Eutrapelian LandMinds
Warren Wind Farm: The Fix Is In
In his book, The Careless Society, John McKnight has written that "revolutions begin when people who are defined as a problem achieve the power to define the problem." When the Warren School Board voted to abate three years' worth of taxes to assure the construction of a huge wind farm, the residents of Warren were in effect defined as a problem. This sad fact was established by the Board when it opted to only allow public comment rather than public debate. Then and there, it became clear that the (quick) fix was in, and the time for any questioning, let alone organized opposition, had long passed. The outside pressure to vote for the abatement proved too strong, and the perks--including some possible conflicts of interest involving Board members--too enticing to beg abstention. And just like that, the future of the Warren School District was put in jeopardy, along with that of the town, for the sake of becoming de facto guinea pigs for an economic and social health experiment. With public leadership like this, it may well be time for the people of Warren to consult Webster's and then break out the pitchforks.
(Published in The Flash, 6/2009)
Nothing Conservative About It
Leave it to a Republican to hasten the the demise of conservatism in our county....
Joel Salatin, a self-described "dirt farmer" and a man of many admirable qualities in addition to that one, has noted that "[o]ne of the greatest assets of a farm is the sheer ecstacy of life." Contrast that feeling with the comments of Jim Sacia, one of the many "hollow men" (and women) who seem to believe that genuflection at the altar of the marketplace is all that is needed to rationalize and eventually justify any agricultural policy peddled by the likes of the Farm Bureau. Thus, ten large factory farms preferable to a hundred family farms. Neglected by these same champions of the "free market" is any mention of the benefits current farm policy has for "big government": ten large factory farms are a good deal easier to regulate (and potentially fine or penalize) than a hundred family farms. Moreover, any fine, say, for a manure violation is a petty annoyance for the operator of a ten-thousand head dairy; for a small, family-run operation, it can bring on its demise.
There is nothing conservative about hastening the demise of family farms. There is nothing conservative about the embracing of efficiency to the detriment of a cultural institution that has kept the worst tendencies of the market and the state in check. There is nothing conservative about a Republican Party that offers the likes of Sacia, Bivens and Manzullo as its representatives to the people. Better to fight for an end to the timocracy, and trust not in its princes.
Letter Distributed to Supporters of the Mega-Dairy
I am writing to thank you for your continuing support of farming in Jo Daviess County. By backing the Bos Dairy proposed for Nora Township, you signal a desire and willingness to prostrate yourself before the powerful forces that currently guide and dominate American agriculture. Clearly, you recognize and understand the relationship government and business must maintain for both sides to profit. Large dairy operations are simply easier to monitor and regulate because they are fewer in number. The fewer dairies that regulating agencies have to bother with, the fewer the number of agents that will be needed to bother with them. Government overhead is reduced, and the visits to farm operations are minimized and their management is thus easier to surveil. Fewer surprises at local facilities will aid in keeping fines for manure, chemical and employment violations to a minimum.
What is currently needed, however, is a data base that would input any and all information related to regulatory violations by smaller farm operations. Once compiled, arguably industrial agriculture's least-valued members of its community, could then come under the same scrutiny as larger ones. Willing partners could also then be enticed to provide tips to a violation hotline, anonymously reporting any and all incidents of concern, with the end game being market consolidation and the centralization of power.
Any further discussion and/or inquiries should be brought to the attention of Mr. Saul Versaille c/o ART.neg.INK
