Vilsack and Obama: Farmer in Chief my Ass!
Sharon December 17th, 2008
So Tom Vilsack is going to be Secretary of Agriculture, hmmm… Let’s see, rabid ethanol proponent…check! Enthusiastic supporter of GMOs and biotechnologies…check! Totally indebted to and under the thumb of agribusiness…check! Yup, it seems clear that Obama really took Michael Pollan’s “Farmer in Chief” piece to heart ;-P. Short of actually appointing, say, Monsanto’s chairman, it is hard to imagine a choice less likely to make real shifts in our food system.
But of course, as Rod Dreher points out (quite correctly) and as Carolyn Baker points out (equally correctly), so far there’s very little from the Obama administration that should make us feel secure that what’s coming is going to shift the status quo. Ultimately, Hillary, Geithner and the rest of the crew mostly can be described as people who did things not as badly as George W. Bush and his primary appointees – but that’s hardly saying anything of note.
I was in college when Bill Clinton was elected president, and I was almost alone in my social circle in refusing to volunteer for him – I’d supported a more leftist candidate in the primaries, and despite my acute desire to believe that Clinton would offer some kind of radical change, I couldn’t quite shake the reality of his positions out of my thinking. The same is true of Obama, who, for example, wrote of dealing with the mortgage crisis in terms of the moral hazard of bailing out homeowners – but appears to have few qualms about bailing out banks.
I had precisely the same feeling during this campaign – I preferred Obama quite dramatically to Hillary Clinton, and there were genuinely moments of hopefulness in his campaign. But I kept thinking, riffing on the late, great Molly Ivins, that you have to dance with them that brung you. That is, Obama couldn’t possibly come to power without indebting himself to people who are more invested in the status quo than in improving lives.
In order to be the president many of us hoped Obama would be, he would have to be willing to betray many of the people who brought him, and their hopes and investments in his future. This is no easy feat for anyone, and is probably less so for someone who came so far, so fast, with the hand of so many. It isn’t impossible – other presidents have done it. The man isn’t even president yet.
But presidents are known by the company they keep – the reality is that no man can supervise all the elements of the nation alone – they depend enormously on those people that Obama is appointing right now. He will not be out in the fields, or at the soup kitchens – he will rely on reports and summaries from those he appoints. And those summaries will be given by men whose viewpoints are already formed. Vilsack cannot but describe our food system through the lens of his prior investments, and this will be disastrous.
In 2002, the Atlantic ran a story by Mark Bowden called “Tales of the Tyrant” – it described what it was like to be a dictator, and imagined how Saddam Hussein’s situation must lead inevitably to his downfall. The deepest reason, Bowden argued, was that everyone lied to the dictator all the time – they couldn’t do anything else.
I’ve thought of that story a number of times in relationship to various presidencies. It is true that our presidents don’t routinely throw advisors who tell unpleasant truths into jail – but even the best of them are surrounded, not so much by people who lie all the time, but by people who tell their truth as though it were “the” truth. To some degree, of course, this is inevitable – everyone’s worldview is shaped by their experiences. But it is possible to bring in a diversity of viewpoints, to find, in multiple versions of the truth, something closer to reality. Obama has overwhelmingly chosen one, very narrow set of viewpoints – the viewpoints of people who have power now, and to whom he is already indebted for his power.
I don’t claim that there is no hope for Obama, but before he chose these people to surround him, there was hope that an ordinary man of integrity, hearing a range of viewpoints, might choose something different. Now, we have to imagine that Obama is an extraordinary man, one with the power to find unconventional paths to knowledge, and the willingness to override the viewpoints he has invested himself in. It gets harder to hope for change.
Sharon
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I felt, throughout the entire primary and election process, that people were investing Obama with their own hopes and dreams and that the man himself, though clearly intelligent, was only a man who is beholden (as you have pointed out) to powerful corporate interests. This has been aptly demonstrated by his cabinet choices thus far and his most recent one does nothing to dispel this notion.
Unfortunately, I think we’re on our own, here.
Arthur
Sadly, I agree with Arthur. There has been an inordinate projection of dearly held hopes onto the person of Obama. I agree that we’re on our own here. As hindsight develops, I suppose I am glad that I didn’t hold my nose and vote for our president elect. I couldn’t bring myself to do it, though I confess to getting swept up in the optimism at his election.
I cannot describe how deeply this appointment sickens me. How I wish we could have a president who would serve us up anything but “more of the same.” It looks less and less as if Obama is a thoughtful, intelligent and principled man, and more like he’s sold his soul to the devil, along with just about every other politician out there.
Yup- I supported him as he is clearly intelligent, articulate and seemed to have a clue- but he is appointing the same old same old. When you do what you’ve always done, you get get you’ve always gotten as the saying goes….. We are clearly on our own here people……..
ah- messed that one- up – should read “you get what you’ve always gotten”
gotta remember to proofread……
“Farmer in Chief, my ass!” is exactly right! Thank you for being bold in your title, and speaking for a lot of us. I happened to title my blog post on this “Oh, Crap!”
I am so pi$$ed, I’m practically speechless. Of all the choices, he makes the WORST possible choice. Short of, as you say, naming Monsanto’s CEO himself.
A lot of my hope has just died. Not that I was really depending on the government to do the necessary work anyway, but you know, it would’ve been nice to have a champion at the top.
Gah!
I know that many well-connected people have been working very hard for weeks to influence his choice in another direction – pretty much ever since Vilsack’s name was floated. Sadly, it seems their efforts were wasted.
Sigh….
Yup, it’s been that way almost across the board so far – Clinton recidivism and neocon holdovers.
Thus we get an economic team comprising “growth” neanderthals, including arch-criminals like Geithner and Summers (and I’m sure Rubin is still lurking).
Thus we get a defense and foreign policy team of Democrat warmongers and Bush holdovers.
He also just nominated a Sec of Education who’s an ardent supporter of NCLB.
And of course every policy suggestion he’s made so far has been for the propagation of the status quo – in economics (back to growth! back to business as usual! prop up the terminally vegetative auto “industry”! and that stimulus? roads, roads, roads!), foreign policy (try to keep imperial expansion going), war (he’s already openly said he intends to take personal possession of Afghanistan and the “war on terror” in general, and perhaps start a new war in Pakistan. We’ll see about Iraq.), health care, civil liberties (already waffling), executive power arrogation (already waffling)….
No wonder the watchword “change” has been replaced by “continuity” and “confidence”.
It’s a confidence game indeed.
Yup, it’s Change It Was Stupid For Cultists To Believe In.
