounds. As the dual readings continued, I walked into the courthouse and said hello to some administrative staff members in their offices. “Thank you for hosting these events,” I said to a clerk at her desk.

She responded in a friendly but firm tone, “We are not hosting anything. The Board of Supervisors had it on the agenda. We have nothing to do with what goes on out there.”

The Satanic Temple received no pushback from the supervisors after its reading was approved for the courthouse lawn. Some county residents later questioned the decision, but all was peaceful during the side-by-side events.

The Satanic Temple is waiting to see whether Governor Kim Reynolds makes an exception for the veterans’ event or for the Iowa Congressional Prayer Caucus, which still has events listed on the Capitol Building Complex’s Calendar.

The governor’s proclamation suggests state favoritism toward Christianity, one of many religions practiced by Iowans. It is the kind of proclamation usually issued by the leaders of theocracies.

Anyone who feels strongly about the separation of church should remind Reynolds that neither the state of Iowa nor the United States has an official religion, that all religions are equally welcome, and that the state capitol building is not a church.

This article first appeared at bleedingheartland

BH editor’s note: You can listen here to a short recording of these dual readings in Toledo on September 16. Michael D. Davis also covered the Satanic Temple and Bible reading events for the Marshalltown Times-Republican.

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Pro Tips With Tim Walz

Posted on September 22, 2024 by Dave Bradley

3 minutes. Tim Walz with some repair tips and more:

 

 

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Sunday Funday: It Is Finally Fall Edition

Posted on September 22, 2024 by Dave Bradley

1 minute:

Been hot hasn’t it? Summer now comes early, often in March now and stays usually through September these days. As it cools down Americans will be focusing on perhaps their most important election ever. Not only is it important at the presidential level but also every single down ballot race is really important.

In the presidential contest we have a broken down old man obviously in the early throes of dementia against a much younger, vibrant, incredibly intelligent candidate. I can’t believe this contest is even-steven these days. Your vote never counted more.

In the down ballot, Iowa has seen what one party rule can bring and it is bad. We are losing our public schools, abortion is for all practical purposes outlawed and the quality of life in Iowa is sinking like a rock daily. Iowa’s youngsters are abandoning ship like mad. If you want more of this, keep voting MAGA.

Here we go:

A) At an event in Washington, DC, DonOLD Trump said what group (that he was speaking to) would have a lot to do with his loss if he loses this year?

B) Speaking to the Sunday morning talk shows last Sunday morning who said he would “make up stories to highlight how tough it is for Americans today”?

C) In a survey of the world’s richest nations, which country came in dead last for health care outcomes?

D) Rich Lowry got his 15 minutes of fame last week by doing what?

E) There was good news for the Biden-Harris administration as the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by how much?

F) Israel pulled off an incredible terror attack on Hezbollah last week in which Hezbollah’s what were blown up?

G) Candidate Trump is planning a trip to what small city he and his VP candidate partner have maligned in made up stories?

H) In baseball this week, what superstar Los Angeles Dodger set an incredible record y passing 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases in a season?

I) In Portage county, Ohio the sheriff had residents gather what information that he planned to use later?

J) Tongues are wagging wondering if Candidate Trump is taking application for wife #4 from whom?

K) Voters in North Carolina got an in depth look at MAGA gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson the indicated he was really into what entertainment?

L) What DonOLD Trump supporter posted on X last week “And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala”?

M) The Indiana Fever made it into the WNBA. Who will they meet in the first round of the playoffs?

N) It is Hispanic American Heritage month in the US! What large South American nation is NOT considered Hispanic?

O) What rapper is on suicide watch in NYC after his arrest on sex trafficking charges earlier in the week?

P) Check that map! What state put razor wire on their border with what other state this week?

Q) How many countries 21have Spanish as their official language?

R) Canadians are laughing at a comment by what US politician that he would make Canada “turn on their faucets” to send water to drought stricken California?

S) What superstar entertainer hosted a town hall Thursday night featuring Kamala Harris?

