Cooking Up A Story: Food News—The Farm Bill-Part 1

[785070707]

we really need to revolt against this bull shit government. they have their hands in every aspect of our lives. were living in Communist, china now., stop giving these bastards your money, throw them all in prison. Start a whole new government.

[FireweedFarm]

Here AND in his book he confuses us. Yes, low priced corn, soybeans, etc. is a problem. No the New Deal Programs did not cause it, their elimination caused it, as history shows. Early farm bills/lprogs had no corn/bean commodity subsidies. Fair, optimum prices are needed (not minimum/maximum volatility). Price floors and supply management were good for US and LDC farmers/economies/hunger (with reserves, ceilings). nffc.net is US leader, not Imhoff. Cf. Google "Farm Bill Primer" "zspace"

[kingobnoxious]

Senate Passes $286 Billion Farm Bill, Expanding Subsidies for Growers.

Ron Paul on farm Subsidies: on ABC he stated that he has never voted for them and is against them. Google search the issue. Theres a ABC video with RP on this issue but I don't know how to add it, sorry.

[CouldNotCareLes]

@kingobnoxious - 2/3 of the funding in the bill is for food stamps and other supplemental food programs, supposedly to create a market for ag products. The trouble is that food in the grocery store is only 2% ag product. The other 98% is 'value added' processing, packaging, and marketing.

The cartoon characters on the box make more money off of food stamps than the farmers who grew the food.

Les

[aContribution]

So why are we subsidizing obesity? Americans are paying taxes which promote unhealthy ways and paying for healthcare to attempt take care of some of the symptoms resulting from eating this "food".

[cookingupastory]

You could let your congressperson know. healthyfarmbill[dot]org has a form ready to send, or you could write your own. Let them know it's time for a change.

[communitywork]

Call the Capitol switchboard 202-224-3121 urge your Senators to support important provisions of Food&Energy Security Act (HR 2419/S.2302) especially the safebox, with no waivers, which sets aside $600 million of PL 480 Title II resources for development programs

[communitywork]

Vote YES on the Dorgan-Grassley amendment, which ensures support for U.S. farmers who need it most. Today 66 percent of commodity payment programs go to 10 percent of our nation's farmers, the biggest and most affluent. Urge the Senate to pass a fair commodity title that better targets payments to those who need them while closing loopholes that have permitted the powerful to collect multiple payments.

[communitywork]

The U.S. Bishops have stated that "the primary goals of agricultural policies should be providing food for all people and reducing poverty among farmers and farmworkers in this country and abroad." (For I Was Hungry and You Gave Me Food: Catholic Reflections on Food, Farmers and Farmworkers).

[communitywork]

Support the Food Aid provisions of the Food and Energy Security Act (HR 2419), the Farm Bill version passed by Senate Agriculture Com last week. Support the committee bill which provides for a "safebox" with no waivers, & sets aside $600 million of PL 480 Title II resources for development programs. Protect Title II resources that address chronic hunger, in order to mitigate future emergencies and to help the poorest reach long term food security

[kentuckyann]

Does anyone have any opinions on what about the Food Bill needs to be changed? (aside from rethinking subsidies, which seems the most obvious)

[aContribution]

Yes--the subsidies must go. The use of corn for ethanol places more pressure on keeping those subsidies. We should be supporting SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, EFFICIENT alternative fuels. Ethanol corn, at this point is NOT any of these things.

Promote (vs. subsidize) ORGANIC vegetable and fruit production and access.

Promote conservation of land.

[buddhish]

Really important information, so glad this is on youtube, but he's not a very good speaker. Totally droning, doesn't make it interesting. He needs to follow Van Jones around for a while to learn some tricks to speaking better.

[Earthlinked]

The bottom line is PROFIT -- not health. ADM would MUCH rather make $1billion in profit and produce shit -- than make $950million and produce healthy foods!!

[dangerine]

This is a great video, a breakdown of poor choices by those who represent us, which promotes poor choices made by Americans regarding the "foods" we're buying. Corn goes to High Fructose Corn Syrup and animal feed, making high sat fat meats/dairy as well as soda/junk food cheap as compared to fruits & vegetables, and whole grains. No more corn subsidies!

We need ORGANIC Produce subsidized for the health of our land and of our people. (corn-->ethanol is really inefficient btw)

[eltearpdx]

So how come we are not hearing about this in papers and on tv news? Seems to me that farm bill could help change things around for a healthier america.

[anontreysta]

The BBC did some stuff on it.