TO BE AIRED SEPTEMBER 16, 2007

 

 SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1MARY: GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO ETHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE NEWS.  MY NAME IS DR MARY DUCEY AND I TEACH PHILOSOPHY AT MOUNT MERCY COLLEGE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WE HAD A DISCUSSION HERE ABOUT THE FARM BILL AND ITS ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS.  BUT THERE WERE SO MANY ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS THAT WE DECIDED TO DO ANOTHER SHOW.  FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON’T KNOW, THE FARM BILL IS A GIGANTIC PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT REGULATES NUTRITION PROGRAMS BOTH IN THE U.S. AND ABROAD AS WELL AS FARM SUPPORT PROGRAMS, CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AND FAIR AND COMPETITIVE AGRICULTURAL MARKETS.  THESE PROGRAMS ARE REVISED ABOUT EVERY FIVE YEARS AND THE 2007 FARM BILL WAS PASSED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN JULY.  THAT MEANS THAT THERE IS STILL TIME FOR YOU TO MAKE YOUR WISHES KNOWN TO OUR SENATORS BEFORE THE SENATE CONSIDERS THE BILL AS GUEST COLUMNIST ELLEN FISHER REMINDED US IN THE GAZETTE ON AUGUST 12.  ON OUR LAST SHOW ON THE BILL WE FOCUSED ON THE ETHICAL ISSUE OF FAIRNESS TO FARMERS.  THIS TIME WE’RE GOING TO FOCUS MOSTLY ON THE PARTS OF THE FARM BILL THAT DEAL WITH NUTRITION PROGRAMS BOTH HERE AND ABROAD.  WHAT DOES THE NEW FARM BILL PROPOSE FOR FEEDING HUNGRY PEOPLE, AND IS THIS AN ADEQUATE PROPOSAL?  TO HELP US ANSWER THIS QUESTION WHICH, BELIEVE ME, IS MUCH MORE COMPLEX THAT IT SEEMS WE HAVE THREE LOCAL ACTIVISTS ON OUR PANEL TODAY.  FIRST WE HAVE BRAD WILSON WHO FARMS ON FIREWEED FARM IN SPRINGVILLE.  BRAD COMES FROM GENERATIONS OF FARMERS ON THAT FARM AND IS ALSO A FARM POLICY ANALYST.  AND YOU ALSO HAD A GUEST COLUMN IN THE GAZETTE.

 

BRAD: I DID YES.

 

MARY: GREAT, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.  NEXT WE HAVE ELLEN FISHER WHO IS THE AUTHOR OF THE COLUMN THAT YOU SAW JUST A MINUTE AGO WHO IS ALSO ACTIVE IN BREAD FOR THE WORLD.  THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

 

ELLEN: THANK YOU.

 

MARY: AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST WE HAVE THE REVEREND BARBARA SCHLACHTER WHO IS FROM CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND ASSOCIATE RECTOR THERE WHO IS ALSO ACTIVE IN HUNGER ISSUES.  THANKS FOR BEING WITH US AGAIN AND WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.  LET’S JUST START OFF IN GENERAL, YOU KNOW BARBARA WHY DON’T YOU START OFF BY TALKING ABOUT WHY THIS IS AN ETHICAL ISSUE AS WELL AS BEING A POLITICAL AND AN ECONOMIC ONE.

 

BARBARA: WELL COMING FROM THE JUDEA CHRISTIAN TRADITION IT’S VERY DEFINITELY A FORMATION ISSUE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK, OUR ANCESTORS WERE BROUGHT TO EGYPT BY FAMINE CONCERNS AND WE HAVE ALWAYS TALKED THAT ONE SHOULD FEEL THE SOJOURNER IN ONES MIDST AND ONE SHOULD CARE FOR THE WIDOWS AND THE ORPHANS, THAT’S IN BASIC JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN TEACHING.  THE PROPHETS WAILED AT PEOPLE WHEN THEY PUT HUMAN NEED BEHIND HUMAN GREED AND WOULD DECLARE THAT THERE REALLY IS SUPPOSED TO BE CARE FOR ALL IN THE HUMAN COMMUNITY AND THAT ANY SOCIETY THAT’S OUT OF BALANCE NEEDS TO BE RE FORMED AND THEN OF COURSE JESUS CAME ALONG AS A PROPHET IN THAT SAME TRADITION WITH THOSE SAME CONCERNS ABOUT EVERYONE BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ENOUGH TO LIVE A DECENT LIFE.  I THINK THE WHOLE PARADIGM OF EVERYONE MEET THEIR ** CAN LIVE IN PEACE WITHOUT FEAR AND INTO PLOW SHEARS TURN THEIR SWORDS AND THEY SHALL ** MORE AND MORE.  WHEN EVERYBODY HAS ENOUGH THEN WE WILL INDEED HAVE PEACE AND BASICALLY THAT’S WHAT WE ALL WANT TO JUST HAVE ENOUGH. 