T) Today is the Autumnal Equinox. What does equinox mean?

If you didn’t learn your lesson from Trump stock, Trump casinos, Trump steaks, Trump vodka, Trump shoes, and Trump bucks, there is still time to buy Trump crypto. – Rick Lenzie

Answers:

A)  Jews

B) MAGA VP candidate JD Vance

C) The US – despite paying way more for health care than any other nation

D) He said the “N” word on the Megyn Kelly Show (Lowry claims he mispronounced a word)

E) 50 basis points or .5 percent

F) personal communication devices (pagers and walkie talkies) 

G) Springfield, Ohio

H) Shohei Otani

I) Addresses of homes with Harris/ Walz signs in their yards

J) Laura Loomer

K) Pornography and sex outside of marriage

L) Elon Musk – the Secret Service is investigating

M) The Connecticut Sun 

N) Brazil – kind of a technicality – “Hispanic” means Spanish speaking – Brazilians speak Portuguese

O) Sean Combs

P) Texas was trying to run razor wire on its border with Mexico, but put it on their border with New Mexico instead.

Q) 21

R) DonOLD Trump – what the hell is he talking about?

S) Oprah Winfrey

T) equi means “”equal” and not mens “night” – this is the day when day equals night

Stock market up.

Interest rates down.

Inflation down.

Gas prices dropping.

I think it’s safe to say that Biden and Harris have done an excellent job with the economy. – Sarah Ironside

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Advice From Rachel Bitecofer

Posted on September 21, 2024 by Dave Bradley

Ran across a tweet from Rachel Bitecofer. If you are not familiar with her, she is a political scientist who is often on MSNBC with a progressive view of the current political scene. Last week she sent an ominous message:

@RachelBitecofer

We need a plan for when MAGA tries to close down urban polling places with bomb threats on Election Day. 

Note:  in a separate tweet that I can’t find, Bitecofer advised people to vote early to avoid the possibility of your polling place being shut down.

This is a rather shocking statement. One thing almost never think about in this country is violence on Election Day. However as we saw on January 6, 2021 when Trump calls the troops out there are enough crazies to do his bidding. And he will be desperate this year.

Since MAGAs can’t win on issues, one of their fallback positions is to suppress the vote. They have been doing voter suppression forever but have gotten much more open and brutal about it since the advent of Trump. The reason the country is teetering on the abyss of shutdown is because MAGAs want to pass a law that would greatly suppress the votes of women.

Using a requirement that voters prove their citizenship by producing their actual birth certificate. If the current name does not match the name on the birth certificate the voter must prove that they are the person on the birth certificate. 

Since most women change their name upon getting married and there is often no “official” document for that, the mismatch between the birth certificate and the current name would disqualify a voter. As I noted this would most frequently be a woman.

Many lessons to take from the admonition above.

First we all need to be very aware that voting may be disrupted in your normal polling location. You have an alternative which is to vote early. 

However, since much of the early voting is done by mail, the Trump administration had the foresight to break the US mail system. Right now we are hearing many stories of mail taking weeks to go across town. If you vote early you may want to hand deliver or find some other method to have your absentee ballot returned to the auditor’s office.

Many years ago the parties could authorize people who could get completed ballots from invalid voters and turn them in to the auditor. Now that person must be a “close” relative. Not sure what close means, but if you decide to have someone turn it in for you, check with the auditor if that person is close enough of a relative.

As Bitecofer says, it would be a good idea to vote early this year, yet using the mail system may not be reliable enough. Therefore I would recommend going to the auditor’s office and vote there. And do it early enough such that if a problem is discovered, there is adequate time to correct it and still get that vote in.

If you can, plan to vote with a neighbor, friend or relative so you can have another set of eyes and ears if there is a problem. It never hurts to have a backup. Wives and husbands are good voting partners.

If you do end up voting on Election Day, try to get there early so if there is a problem there is still time to resolve the issue so you can vote.

