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They only have to buy you once
Editor's note: Ken Root wrote this article in October 2006. It is remarkable that the issues are still the same. President Bush vetoed the WRDA bill last week. The 2007 farm bill is under attack by the Bush administration with the threat of a veto if it does not cut spending. The Acting Secretary of Agriculture, a career Senate Agriculture Committee staffer, is now crusading against the type of legislation he crafted for the past 30 years. By Ken Root The elections of 2006 are a month away and Republicans are getting a little skittish, as a 12-year run seems to be fizzling out. The revolution of 1994 probably won't happen in reverse, but the Republican majority, in one or both houses, may disappear. This makes the rural faithful want to know what incentives they are going to get to help "save" their incumbents from loss and domination. Rural America, and agricultural interests in particular, has voted strongly Republican over the past 12 years. The resulting dominance of more conservative politics, over the landmass of America, has caused the comparison of "red" versus "blue" states to show how much of the country is of a Republican persuasion. All good things, however, must come to an end. There is an old Will Rogers' saying that may sum it all up: "There's no one more honest than a Democrat who's not in office." Translation: "Power brings abuse." Slowly but surely, the pure have become corrupted or decided to cash in on their station in life. The result is causing Americans to see that there are honest challengers competing with corrupt politicians. It is really the beauty of our system that we do "throw the bums out," but only on our own timeline--nothing that can be predicted by political activists, only feared by incumbents. Now we come to the constituents who have moved sharply to either side, in this case agriculture, which has been in the conservative camp. The rewards of the early years in farm program payments and disaster programs were "comforting" and "expected," but the years are taking their toll on the Republican pocketbook, which is pretty much flat in this time of war and recovery from natural disaster. Agriculture is coming out on the short-end of literally every program that requires spending. Cases in point: Water Resources Development Act, or WRDA, that is vital to keep economic advantage by expanding locks on upper Midwest rivers; disaster aid to farmers hit by drought and other natural disasters in 2006; farm bill 2007. All three of these sinkholes for federal dollars are being denied, due to competing uses by Congress and the administration, in areas that might get them new voters or satisfy a larger constituency. The fact is that money is tight and spreading it has become a fine art in order to cover all promises made by this administration. Everyone is opposed to paying more taxes, but everyone is in favor of more benefits. The subsidization of Americans has been a sure way to get their votes, but the days of reckoning will come in November of 2006 and 2008. Farmers argue they are more valuable than other industries or social programs, although it's sometimes hard to determine which category defines agriculture. Defense contractors argue for the fighting men and women who need the best America can send them, especially if it's American made. Everyone puts themselves at the top of the list; but for a political party under siege, they have to look at it with electoral callousness. Senator Charles Grassley, in a conference call to agricultural reporters, was asked if any disaster assistance was going to be available for the Northern Plains. He said: "If you are talking about North Dakota and South Dakota, those incumbent seats are not in jeopardy; so there won't be any disaster money unless we can get some after the election." So, farmers, get ready for the harsh reality of partisan politics: You were bought and paid for and now you have no choice but to stay bought. Editor's note: Ken Root is now celebrating his 34th year as an agricultural professional. His career began as a vocational agriculture teacher then turned to agricultural broadcasting and writing as well as environmental consulting and association management. He was the original host of AgriTalk (1994-2001) and now is lead farm broadcaster for WHO Radio in Des Moines, Iowa. Date: 11/8/07
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