[...] Casaubon’s Book » Blog Archive » Vilsack and Obama: Farmer in Chief my Ass! So Tom Vilsack is going to be Secretary of Agriculture, hmmm… Let’s see, rabid ethanol proponent…check! Enthusiastic supporter of GMOs and biotechnologies…check! Totally indebted to and under the thumb of agribusiness…check! Yup, it seems clear that Obama really took Michael Pollan’s “Farmer in Chief” piece to heart ;-P. Short of actually appointing, say, Monsanto’s chairman, it is hard to imagine a choice less likely to make real shifts in our food system. [...]
I favored McCain in the election. I figured an inept place holder would do less damage than an inexperienced dreamer. And I do remember the hope and disappointment of Obama I, Jimmy Carter.
The Department of Agriculture has a century-long history of promoting corporations involved in agriculture – tractor and equipment makers, chemical companies, seed and processing companies. The focus has alway been to the detriment of the farm family.
In a way, it is too bad that the US government has become so mercenary with food in the world. The Dept of Ag uncourages over production so that the State Dept can destablize, undercut, and indebt other nations, using farm produce. Which means that no Agribusiness or government functionary is going to listen for two minutes, to anything that doesn’t topple Cuba or embarrass Venezuela. It is a matter of national security, after all. It is too bad we can’t use sex-based adertising to defeat enemies. We don’t seem to be running out of that.
At least the Indy Car racing circuit has pledged to run next year’s races using imported Brazilian ethanol. Transporting their fuel from Brazil sure has to be sustainable energy.
Puppet Man — and I figured as much from the beginning — you’re kinder than I am Sharon. With each appointment, all that hope dwindles a bit more. Ani’s right — we’re clearly on our own. IMHO, Kuchinich was the ONLY one who was proposing real change. And that made him so dangerous, he wasn’t even allowed to participate in the major debates.
Molly Ivins didn’t actually say “You dance with them that brung you” — she was quoting some minor Texas politician.
She quoted another one as saying (and I like this much better) “If you can’t take their money, drink their whiskey, screw their women, and vote against ‘em, you don’t belong in politics.”
If only….
We may be presented with few choices on the ballot, but I make sure that I never, ever set aside my critical thinking and natural cynicism when voting for them. I knew that the enthusiasm and near hysteria which people were displaying toward Obama was bound to result in a very big let down. I’ve got news for people: this isn’t as bad as it gets, there will be much worse yet to come. Not that I would have expected anything better out of McCain. The hard, bitter reality is that the US political system is terminally dysfunctional and incapable of selecting truly good people that can lead the country to take the difficult and painful actions that we really have to take.
Seeing the end of the captain that steered the ship of state into the iceburg, our new captain has brought the previous navigators (who plotted the course that brought us into the ice field) back up to the bridge, while reassuring the passengers that “change” is for the best and that all we need is “hope” to save us. Meanwhile, the too few lifeboats are starting to fill up.
Oh, I know…I heard last night that Vilsac was the appointment. It makes me so so sad. I had hoped…..
I heard from the lady we get milk from that this country cannot feed itself if the agribussiness sytem breakdown somehow. Can anyone tell me if this is true?
Oy. And what is truly terrifying is that in two years, people will be so pissed at the mess Obama and his appointees have made of the situation that they will overwhelmingly vote republican, and we will end up with BOTH the worst of corporate handmaidens and religious zealotry with the desire – and ability to impose their version of religion on the rest of us.
Oh happy day.
Well, that is a fairly disappointing pick. I keeping hoping that they are “only Nixon could go to China” picks, but it is getting harder. Though I am content to let the man actually become president and start implementing policy before I call him a failure. Most likely events will catch up to the best laid plans anyway. At worst he seems a better Clinton, which would beat anything we have had in the last 28 years. As far as I can tell the last president who had a clue was Carter, but he apparently lacked the ability to get things done and inspire confidence (this not from personal experience, I was two when Reagan came in). Obama has intelligence and inspirational ability, now we will find out if he has wisdom.
Well- I don’t agree. As I’ve said over on TAE.
I think you are too idealistic- like Ilargi, who still thinks things really SHOULD work in a sensible fashion- all history notwithstanding.
You really CANNOT – move into the presidency- and then announce “ok, we’re gonna change everything!”
Can’t do that. Yes, indeed, you DO have to dance with them as brung you- for a while, at least.
Please, please- remember Gorbachev. He brought an end to the USSR- unforeseen, unbelievably, and pretty nearly alone. Sure- the times were right- but he knew how to work it; and had been preparing for it for decades.
Where did he come from? He was head of the KGB, first. About as nasty an organization as I can think of. But the little rascal- was just playing their game- until he TRULY had his power consolidated. Then- he moved.
Is that what Obama is doing? I don’t know; and he was not head of the CIA, like George the first- so there will be big differences. I DO think his actions so far, including his choices of staff, are consistent with that direction. They are all FAR greener than the previous administration- but they all have one foot in that world- they can still talk to, and deal with, the old power brokers. Who are not gone.
One of the major tactics here is called “giving them enough rope to hang themselves.” Specifically in the economic direction- that’s what it looks like to me. Yep, they’re going to continue to follow useless bank/auto bailouts for a while. I really don’t think the country is ready yet- desperate enough yet- for him to push radical directions (like my favorite- Universal Jubilee). We’re going to have to be MORE broke than we are yet before that sort of thing can fly.
Goldman Sachs just announced a $2.2 Billion quarterly loss- and Morgan Stanley lost $2.3 Billion. They still have that much money to LOSE. They are SO not broke.
Anyway. This can get to be a long and fruitless discussion. Just remember two things- this half-black nobody raised the most money anyone ever has, ran the best campaign anyone has, and won. He’s very smart. Very, very smart. Easily smart enough to NOT say everything he’s thinking. And- Gorbachev. Conform- submerge- consolidate- revolution.
It’s been done- and Obama knows it.
Regarding Vilsack specifically- everything you say is correct- but you left out one thing. He’s on record as being in favor of substantive overhaul of the farm subsidies- specifically, cutting subsidies that are production related, and putting the same money into conservation practices.
He might be able to sell that – a pretty big deal- only BECAUSE he’s an ethanol freak. Ethanol still has too much momentum for real change to happen. Let them go broke for another year, lose their subsidies because nobody can pay them, and they may get more reasonable.
No path forward is going to be ideal, or easy, or fun. And ignoring the powers that be has always been a quick way to meet a brick wall.
So. I still have real hopes. And I’m willing to give Obama a lot more rope yet.
Yeah, it’s getting harder and harder to have hope in anything but our individual selves and communities. Probably it’s an oxymoron to hope and think that something good will come from the Empire. Elected officials, especially presidential candidates, are finely groomed to serve the elites. I hope our local communities won’t mess up as well due to the wicked human tendencies of greed and power, for example.
Oh, and just to be clear — I didn’t vote for either candidate. Couldn’t bring myself to do it. I knew this (the status quo) was going to happen in my gut.
