Here are some excerpts from a few webpages about the 2012 Farm Bill. Up for renewal in 2012, as is done every 5 years. But this year, it’s different. This year, there is a threat to the sanctity of our democratic way of life. What do you think?
“Why you should care about the farm bill
The farm bill matters to you if you care what you and your kids eat, how government policies affect the cost and availability of healthy, chemical-free food and how clean your drinking water is.
Its three most important sections deal with (or possibly won’t deal with):
- Support programs for farmers who grow grains.
- Provide money and technical help to farmers to protect soil, water and wildlife.
- Fund the all-important nutrition and feeding programs for low-income Americans, especially women, children and infants.
It’s a huge piece of legislation that drives federal spending and policies on agriculture, nutrition and conservation programs, and it’s usually debated and passed every five years. It was due to come up for renewal in 2012, but industrial agriculture interests and their powerful allies in Congress are trying to circumvent open debate and get the bill they want passed as part of the “Super Committee” plan for cutting the federal deficit.”
Secret Farm Bill | Environmental Working Group
“If we don’t act now, Big Agribusiness and their powerful Congressional allies could take action that would favor commodity-based processed food at the expense of healthy, organic food. They’re trying to write the next farm bill and plan to slip it into law through the top-secret Super Committee process without justification, open debate or a single vote.
Not only are they shutting out food experts, health advocates, taxpayers and the rest of us from the discussion, but Big Ag’s lobbyists also want to create a new handout that would guarantee income to the biggest farmers – despite their current record profits. Congress should be helping people in need, not shoveling money to mega farms.”
http://action.ewg.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1952&tag=SecretFarmActionLandingPage
Personally, I think this is a gross abuse of the democratic system. Regardless of whether I agree with the language in the bill, the fact that it is being pushed through without the standard democratic process of review, debate or vote is alarming, disturbing- wrong!
Do you agree or disagree? Do you think this is important? What are your feelings about Food?