 

MARY: AND I ASSUME THAT’S WHAT WE ALL AGREE ON.  SO ELLEN, IT JUST OCCURRED TO ME THAT MAYBE OUR LISTENERS MIGHT NOT KNOW WHAT BREAD FOR THE WORLD IS, DO YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN?

 

ELLEN: BREAD FOR THE WORLD IS AN ADVOCACY GROUP.  IT’S ECUMENICAL CHRISTIAN AND IT HAS BEEN WORKING FOR NEARLY 35 YEARS BASICALLY ON THE ISSUE OF HUNGER.  IT WORKS TO INFLUENCE CONGRESS AND ** TO ADOPT LEGISLATION AND POLICIES THAT WOULD REDUCE HUNGER IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD.  IT WORKS ON POVERTY ISSUES BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT HUNGER IS ONE OF THE MAIN MANIFESTATIONS OF POVERTY.  IT IS SPECIFICALLY AN ADVOCACY ISSUE AND ** OF OTHER ADVOCACY GROUP AND BOTH OF US WORK TO INFLUENCE CONGRESS TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HUNGRY. 

 

MARY: SO WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE FARM BILL? 

 

ELLEN: AS IT WORKS RIGHT NOW?  WELL THE BILL THAT CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE DID INCREASE FUNDING FOR NUTRITION PROGRAMS AND THAT’S VERY GOOD.  THERE ARE WAY TO IMPROVE ON WHAT THE HOUSE DID ON NUTRITION PROGRAMS AND IN PARTICULAR ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY OMITTED THAT THEY SENATE SHOULD INCLUDE IS SOME CHANGES IN THE WAY WE DO OUR INTERNATIONAL FOOD PROGRAMS.  AT THE MOMENT, WE ARE REQUIRED TO USE U.S. COMMODITIES FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL FOOD AID.  THE ADMINISTRATION HAS REQUESTED FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS THAT WE USE SOME OF OUR FOOD FOR PEACE FUNDING AS CASH TO PURCHASE FOOD ABROAD NEAR AREAS OF NEED THAT SAVES ALL OF THE SHIPPING COSTS.  IT MEANS THAT FOOD CAN BE DELIVERED IN FAMINE SITUATIONS MUCH MORE QUICKLY.  I THINK THAT THAT’S AN ISSUE THAT OUR SENATORS SHOULD PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO AND THAT THEY SHOULD INCLUDE THAT IN THE FARM BILL. 

 

MARY: I’VE RECEIVED MY EDUCATION ON THIS IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.  A COMMODITY IS A TECHNICAL TERM I THINK FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WELL VERSED IN THIS.  THERE ARE 7 COMMODITIES?

 

ELLEN: I BELIEVE THERE ARE 9.  I THINK THAT THE DEFINITION OF A COMMODITY IS SOMETHING THAT’S GROWN.  SOMETHING THAT COMES FROM THE SOIL.  I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE 9 COMMODITIES THAT RECEIVE PAYMENTS THROUGH THE COMMODITY TITLE.  WHEN I’M SAYING COMMODITIES I’M SAYING WHEN WE DO INTERNATIONAL FOOD AID WE SHIP CORN OR WHEAT PRIMARILY CORN OR WHEAT BUT IT COULD BE BARLEY OR OATS GRAIN THAT’S BEEN GROWN HERE IS SHIPPED ABROAD TO PROVIDE FOOD OR TO BE SOLD IN LOCAL MARKETS ABROAD. 

 

MARY: SO, YOU’RE SAYING, THE REST OF THE WORLD IS SAYING THAT AT LEAST SOME OF THAT MONEY SHOULD BE USED TO PURCHASE FOOD LOCALLY IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, THAT IT WOULD BENEFIT THOSE PEOPLE, IT WOULD GET THERE QUICKER.