Greenpa makes very valid points. I hope you are right, Greenpa, I’m not willing to give up entirely on Obama.
Peace to all,
shamba
Greenpa,
I hope you’re right. At times, I have thought similarly. I know Castro did not kick United Fruit out of Cuba the day or the week after taking power.
I proudly voted for Obama! Nevertheless, after seeing his appointments I have little hope left. Obama will have to be super human to be able to initiate genuine change that will serve to alleviate the suffering of the vast majority of the US populace in the coming economic and environmental crises. Clearly, the people surrounding Obama will not facilitate the radical changes that are needed. I don’t see any Che Guevara around him.
Vegan- ” I don’t see any Che Guevara around him.” How about Michelle? She is so not a pushover.
Greenpa, I’m inclined to agree with Vegan – again, I don’t claim it is impossible, but it gets harder for Obama to see the situation clearly every time he puts a pair of Big Ag or Hawkish glasses over his eyes. It may be that he eventually intends to kick out all the old powers – but he had some choices here, he could have put fewer of them in power. It is certainly possible that he’s paying debts and giving everyone enough rope to hang themselves – but even if he is, it is a dangerous game – because he has to have some voice in his counsels that can tell him what is real. Maybe Michelle will be that person (although I’ve seen no evidence that food is high on her agenda) – Eleanor played that role for FDR to a large degree. But Eleanor’s role was facilitated in large part by Harry Hopkins who had the position of power to reinforce the moral imperative that Eleanor articulated. I think a Guevara equivalent is essential.
Again, I stand by this http://sharonastyk.com/2008/11/06/patriotism/ – it is possible that Obama will be greater than he is now in the course of his presidency – but I think it is important to remember that there are plenty of cases in which one’s promise is not wholly fulfilled.
Sharon
Well, I am not pleased but not throwing Obama out with the bathwater. I voted for him. I am not a zealot or a zombie follower. I did feel like he was the best agent for potential change. Like someone said above, Kucinich was my man but I recognized he would probably get NOTHING done if elected president as Congress would block him at every turn. I don’t know enough about this Vilsak but have been reading and am more than a little concerned, however, like Greenpa, I recall many figures we now consider great movers and shakers starting under less than ideal circumstances. I am willing to give Obama his chance to stand or fall and I, also, am ready to do the work within smaller communities that a large government cannot and will not be able to do. He is not any messiah but he is not a devil either. Let’s keep some hope for him while beginning to patch the leaks we can ourselves.
That “him” referenced above being Obama and, I guess by extension, the cabinet he seems to be appointing.
[...] thing. These initial impressions are based on pretty much zero real knowledge and are reinforced by blog postings like this. What I really wanted is Michael Pollan’s Farmer in [...]
It’s intereting how quickly the veneer has worn thin on Obama. So many people invested way too much faith in just another politician. All be it the best politician the dem’s put up since 1992, but just another politician none the less. “Change” and “hope” were catchy slogans that appeal to the majority of voters that are tired of Bush & Co. policy, but that’s all they were. Anyone who really thinks things will be different with a change of political party are either young and naieve or stupid.
Years ago I cleared my conscious and started voting 3rd party as the two party system has given us little if any difference for the past, well, forever.
I do SO want Greenpa to be right, but this — it just HURTS. I have Monsanto on the brain lately and went so far as to order my seeds all the way from Maine, a master-gardener no-no. Gotta quit checking the news and start readying up row covers, I guess.
Agribusiness is needed to keep the power in the hands of the greedy. Without centralized power, its hard to control the masses. This is about power, about being able to wield your power over others. The well being of others is not the driving motivator for these people. Its all about power and you can be sure they will fight to keep their power til the bitter end.
Cities and other places that depend on non locally grown food will be impacted as agribusiness fails. According to “Plan B”, there are countries that are dependent on our exported food. Not that they don’t have land to grow their own food but they’re out of the water needed to grow crops. Our own fresh water reserves have been shrinking rapidly due to the drain by agribusiness practices and populations that exceeds the carrying capacity of the land.
Seems like the planet is self correcting itself in response to our excesses. If you think about it, this economic collapse is the gentlest and “on target”, karmic thing that could happen. There will be less to consume. There will be less consumers. There will less emissions, less waste. Agribusiness will fail. Those of us who have access to locally grown food will be healthier. There will be less demand for “health” care as we know it. There will be more meaningful jobs. People will be less isolated.
So the transition will be roughest on those who resist change. The changes we fail to make of our own volition will be forced on us and those that survive will be the ones who are respectful of the land and know how to cooperate with one another.
While I was working as a park naturalist, there were two full blooded, Mohawk women on the staff and one told me that during Katrina, the native american indians were able to mobilize and get supplies out to the reservations that were impacted by Katrina. Wouldn’t it be karmic if the surviving natives get back their homelands?
I was so furious last night when I heard about Vilsack and went straight over to the Obama website feedback area to vent (and to threaten to vote Green in ‘12). I’m really beginning to regret voting for the man, although I think he’s definitely better than McCain would have been. My dwindling hope is that his supporters will put pressure on him to choose policies that actually change things for the better and give us some inkling of hope left.
The man is not in the White House yet! Let’s give him a chance. I voted for him, not because I thought he was a messiah, but because he seems to have some good ideas, and seems to be able to maneuver in the system without getting caught up in it. And I do think that Michelle will act as a balance to some degree. Remember that they have those two little girls, and maybe he’d like to use his power to leave the world a better place for them . . .
BTW, I voted for Jimmy Carter, too, (my first election, and my family is rabidly Republican! Not a popular decision!) and I am still proud of that vote. He got a little bogged down, but he was and is a good man. I look forward to seeing what Mr. Obama will do.
Kat, I really don’t buy the “let’s wait until he’s been president a while” idea – he’s responsible for his choices right now. This isn’t picking on Obama, this is holding him responsible for what he’s already done. And even if you do believe Greenpa’s vision, there’s also the question of whether we have time to enact the “let them hang themselves” strategy or not.
Sharon
This is for those commenters who seem to be throwing in the towel today.
I am with KatJ: relax – its December 17th – more than a month before he is even inaugurated.
Its so easy for people who were NOT for Obama and “change” to trash the new admin prematurely. Lets take it for granted that this will remain their motivation.
Its also easy for those who consider themselves dems but, who for whatever reason they may have had, did not support the dem-nominated pick.
I have been an Obama supporter since early 2004 when I learned about him (we were both part of the first Dean Dozen) but I am not a rank and file party minion and I am certainly not a political pollyanna.
I am cynical and critical and choose to apply scientific method to most aspects of my life (being a scientist does this to a brain)
I also am rather disgusted with the Vilsak choice, how can’t you be if you have any sensitivity for eating actual “real” local and homegrown foods.
