| Pres. Candidates: Which is Outstanding in His Field? |
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| Written by Kiki Hubbard | |
| Tuesday, 14 October 2008 | |
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Like many past presidential candidates, Senators McCain and Obama haven't brought farm policies into the limelight of debates. (Energy has been a focus, we know, but the issue has only touched on the role of agriculture.) Yet food prices, energy and credit are all issues intricately tied to rural America. Important questions remain: Food prices are climbing yet many farmers still struggle to make a profit, why? (Because agribusinesses are taking a bigger piece of the pie through inflated fertilizer, chemical, and seed prices.) The collapse of the credit industry is central to many farmers' viability. A majority of farmers depend on credit each year just to keep their operation running. Who's talking about the Grain Row in addition to Main Street? While both candidates tout biofuels as a major solution to our agricultural and energy woes, there are some stark differences in where McCain and Obama stand in American fields. McCain's policy focuses on biofuels as part of an energy security plan. It supports increased agricultural exports by promoting free trade agreements. And it zeroes in on securing our borders through an employment system to track migrant workers. McCain is against ethanol in fuel and voted against the Farm Bill. Read more about McCain's rural policies. As for Obama, he also supports biofuels and acknowledges that oil is, well, far from renewable. He calls for strict regulation of CAFOs and encourages local and organic agricultural production. Furthermore, he's committed to providing incentives for new, young farmers and economic opportunity for family farms. And he vows to challenge anticompetitive behavior in agricultural marketplaces, such as supporting the packer ban. Read more about Obama's rural policies. Rural communities, food, and energy are what keeps our American culture and economies ticking. A president who's a friend of the farmer is a friend to us all. Source: Common Dreams
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It's true what our moms said...we are what we eat. In fact, it's truer than they thought. What I eat doesn't just affect me anymore, it affects all of us.
Unfortunately, the story of food can sometimes be complicated. But envirovores help each other out...which is why this blog will be bringing you news, tips, and information about food and the environment every step of the way.
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