The most important point this year is to vote for Democrats. We all need to vote for people who will strengthen our democracy. MAGAs are those who are enacting voter suppression laws and trying to take away citizens rights to vote. This is a huge detriment to democracy.

One other point. Remember that the MAGA presidential candidate is running to keep himself out of jail. I don’t know about you, but my moral compass tells me not to vote for convicted felons. 

At levels below the presidency my vote will be going for those who will keep the democratic system intact. I will not vote for this who put party first. Short form: vote for Democrats to maintain democracy!

Prediction:    Donald Trump will try to instigate riots in key cities on Election Day to keep Democrats from getting to the polls. – Mark Romano

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Great Financial News Thursday, But…..

Posted on September 21, 2024 by Dave Bradley

1 minute:

Wednesday was for many a commencement of sorts for millions upon millions of Americans. It was the day that the finances in the US began their slow return to a more ‘normal’ economy and began to shake off the burdens imposed by high interest rates imposed by the Federal Reserve in their quest to tame inflation.

The lowering of interest rates was the vindication of the very sound policies employed by the Biden-Harris administration to pump money into the economy “from bottom up and the middle out.” These policies are in truth a reapplication of Keynesian Economics that served the country so well to beat the Republican depression of the 1930s. They also served to give the US such a dynamic economy until the trickle-down economics of Ronald Reagan.

Trickle-down started showing big cracks in the George W. Bush days leading to an almost massive depression. Obama was able to save the economy and patch some cracks, but the foundation continued to erode as money flowed from the poor to the extremely wealthy. President Biden’s return of rebuilding the middle class and unions is working to fortify the foundation. So much so that even Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell noted that the economy is solid and employment is looking good.

With such a rosy outlook, is there anything to be wary of? As in so many issues, the who and how of running the economy is of huge concern this November. Make no doubt that VP Harris will most likely continue the prudent economic policies of her predecessor, President Biden. If she is given a Democratic House and Senate, we can hopefully have a government that functions and can rise to the challenge in the time of need.

Trump, on the other hand, especially if he is given a MAGA congress, will be pushing for economic policies that favor him and his backers. Given that less than a handful of MAGA congress critters have had any spine at all to stand up to Trump’s crazy bleatings on anything, we sure could not expect any one of them to do anything but sit on their haunches as Trump and company destroy the economy.

While media continues to focus on the horse race and the culture wars used to distract media and voters, the MAGAs have been working behind the scenes to secure immunity for a potential Trump presidency. What could Trump do with that immunity?

Beside covering the corruption that pervaded his previous administration which saw son-in-law Jared Kurshner walk out the door with $2 billion and Trump himself get $10 million from the Egyptians, I think we will witness Trump doing some phenomenal financial stunts designed to profit only one man, DonOLD Trump.

As the media droned on and on about as supposed assassination attempt gone awry, the Trump men – DonOLD, Junior, Eric and Barron – quietly announced on X that they were jumping into the world of cryptocurrency. Considering that family’s propensity to stretch the law to its breaking point and cryptocurrency’s use to avoid money laundering and tax laws this could be their hugest scam ever.

And think how much huger it could be with the power of the presidency, the protection of immunity, a totally spineless and corrupt MAGA congress, and an extreme right wing, very corrupt SCOTUS to give approval to any laws passed by said congress or issued through executive order. Throw in that Trump recently stated that the President should have some control over the Federal reserve policy just to add to the conglomeration of power. The mind just boggles.

So not only would Trump first return to the trickle-down model with big tax cuts for the wealthy, he will then pivot to what? Manipulating the currency of the US to include cryptocurrency in which he will have a major stake. I am telling you, folks, this could be by far the biggest crime ever conceived. 

It wasn’t done overnight, it took a lot of people to sell their souls, but if they can do it, it will end the US. 

I am sure many are skeptical, so here is the background story. This story gives us the background of Trump’s sordid past, crypto’s sordid present which leads to some speculation as to how this could come together.  