Any progressive with open, intelligent, experienced eyes didnt see the election of Obama as the END of the process – it is the BEGINNING.
I also do not expect to be handed a dream cabinet nor a dream Ag secretary.
A real citizen of an effective democracy doesnt see voting as the completion of their democratic responsibilities, rather, just one.
Its incumbent on all of us to keep the pressure on all level of governments and also to build our own local resiliency, quite outside of any perceived entitlements (I choose to do this via the global/Local Transition Initiative)
Voting, either way, doesnt give you the right to kvetch and throw up your hands.
You have to fight for the good because its THAT important and NO ONE is going to just hand it to you.
Couple rather incendiary thoughts on this.
First, I chose not to register to vote. I have not voted for New York State Senator since the now Senior Senator Moynihan’s last re-election campaign. After Kerry slipped in the shiv in 2004, I realized that some other agenda is at work in this vEmpire and I decided the best thing I could do was to not participate in the synecdochal-onomatopoeic cunting of my life’s energy. (Hence this syllogism: grunt is to peon as cunt is to vampire. Each is described in “frostwolfese” by the sound they make in their definitive activities.) (Apologies to Eve Ensler and Inga Muscio, but no one can revoke my poetic license. :p)
In Hebrew, the word for adversary is stn, frequently spelled “satan.” I pronounce it “suh-TAHN” but perhaps the Hebrew aficionados would be able to tell me if that is correct or not. I think of satan (as opposed to the Xtian vapor-fantastical monster) as the basis of how we structure this toxic brew called “civilization.” We don’t focus on the common good, but we divide things arbitrarily into “good guys” (satans in this corner) vs. the “bad guys” (satans in the opposite corner). This is a process that opens up SO MANY opportunities for manipulation and coercion it’s absurd. Waiting for Godot’s blasted landscape might as well be juridical chambers in the Rensselaer County Court. And each side sees itself as the “Good guys” and cultivates a perverse and IMHO rather wasted energy on the fight. Wasted, because there really are better things to do with our time.
As much as there’s a part of me that would like to stomp my little feet in Troy and to have voted for someone other than the Mayor, I just couldn’t bring myself to register so that I could participate in a compromised process requiring expenditure of precious spiritual calories for no gain. And I was still perfectly devastated by the Sacral-Authority-Complex cunting process in the California election that did its best to suck away gay/lesbian equality. While part of me sees “teh sex” [sic] issues as distractions for the stooopid ‘MerKKKan crowd, I do understand that, in their desperation not to see the effects of their own apathy and acedia, their own resentments and feelings of frustrated entitlement, that they seek convenient scapegoats and truly resent it when we decide to stand up for ourselves. “How dare you not let us beat you to a pulp and leave your bodies to rot on the street! The nerve!” Admittedly, I have done the same thing with various individuals and groups over my lifetime, and today I can shrug my shoulders and say, “wev. There’s something better for me.” And there is. I’ve experienced it.
Watching from the sidelines I could see that it was the progressives’ turn to drink the kool-aid. From a wider lens point-of-view, denial takes many forms. My partner read “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” and I imagine that once he finds out about Vilsack, he will find some excuse for BHO. He comes from a dyed-in-the-wool Texas Democrat family. Again, I choose not to say anything right now. I wrote the play in the link below partly b/c he said “Go live in a cave if that’s what you want!” when I was trying to talk about some of this stuff. It hurt me, but I couldn’t say anything about this because like Melody Beattie said in The Language of Letting Go, we can’t force anyone else to be where we are at.
http://troyalbanytrance.wordpress.com/one-act-play-this-is-all-gonna-go-away/
Some of the text following is taken from AA literature. But I’ve changed the word “Alcoholic” to “Capitalist” and “Alcoholism” to “Capitalism.” Where appropriate, I’ve added words that seem fitting such as in the next paragraph. I realize I’m going to make some people mad, but so be it.
“The Big Book of Capitalists Anonymous describes belief-in-markets-addiction as an allergy of the body politic and an obsession of the mind.”
“An illness of this sort — and we have come to believe that it is an illness–involves those around us that no other human sickness can. If a person has cancer, all are feeling sorry for him and no one is angry or hurt. But not so with the capitalist illness, for with it goes the annihilation of all things worthwhile in life. [Insert your own ideas of what is worthwhile and see if this statement rings as horrifyingly true for you as it does for me.] It engulfs the lives of all those who touch the sufferer [or are even six degrees removed, this recovering Civ-Addict would attest]. It brings misunderstanding, fierce resentment, financial insecurity, disgusted friends and employers, warped lives of blameless children, sad spouses and parents–anyone can increase the list.”
“Capitalism is a progressive disease ending in imprisonment, insanity or death.”
“Capitalism wants us dead. It wants us to believe its our best friend, and sometimes we have been coddled and comforted by the illness that is faith in the markets. It is a “friend” that packs less and less of a punch over time. It takes more and more of it to take the edge off.”
I think there’s a lot more where that came from. For me, all of this resonates at such a deep level, my shoulder bones are shaking…
“No other bankruptcy is quite like this one. Capitalims, now become the rapacious creditor, bleeds us of all self-sufficiency and all will to resist its demands. Once this stark fact is accepted, our bankruptcy as human moral concerns is complete.”
“We admit we were powerless over capitalism and that our lives have become unmanageable.”
While I agree that Obama’s choices suck I don’t think the past matters anymore. BAU will not continue. Obama’s people must already realize that. If not they will stumble around till they do.
We all agree big changes are coming. Administrative experience to guide us through the change is very important. I find it hard to believe someone as smart as Obama does not see the writing on the wall. Putting people without experience in charge of the paradigm shifts that are unavoidable cannot be a good idea.
I Obama attempts BAU facts on the ground will quickly show him the folly of his ways.
Even though I did not vote for Obama, I don’t want to see him fail, because I’m an American at heart and I want to see our country move forward in positive ways we haven’t seen in many years.
But, I’m not surprised, and I don’t think most of us rep or dem or independent are either. Like you said, you bring the company who got you there.
And lots of powerful people with money and agendas put Obama in the white house. And they will have their “say” too.
He isn’t the messiah so many of us hoped he would be for American politics . He might be a grand bit better than Bush, but he’s not going to be our answer to much of anything I’m afraid.
You all do realize there are still lots of USDA political appointments to be made, Under Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries, agency heads and deputy administrators, most of whom have some actual power? So all the complainers here should be lobbying for your preferences at those levels. After all, it’s good politics to balance an appointment which pleases one group with an appointment which pleases an opposing group. Set up an email campaign for Sharon to be appointed to the NY State FSA Committee. That should be interesting. (See this link: http://www.ethicurean.com/2008/11/24/usda-posts/ for a useful discusson.)