 

ELLEN: RIGHT.  OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS THE AMOUNT OF FOOD THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THROUGH OUR INTERNATIONAL FOOD AID PROGRAM HAS DROPPED BY ALMOST HALF BECAUSE SO MUCH MORE OF THE MONEY IS GOING TO SHIPPING COSTS AND TRANSACTION COSTS.  WE COULD DELIVER MORE FOOD IF WE PURCHASED IT NEAR WHERE WE NEEDED TO DELIVER IT AND IT WOULD GET THERE FASTER.  IF SOMEONE IS IN A FAMINE SITUATION AND THERE’S THE DROUGHT IN MASOTHO AND SWAZILAND IS THE WORST IN 30 YEARS SO IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T HAVE FOOD AND YOU SAY JUST A MINUTE, WE’LL GET IT TO YOU IN 5 MONTHS, THE CORN’S ON IT’S WAY, IT’LL GET THERE IN 5 MONTHS THAT MAY NOT SAVE THE LIFE OF A CHILD. 

 

MARY: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT BRAD?  ARE FARMERS IN FAVOR OF THAT, OUR U.S. FARMERS?

 

BRAD:   YES.  FARMERS HAVE A VARIETY OF OPINIONS BUT AS THEY’RE USUALLY PRETTY SUPPORTIVE OF FOOD AID.  ONE PROBLEM IS ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT WE’RE DISCUSSING HERE IS THAT SOMETIMES FOOD AID ENDS UP LOWERING PRICES IN COUNTRIES THAT ARE FAIRLY POOR COUNTRIES ANYWAY BY BEING SOLD ON THEIR MARKETS CHEAPLY.  IN THE FARM BILL A LOT OF ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THESE MAJOR STORABLE COMMODITIES INCLUDING HERE IN IOWA CORN AND SOYBEANS AND WHEAT, RICE AND COTTON FOR EXAMPLE.  YOU ASK ME ABOUT THE FARM BILL.  WHAT I WOULD SAY ABOUT THE FARM BILL IN GENERAL IS THAT IT’S REALLY REALLY BAD, IT’S BECOME VERY BAD OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.  IT’S ** FARMERS IN THE UNITED STATES BUT ALSO FOR FARMERS IN THE THIRD WORLD, ESPECIALLY FARMERS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.  I WAS WATCHING A PROGRAM RECENTLY ON THE TALKING ABOUT THE SUICIDES OF THE COTTON FARMERS I BELIEVE IT WAS OVER IN INDIA.  AND IT’S HARD FOR US HERE IN AMERICA AND BEING THE AMERICAN CHURCH FOR EXAMPLE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT’S HAPPENING OVER THERE.  MAYBE SOME OF US FARMERS CAN BRING A PERSPECTIVE TO THIS. 

 

MARY: SURE.  WELL HOW DOES THE FARM BILL HURT FARMERS IN THE THIRD WORLD? 

 

BRAD: THE U.S. FARM BILL HISTORICALLY HAS HAD A SORT OF BEING PART OF ROOSEVELT HENRY WALSON IN THE 30'S WITH THE COMMODITY TITLE.  REALLY, *** AFFECTS PRICES, MARKET PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE EXPORT MARKET AND IN CHILE AND OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD PLUS THEY HAVE LIKE AND WE SET A PRICE FLOOR HISTORICALLY, WE SET A PRICE FLOOR AT A LIVING WAGE UNDER COMMODITIES AND IN THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY THE PRICE FLOOR WENT DOWN AND DOWN UNTIL 1996 WHEN IT WAS TAKEN AWAY AND WITH OUR CORN AND SOYBEANS WE HAVE SUCH A BIG CHUNK OF THE EXPORT MARKET, MAYBE 60% OR MORE, WE HAVE HAD OVER MANY YEARS BUT WE ARE BIG AND WE CAN SET THE PRICES.

 

MARY: SO WE UNDERMINE PRICES?

 

BRAD: SO THAT WENT DOWN SO MUCH YES, THAT IT HAS REALLY HURT FARMERS ALL AROUND THE WORLD. 

 

MARY: IS BREAD FOR THE WORLD CONCERNED ABOUT THAT PHENOMENON, ECONOMIC PHENOMENON?