From Michael Hiltzik of the Los Angeles Times:

These questions all but ask themselves, however. Through this venture, Trump is setting himself up as an adversary of a banking and financial system that he would oversee as president, and as an advocate of an alternative financial system that has been the target of investigations and regulatory concerns raised by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of the Treasury and other federal financial regulators. {my bolding – ed.}

Let’s not forget that Trump formerly condemned cryptocurrencies as a “scam” and “potentially a disaster waiting to happen.” By July, he had changed his tune. “Bitcoin is not just a marvel of technology,” he said in a keynote speech delivered at a major bitcoin conference. “It’s a miracle of cooperation and human achievement and a lot of relationships that are formed.”

Trump plainly smells money in this newfangled scheme. According to the white paper viewed by Coinbase, 70% of the crypto tokens to be marketed by World Liberty Financial — those carrying governance control over the project — will be reserved for founders and insiders such as himself. That’s an exceptionally high number, judging from other crypto ventures.

So what is World Liberty Financial but another Trump-branded get-rich-quick opportunity for himself? We all know how those others turned out. Why would this one end up any better?

Posted in #nevertrump, #trumpresistance, 2024 election, Biden-Harris, Economy | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Great Financial News Thursday, But…..

Leaving CAFOs Behind

Posted on September 20, 2024 by Trish Nelson

** JFAN ANNUAL MEETING **

Is it possible to transform a factory farm into a sustainable farming operation? YES! Find out how these two farming families did that in two very different ways!

LEAVING CAFOS BEHIND
Diverse Opportunities for Independent Family Farmers

WEDNESDAY, October 2 at 7 pm Via Zoom*

REGISTER HERE

TIM, DELEANA AND CURT ROSELAND Niman Ranch Hog Farmers

TIM, DELEANA AND CURT ROSELAND
Niman Ranch Hog Farmers

TANNER FAABORG
1100 Farm – Specialty Mushrooms

What does it take for a CAFO operator to transform a farm into an independent, sustainable farming operation? Two different farming families will share their different journeys in how they accomplished this at the upcoming JFAN Annual Meeting.

TIM, DELEANA, AND CURT ROSELAND
Niman Ranch Hog Farmers

Why they first raised hogs in confinement
What precipitated the Roseland’s decision to switch to hoop house operations and what it took to do that
Benefits the Roselands and community experienced from their transition
The experience of their Army veteran son, Curt, joining the family farm
Why Curt encourages other young farmers to raise hogs independently and traditionally

TANNER FAABORG
1100 Farm Growing Specialty Mushrooms

What it was like running a CAFO as a contract grower for Iowa Select
Why the family decided to stop operating their CAFO
How Tanner inspired his family to grow specialty mushrooms and, in the process, begin rewilding the farm
How he convinced his brother, a lifelong Iowa Select employee, to join him in the business
Tanner’s vision for 1100 Farm to be a demonstration hub for agricultural diversification

PLUS:

Alicia LaPorte, Niman Ranch Executive Director, with findings of a 2019 Iowa State University report on how much Niman Ranch’s independent livestock producers contribute to Iowa’s economy.

Kara Shannon, Director of Farm Animal Welfare Policy at the ASPCA, with a brief overview and status report of the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act being negotiated in the Farm Bill that could hurt farmers like the Roselands.

An audience Question and Answer session will follow the presentations.

The JFAN Annual Meeting is free and will be held via Zoom. Registration is required and you can do that here.

Click here for more information on the meeting and speakers.

A Very Big THANK YOU to All Our Corporate Sponsors!

Aeron Lifestyle Technology, Inc.
American Choice Water
Bob Ferguson Wellness
Centered Wealth
Everybody’s Whole Foods
Frontline Print and Web
Green Building Supply
Green Gourmet
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
Poweshiek CARES
Radiance Dairy
Radiant Health Imaging
Soil Technologies Corp.
Southeast Iowa Sierra Club
The Organic and Non-GMO Report
Vastu Partners

 

Posted in Blog for Iowa | Tagged , | Comments Off on Leaving CAFOs Behind