Bill,
Thanks for weighing in – considering your long experience in the USDA. Let me be the first to nominate Sharon! (As IF she had the time!)
Couple of thoughts, maybe three. First, the government won’t fix your life, you will or it will remain unfixed. Obama will no more do it than Bush, Clinton, the other Bush, or McCain for that matter.
Second, why are you all surprised that Obama picks losers? Didn’t you all notice Tony Rezko and all those other folks he was hanging out with?
Finally, next time somebody comes to town promising change and hope, maybe we should ask what exactly will you change and what do you hope for.
We may have just elected the only human on earth who will be worse than McCain. My plan to fix it is to cut a little more wood, get the seeds ordered, feed the chickens and otherwise do exactly what I would have done if we had a competent president.
And for the coup de grace! Prop H8 pastor ffffffffffRickin’ Warren is to offer the invocation at BHO’s Inaug! Get out the garlic and the pagan-blessed holy water folks! Bring forth the shamans and the witches to protect us from the toxic belief-addled fundiecunts. The vEmpire is still kickin’ I see.
The Dr. Seuss (fellow Dartmouth alum!) in me is tickled: Talk about satan, in the Hebrew sense! /irony, if it can be done.
Talk about EPIC FAIL!
Simple remedies for everyday folks: Increase a fundamentalist’s sexual potency. Send them an anonymous card describing all the fabulous loving and sexual things you want to do with that hottie! The key thing is anonymity here. That’s for their protection as well as yours. If you make it sound like it’s a same-sex crush, all the better! These people aren’t aware they suffer from a lack of connection to their sacred bodies. That’s why they’ve let themselves go off into the brackish waters of telling others how to live their lives. This is a small step, but this is as much for you as it is for them. If they are so far gone as to not appreciate that someone thinks they’re “da bomb” then offer your prayers and move on.
It’s not about you or me anyway. Sad though, that Obama is pandering to the self-hate crowd…
Hi Sharon
Have you ever worked in a major global corporation? (No snark, just curious
These corporate systems that have be created are so complex that no one person can understand them or even run them. Government is the same.
It could be someone’s life work to document the complexities in these systems. If you find anyone who can remotely pilot the boat you will hire them if you are Obama.
Here is my prediction for 2009. There will be no change. This is because systems in place have taken decades to develop over major history. It will take an equally long time to fix them. If one can even define what “fix” means.
Obama is a centrist. I don’t remember him running on a platform that said he’d enact all sorts of very radical/liberal green things – he’s status quo/center and the alternative was much more right-wing.
I don’t recall that Obama ever promised to become Dennis Kucinich once elected, and truly progressive news outlets like Democracy Now have been quite clear in describing Obama as a fairly centrist politician with many corporate ties. That said, I greatly prefer him to any Republican being in charge during the coming depression.
These ongoing betrayals by our leaders will only serve to teach more folks not to trust the politicians with their hopes and dreams. A very good thing, IMO, because we the people need to grow up and take responsibility for our collective selves instead of relying so much on corrupt charlatans who promise change and then betray the people.
I feel a song coming on…This one’s for you, Mr. Change-Promiser:
You say you want a revolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it’s evolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don’t you know you can count me out
Don’t you know it’s gonna be alright
Alright, alright
You say you got a real solution
Well you know
We don’t love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well you know
We’re doing what we can
But if you want money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell you is brother you have to wait
Don’t you know it’s gonna be alright
Alright, alright, al…
You say you’ll change the constitution
Well you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it’s the institution
Well you know
You better free your mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of [Wen Jiabao]
You ain’t going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don’t you know know it’s gonna be alright
Alright, alright
Alright, alright
Alright, alright
Alright, alright
Alright, alright
I also tend to agree with Greenpa’s point of view. I didn’t vote for Obama, although like someone else said, I was hopefully optimistic, given everything I had learned about him. Now it looks like the same old, same old. But I’m not so sure. Things with this man are not always as they seem.
President Lincoln surrounded himself with those of other party affiliates and those who wanted BAU. And then he changed the entire course of the United States. Time will tell what President Obama will do.
I also voted for Clinton, although I didn’t work for his campaign. He was too ’slick’ for me to go out and support him, and I did see a whole lot of optimism then as well. The optimism didn’t last forever, alas, and I doubt it will this time either.
I guess it’s wait and see for us now.
Great article, Sharon, with some really good insights. Thank you for your thoughts. They made me stop and think, which is always a good thing.
Gracie
I have had no hope at all that he would do anything resembling what folk like us would consider “the right thing” (though I wouldn’t have expected it from McCain, either, to be fair). I figure it is up to me to do what I can, and to do what more I can to rally my friends and neighbors, so that as many of us as possible can take care of ourselves, whatever comes next. Thanks for the post, Sharon. It’s thought-provoking, as always.
I think folks who expect any major change to come from electing a Democrat or Republican are fooling themselves. It’s not allowed. I think this crew will do a better job with the collapse than the only other viable alternative, but they’ll be losing importance with each passing year.
It’s interesting to see all the Vilsack hate here because in my circle, it’s Salazar–any time you have a rancher with a cowboy hat and bolo tie in charge of public lands, it’s not a happy day.
All I can say to the kool-aid drinkers of Obama…How do you like your “CHANGE” now? I am amused to see the President-elect turning out to be exactly what I thought he was. A typical Chicago based politician. Hmmm change…change…change…. yep Some change keeps going to bailout the banks and “financial institutions”. How about some more pocket change to bailout out the automobile industry? Oh can’t for get even more pocket change to do another economic stimulus (appease the voters in the short term to try and figure something out) bill. Change….yes you can and the government will help. Give them more money of yours. Ooops I forgot. What is the cost? What freedoms will the government make you give up for it to support you? How about reinstatement of the draft and a mandantory 2 years of military or “civil service”? That can’t happen can it? Try looking at the US senate website bill HR 393. Been in committee a while but hasn’t been thrown out or die in committee. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:H.R.393: Interesting it is sponsored but 3 of the most liberal democrats. One under investigation. I realize all of you want to have a mandantory 2 year stint for the government not to mention that as well for your kids. change. change. change. How do you like your change now?
The reality is, we aren’t going to be saved by anyone. We have to do the best we can to save ourselves and ours. The machine is too big, no matter who is in. You don’t get elected president otherwise. That’s the facts, the electoral college, the favors, the way politics work.
The sad thing is that when it all hits the fan, Obama will be blamed. Four years from now, when the depression, peak oil, climate change, foreign wars, and God knows what else, have had four years to grow…then people will be really ready for any message of hope from any quarter.
And desperation, hopelessness, is a perfect breeding ground, historically perfect, for future dictatorships.
