New Agriculture Secretary a Trick up Obama’s Sleeve?

Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Obama wanted to tackle wasteful crop subsidies, so he selected Iowa governor Tom Vilsack? Tom Vilsack is a representative from one of the most heavily subsidized states in the Union, and he wholeheartedly endorses the failed corn ethanol project. Is he just going to give up on corn and other crop subsides just like that? 

It sounds bonkers, but Obama may be on to something here. To attack subsidies, he has to get the urban and the rural, the Nebraskans and the Floridians to all to agree that subsidies hurt the global agriculture system. Knowing that Obama set out to decrease subsidy spending, appointing Gov. Tom Vilsack will definitely grab the attention of Iowans and the like.  To hold that attention and still progress toward this goal will be more of a feat.

Vilsack does believe that the energy crisis and agriculture practices go hand in hand.  In an essay he wrote in October, argues for the next Industrial Revolution to happen on the farms of America (link).  Obama can convince him that the renewable energy from farms should be from wind power and ethanol made from non-edible sources instead of corn.  And, with Representative Henry Waxman (D-Calif) as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee instead of the stodgy, industry-friendly Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich) congress can actually move toward real progressive environmental policy change. 

Vilsack! Congress!  Senate!  By their powers combined, Obama will be our hero!  He’s going to take pollution down to zero!   

captain-planet

Both Vilsack and Obama will have to move swiftly, offering both real action and sound reasoning for the public to digest. Swift action is of utmost importance–big agribusinesses will set their lobbyists and lawyers on Washington with such speed that it will make the blogosphere’s heads spin.

Still, even hundreds of agribusinesses could be defeated with help from a deluge of emails and concerned memos from the everyday constituent. Email your congress-person today to stifle big agribusiness subsidies!

Go planet!

December 18, 2008  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: Politics

One Response

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