I have a few friends in the military. When you sign up you go to training. You can get out anytime until you swear the oath. Then they own you. Hmmm mandentory swearing of the oath….No ramifications there. lol Gotta love the “change” that could be coming. Mandentory military or civil service for homeland security. Sounds great….guaranteed employment and a pay-check. But at what cost? Welcome to the land of ostriches. How do you like the change possibilities now?
Goodness, such vile, raging hatred around here. A bit discouraging really, but here’s what I think.
I more or less agree with Greenpa, but also strongly believe that Obama WILL make positive decisions based on the facts coming in now. A lot of people are sounding the Oil Alarm, all over the world, and climate change is seen as a genuine, serious issue that needs to be addressed. I think he would have been a very good president in less troubled times, but I think he will do all he can anyway. Everyone seems to think that, despite all the mounting evidence that we need swift and serious government action, its still going to be BAU. One way or another, it CAN’T be, and the new guys will figure that out soon enough, and rather than ignore an serious and growing problem, it will be dealt with. Regardless of what you think of him (I tend to be center-left myself, so I rather like him even if he hasn’t made the best of decisions as of late), you can’t say that he WON’T do this or that. At worst, he’ll act because he has to.
This is the best rant and comments I have seen anywhere yet. Thanks, everybody. Greenpa’s point is interesting, but is basically this wild hope that Obama has something very different in mind than he is showing. Are there any indications whatsoever this might be the case? I have not seen them. So far, he’s shown to be a speechifier, with nothing much to say apart from the “hopeful” stuff and slogans. Now that he is actually acting, it looks BAU. My take is he is really Hillary in pants. Obummer. I am grieving for what could have been.
Folks,
Let’s not forget that all these boys and girls have to be confirmed.
I recall one Secretary of Ag nominee so despised by departmental folk that they fed definitive and revealing questions to key committeemen to ask during confirmation hearings. They did and though the guy was confirmed, those questions were so seered into his brain that he shifted his thinking.
We might not be so lucky as to have those Ag people still around, but we also didn’t have dailykos then to raise holy hell so this chap goes down in flames or is sustained with a seered brain when the committee votes. We do now, however, and hundreds of other blogs like Huff. And plenty of small farmers who can raise a ruckus.
Let’s fill those websites on fire with what’s been written above and genetically modify Vilsack’s agricultural policies.
Lets not be to quick to write Obama off… he’s done all the right things thus far and this one blip on the radar screen may not be a blip at all – you know Obama will have Vilsack doing exactly what HE thinks is best. And it appears the subsidy reduction to agribusiness will be the first route they’ll take. That subsidy reduction could be the writing on the wall for many of the big farmers. Lets take it one step at a time.
I think that for those who voted for Obama’s, “hope” and “change” got their hope for a few months. The hype that they bought for the hope that they got will turn to hatred and impotent rage by the end of 2009. Obama got his following so fired up about change that, no matter who he is and what he does he won’t meet their expectations. He can not change the structure of our society or government. Frankly, I don’t think he had any true idea of how he was going to do it anyway, even if he did buy his own slogans.
Our only hope is to one-on-one, through family relationships, friendships and neighbors collectively thinking about others before ourselves. Then change will happen.
If the US had voted republican, we would have gotten something somewhat predictable but in the end similar to what we have now.
To the person who said that republicans will mandate a religion, I totally disagree. Republicans, for all their problems do not get “involved” as much as democrats in peoples lives. The involvement that strips away all the rights that we have and the money that we earn for redistribution. Charity, and a lot of it, is the only redistribution that we need in this country.
Again, I think it is an oversimplification to say that this is about whether Obama has failed or succeeded yet. For me, the issue is this – as someone pointed out, these are very complex systems, and he will see them in part through the lenses he chooses. It does not mean that Obama is hopeless – it simply means that it got harder for him to see what is happening clearly. I don’t think anyone expected Obama to “fix” things – but there are ways to make what is coming less painful and ways to make the situation more dire. I think the latter may have just happened, unless Obama is able to avoid using Vilsack as a lens.
I agree strongly – oppose Vilsack’s confirmation, and yes, there are a lot of lesser posts to be filled (I’m not convinced I’m qualified to fill any of them, but I appreciate the compliment
) – I’d love to see the USDA stacked with small farmers! Deploring a choice isn’t the same as throwing up one’s hands.
Sharon
I never held the same kind of hopes for Obama that most liberals and progressives have. I’ve long realized that there is one party in this country -the one with the biggest checkbook, and the Republicans and Democrats are just versions that act a little differently.
However, I was physically ill when I heard this news. Talk about making a bad choice!
Then this morning I heard on NPR that he’s chosen Rick Warren to do the invocation at the inaugeration. I also got ill when I heard that, and now I am angry. That man is not only a nasty SOB, but choosing him is like a slap in the face to every LGBT and non-Christian in the country, and also the more moderate Christians who don’t think they can/should run the world, etc.
This is why I didn’t support Obama during the election. No one who has had so much help from insiders getting where they are is going to bring about any real change. Cheney applauded Obama’s choice for security team, is this really what we want? I wish I could say I was surprised that so many people gave into the hype during the campaign…
The trouble with idealism is that it is so easily disappointed. I voted for Obama- to get the pendulum to start swinging in the opposite direction again. Have you ever tried to stop a clock’s pendulum? If you want the clock to keep running while doing it you don’t stop it abruptly, you slow it down until it can be gently pushed in the other direction. Only when its going the other direction can it pick up speed. But it can’t go fast in one direction and immediately go fast in the other. If you do that, you break the clock.
This country is made up of all kinds of folks with radically different views across a long spectrum. If we stop and really think about that, we can begin to marvel that anything constructive gets done at all, anywhere, ever! While it is a great big wonderful dream to have the Left suddenly be IN CHARGE and making changes, we cannot suddenly do that without throwing the whole country into chaos and filled with hateful rhetoric. We need all the energy to be focused for positivity! I still feel hope about Obama and what he can do. We’ve had nearly a decade of right wing neo-con policies. There was a huge segment of this country that backed those policies and are still clinging to those policies. They have not gone extinct. There are still neo-cons in positions of power, not necessarily only positions in Government. Obama has to get everyone rowing in the same direction. But first he has to get them to stop arguing, sit down in the boat and pick up the oars!
You ARE seeing change with these appointments. A move to the center. There is an openness to consider all sides and an effort to include folks from all parts of the spectrum, even the Rick Warren invocation at Obama’s inaugrual. (Just as Obama didn’t believe everything Rev. Wright preached, he doesn’t believe everything Warren believes. According to custom, somebody has to do the invocation. Whomever is chosen SOMEBODY will be angry.Heck I’m sure there’s plenty of people angry that there will be a religious element involved at all!) These appointments might not be the radical changes some folks are demanding. But there’s over 300 million people in this country. We’ll need everyone on board to keep afloat in the future. Reach across the isle and talk to your opposite. You may find common ground that we can all walk on to go forward and transform our lives. Start at the center, the widest place.
I totally agree with Greenpa. Yes, Gorbachev! (But now look at how far Putin has brought it back towards the good old KBG days, sigh.)
Pragmatism is called for now. Its really the only way to get that pendulum slowing down before it can swing in the opposite direction. With each national crisis erupting, we MUST have some center point on which we can all stand if we are not to tip into the water and capsize ourselves – as a nation and a people.
Another thought re greenpa’s Gorbachev idea. He opened things up, but the Soviet Union could not be reformed and fell apart. It’s since been the mafia and ex-KGB types running it. A lot of plunder gone on. The little people squeezed into poverty while others fatten themselves western-style. Is this the improvement Russians wished for? Some of it, perhaps. But for most of it, I doubt it. I have even heard people say that it had all been planned as plan B from inside the KGB when the Soviet economy faltered. The West and its democracy did not win: kleptocracy won. As they have been for 6,000 years.
Good points Greenpa and Young Snowbird. Also, if you get a chance Mike Pollan was on NPR this morning talking about the Vilsack nomination. Not happy about it, but a good deal more measured than most of us. Pointed out that the Sec of Energy choice is against corn ethanol, which balances Vilsack’s and Obama’s historical position on that boondoggle.
As for all the folks saying how do you like your change now I think Young Snowbird already said it well. But I will toss in my two cents. McCain and Palin????? We would be better off with the a petulant geezer and a know-nothing twit? Only if you are of the persuasion that what we really need is a quick dramatic crash that quickly leads to pitchforks and torches followed by a military lockdown and dictatorship. Get a little perspective.
He is not going to please everyone all the time like all of us would like. Let develop out attention span, please. The guy hasnt even been sworn in. Vilsac has some pro and cons and Rome wasnt built in a day………………….Lets just wait and see what unfolds and support our president in the meantime.
Vera- re Gorbachev. Yup. He couldn’t control it well enough, in the long run. My understanding is that the big bozo who replaced him was playing to the crowd’s demand for more change, faster; more democracy now. Gorbachev wanted to go slower – and they all lost it. People will be analyzing that one forever.
Sharon, you commented that IF what I’m hoping is true, even so, what Obama is doing- is dangerous.
Your darn tooten it’s dangerous. I’m astonished Gorbachev is still alive. And also in the way you meant- these are all processes that are extraordinarily difficult to control.
But it’s worth a try, I think. Or do we give up? For me, just as there is no point whatever in pessimism, there is also no point whatever in giving up.
As soon as Obama calls and asks me to joint his cabinet- I’m going.
I think what people really failed to analyze was the president-elect’s roots. I’m not talking familialy … I’m talking about his political roots. Who did he hang out with and where and how did they get their power? Who were his associates and what actions did they take?
Where did he come from and how successfuly was he there? Chicago, home of thug politics. You dont’ make it there unless you play the game(s).
I believe that like many “rock star” situations, that the people around Mr. Obama fed him just the right amount of stuff to get him addicted to the good feelings. Now, the time to pay will be coming shortly. Mr. Obama has made the decisions, yes, but for how long will he remain in control. Or, put another way, how long until he is just a figurehead?
He came to power on the backs of the far left … he will turn his back on them and remain in power on the backs of the remainder of his party. And for at least the next two years he will indeed be in power because the current Congress will not want to be seen as villifying the people’s “Messiah” or risking the same title of bigot, etc. that they heaped on those who opposed Mr. Obama’s election.
In two years however, it is extremely possible that he will have made enough enemies of enough people that at the very least the make up of Congress will shift. Then we will see what he is really made of. How will he work if the Congress opposes him?
As for the Rick Warren thing? Not to be racist but did you expect anything less? Mr. Obama had to respond to the African American vote on the issue definition of marriage. That is one sector of his voting block he can’t afford to alienate … yet.
From Wiki:
“Hope was personified in Greek mythology as Elpis. When Pandora opened Pandora’s Box, she let out all the evils except one: hope. Apparently, the Greeks considered hope to be as dangerous as all the world’s evils.”
Politics in this country largely, characterized by a false contest between Republican and Democrat and continually hyped by a media show, serves to convince 99% percent of the people that they have some say in the structure of power.
The other 1% pay for false contest and the media blitz… from Wiki:
“In the United States at the end of 2001, 10% of the population owned 71% of the wealth, and the top 1% controlled 38%”
Greenpa said, “As soon as Obama calls and asks me to joint his cabinet- I’m going.”
It looks like if you were part of the Clinton reign, you will get that call. It certainly would increase your odds.
Why does everyone seem to think our only choices were Obama or McCain? There were other people running, there are other parties in this country. The sooner people really realize and embrace that, the better we all will be.
Gen- alas- the only time I tried to really talk to the Clinton people- the blew me off.
I must be tired, because I keep reading the title of this post as “Farmer Chief in my Ass!”
Anyway, I’m with Greenpa. Not the part about being blown by the Clinton people, but about the Vilsack choice. As someone else mentioned, the new Sec. of Energy will nicely balance out any ethanol madness (at least for corn). And, I’d hesitate to totally judge a person by their past policies – local politics and national politics are totally different animals. There are a lot more pressures and politics to balance outside of a state’s interests. I think we’ll see a broader viewpoint from Vilsack on the national stage.
I think a big part of the disappointment with this appointment is that people got their shorts a little too tightly knotted over the idea of getting an actual Farmer-in-Chief as Sec. of Ag, or even this whole Michael Pollan for Sec of Ag business. It’s just not very realistic when you step back and look at it. It sounds really nice in theory, but one does need to work within the system that’s in place and, unfortunately, a politician is more likely to be effective in that role than a farmer or investigative journalist.
I don’t think anyone who was serious thought Michael Pollan would be Sec. of Ag. My reference to “farmer in chief” was Obama’s claim that he’d read it and took it seriously. The problem with Vilsac is that he’s not a mediocre choice – he’s a really bad one. Sure, local politics are different, and if it were just the ethanol thing, you’d have to give him a pass – being a midwesterner in the Us means supporting ethanol or not being elected. But Vilsack think that biotech is the way to deal with the food crisis. And that’s just scary.
Greenpa, Obama, given your theory, had the chance to also begin the way he meant to go on – there were plenty of more moderate people who wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow. I have to say, I agree with David Roberts over at grist who, when you put together the aggregate of Obama’s recent appointments, noted that between Vilsack, Salazar and the rest “Obama really peed in the cornflakes.” I don’t think this is at all about idealism – but we’ve also been down this road before with Bill Clinton, who my friend (who means it as a compliment) calls “The best republican president of our century.” We can’t afford another liberal republican – and I think we need a clear eyed judgement of this guy *by his actions* not by what we hope his actions might concievably mean if we’re lucky.
Sharon
BTW, if Obama thinks he bought Iowa for four years from now, he’s not nearly as smart as I think he is. Four years is a long, long time in the scheme of things. But to his credit, I doubt that’s his reasoning.
On the other hand, I’m quite pleased with his labor choice.
Sharon
Greenpa, thank you! You bring up excellent points and are the only person whos comments I’ve read so far who has projected any kind of optimism or positivity whatsoever. Have a little faith people!
And hey, try living in Canada and having George Bush the second running your country. You guys are a hell of a lot better off than we are! I wish you would all stop pissing in the cornflakes and try to see the sunshine for once. As far as I can see, Obama is the best thing that’s happened to your country in what seems like forever. Just be thankful that you have someone running your country that has integrity, intelligence, and charisma.
Psh!
Young Snowbird, I just read your post and it was fantastic. One of the parts that struck a cord with me is when you spoke of optimism. I think it’s really important that we project optimism and good vibes into the world as a way of creating change and impacting our collective consciousness for the good. If we continually spread pessimism we’re going to get what we put out. What you focus on natuarally expands…so if we put our focus on what is positive we can impact change. This is about a massive consciousness shift for our species, one which, if we manage it, could save us and our planet. We’ve almost reached the tipping point between extinction and survival and once we pass that point there’s no going back. So rather than complaining about what’s “wrong” with Obama’s choices I would rather continue to project good energy towards a positive change for the world. I feel like he’s the kind of president who actually listens to the people and who has a plan for how to bring about this radical change that he’s talked about. No one ever said it would be an easy process and the man has ALOT of crazy shit to deal with here. I know I would never want to be in his shoes! I guess we’ll see how he does with the challenges that he’s facing now, but I don’t understand why Americans would choose to throw stones at someone who hasn’t even had a chance to prove himself yet. Like I said before, our country was in the best position economically of any country in the world, and most of our progress was ruined by a man who mirrors George Bush’s ideals and methods. You should be happy that you have a man with the light of intelligence in his eye. He didn’t bring America to it’s present state of economic disaster. Essentially, the American people allowed it to happen by voting George W. into office for two consecutive terms. Now you’ve made a different choice and all of us up here in Canada have been cheering you on for months now. We wish with all of our hearts that we could have someone like Barack Obama leading our country. I know it may sound like a “fluffy” sentiment, but I truly believe that the energy we project into the world creates our present and future circumstances. So I choose to project nothing but positivity towards a president that I truly believe has what it takes to help turn our world around and prevent mass extinction of our species.
If I turn out to be wrong I’ll admit it, but for now…GIVE THE MAN A BREAK!
Vilsac was an extremely horrible choice. It demonstrates that Obama has no understanding of the benefits of organic foods/agriculture and the evils of genetically modified seeds/foods.
Those who don’t understand Obama’s outrageous choice must check out the following site:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.cfm
I still can’t shake the image of Obama at his first press conference, right after the election. The look on his face. It was right after he got his economic and security brief. I still wonder (and can imagine) what did they tell him. Hey “new” boss – its gonna be ugly?
So – I found your website for the first time. I am returning to my roots. My parents grew up with agriculture. I grew up with it. As they moved out of it, I moved out of it. Now I have a big enough yard for full blown gardening. I’ve built my first four raised garden beds. I’ve been stocking up on seeds for three years (and testing longevity of the seeds). And I’ve planted fruit trees. And will plant more. Somehow, me, my wife, and my wonderful children have found something lost. I get so many strange comments from the people I work with. You do what? They let you do that in surburbia? Your HOA lets you farm? That’s right folks. I know how to grow food. And its not menial. Its ok to take pride in producing one’s own food (by letting Mother Nature let the sun shine down and help grow things for you).
I’ve always known we’ve built a house of cards. My father told me if too many people weren’t growing their own food and we had another depression, it would be ugly. He plowed fields using a heavy draught horse before he switched to tractors. It seems we’re witnessing the systematic decline of all our institutions. Homeschool is on the rise ( a good thing – educating your child is a civic duty – and civil right!). People are rediscovering gardening/farming. We are on the verge (I hope) of a renaissance in local cottage industries, manufacturing, and machinists. It will take time. And it will take a little more oil before a basic level of alt-energy production is in place.
Did you know you can take magnets out of old harddrives to make generators, if you have mechanical energy (flowing water, wind, bicycle) to spin it? It takes alot of magnets from certain types of drives. But it can be done.
There has to be a conscious effort to embrace real diversity. Diversity of thought, ideas, and problem solving. The one size fits all is too mono-culture. And dangerous. Living off oil is no different from when the Irish lived off one cultivar of potato.
Its all about time (running out), oil (the last of the easy oil), and will there be a rapid enough push for diverse solutions to mitigate the risk of collapse. Do we have enough and can it be done?
Congratulations Obama. You might be tied with President #1 (Washington) and President #16 (Lincoln) as the most important Presidents in American history. One was pivotal in its creation. The other saved it. Obama has to do both.
The dismal verbiage tossed toward President Elect Obama is among what is merely the last dark and dreary gasps of cyncism we of spirit have had to endure during eight years of a plastic presidency.
This man’s humanity is never going to discourage those of us who have read his spirit with our own. Obama has never claimed to be some sort of modern day, all powerful political or social Messiah. No doiubt we will discover things about him that may shatter the illusions of those who feel as much. Will he make mistakes? Of course he will. Is he perfect? Of course not.
But Obama has allowed himself to be carried by our collective desire for a power that’s married to intelligence and heart. This force has always proven to be greater than any one personality. And it has expressed itself through people like Thomas Jefferson (Human), Martin Luther King Jr. (Human) and Ghandi (Human). This power, this force, is unstoppable. It animates the fabric of our existence. And it has and will continue to animate Barack Obama.
Barak is ours. It’s Obama time. All you haters, please feel free to bubble and blurb your flatulent verbs.
Spirit and life have once again returned to the halls of power and those of us who like things like trees and water celebrate. When power is married to greed, backward thinking and a basically murderous ignorance, the very cells of our being quake. But now we’re breathing and basking in the long awaited air of “Aaaah!”.
I love trees and water; I’m just not naive enough to think that Obama or anyone else is capable of preventing what has always been the inevitable and necessary collapse of industrialism, materialism, and human overpopulation. Obama won’t cure it any more than Bush caused it.
Sharon, you sum up exactly how I’m feeling about Obama. The choice of Vilsack was truly awful and only slightly worse than some of his previous choices. It is becoming harder to hope but I don’t see what choice we have but to hope, lobby, write letters, prepare our own veggie gardens, and vote with our forks and our dollars.