 

ELLEN: YES.  BREAD FOR THE WORLD HAS BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO PERSUADE CONGRESS TO REFORM THE COMMODITY TITLE BUT THE HOUSE DECLINED TO DO THAT, ENTIRELY DECLINED TO DO THAT.  IT IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BREAD FOR THE WORLD IS CONTINUING TO ASK THE SENATE TO DO, TO REFORM THE COMMODITY TITLE BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE COMMODITY TITLE AS IT IS NOW AND AS IT CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE IN THE HOUSE VERSION OF THE FARM BILL MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR FARMERS OF MODEST MEANS IN THE UNITED STATES WHO DON’T GET SUPPORT THROUGH THAT TITLE, AND BECAUSE OF ITS IMPACT ON FARMERS IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD AND CERTAINLY ONE OF THE AREAS THAT HAS BEEN VERY HEAVILY EFFECTED BY OUR SUBSIDIZED COMMODITIES IS COTTON GROWERS IN WEST AFRICA.  SO YES, BREAD HAS BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.  AND AS I MENTIONED IN THE BEGINNING, THE NUTRITION TITLE WAS IMPROVED IN THE HOUSE BILL, THE COMMODITY TITLE WAS NOT IMPROVED.  BREAD IS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND IS WORKING TO CHANGE IT. 

 

BARBARA: AND THERE STILL COULD BE BETTER IMPROVEMENT I THINK IN THE  NUTRITION TITLE BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THEY DID WAS TO JUST ALLOW FOR THE ASSET LIMITATION TO BE ADJUSTED TO INFLATION OVER THE YEARS.

IN 1985 IT WAS SAID THAT IF YOU HAD MORE THAN 2 THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF ASSETS OF ANY KIND YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FOOD STAMPS.

DID THAT INCLUDE OWNING A HOME?

 

BARBARA: YES ALL OF THAT AND SO NOW, THAT’S THE EQUIVALENT OF 5900 DOLLARS AND THEY AREN’T SAYING THAT SHOULD BE ALLOWED, THAT YOU SHOULD GO TO THAT LEVEL ANYWAY.  IT STILL DOES PREVENT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED NUTRITIONAL HELP FROM GETTING FOOD STAMPS AND WE CALL THESE FOOD STAMPS BUT THEY’RE REALLY NOT FOOD STAMPS ANYMORE, IT’S AN ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER IN A LITTLE DEBIT CARD THAT YOU CAN CARRY WITH YOU SO THAT PEOPLE DON’T REALLY KNOW THAT YOU’RE USING FOOD STAMPS IN THE GROCERY STORE.  THEY ALSO HAVE BEEN USED IN THE FARMERS MARKET.  I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN HOW ONE’S DIGNITY CAN BE PRESERVED IF YOU’RE ON FOOD STAMPS BUT WE STILL DON’T REACH AS MANY PEOPLE AS ARE ELIGIBLE.  ACROSS THE COUNTRY ELIGIBILITY USAGE IS 65% AND IN IOWA IT’S ONLY 60%.  SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED THEM AND WOULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM THEM WHO ARE NOT FOR ONE REASON RECEIVING THEM, EVEN IF YOU’RE RECEIVING THEM THOUGH, IT’S PROBABLY ONLY A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF WHAT YOU NEED BECAUSE IT’S ONLY ABOUT A DOLLAR A MEAL PER PERSON.  MORE FAMILIES ARE HAVING TO RELY UPON THAT AS A, NOT JUST A SUPPLEMENT BUT AS A PRIMARY WAY OF FEEDING THEIR FAMILIES.  THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN ON FOOD STAMPS HAS INCREASED INCREDIBLY.  ABOUT 40% OF ALL RECIPIENTS ARE IN FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND IT JUST TO ME, THIS IS A MORAL ISSUE AS A NATION, IF WE DON’T FEED OUT CHILDREN, WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT HOW WE CARE FOR OUR PEOPLE.  OUR CHILDREN ARE INNOCENT.  MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON FOOD STAMPS ARE SINGLE PARENTS TRYING TO RAISE A FAMILY.  WE NEED TO MAKE THIS A POSSIBILITY FOR THEM NOT TO MAKE IT HARDER. 

 

MARY: YOU MENTIONED THAT PEOPLE CAN SPEND FOOD STAMPS AT FARMERS MARKET.  DO FARMERS, ARE FARMERS HAPPY ABOUT THAT?

 

BRAD: SURE. 

 

MARY: I READ ALSO THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE ADVOCATING IS THAT LOCAL SCHOOLS WILL USE LOCAL PRODUCE IN THEIR SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF BRINGING IN FOOD FROM ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTRY WHICH TAKES GAS AND MAKES IT MORE EXPENSIVE AND ALL OF THAT TO USE LOCAL PRODUCTS SEEMS TO MAKE MORE SENSE DOESN’T IT?  IS THAT IN THE FARM BILL?

 

I DON’T THINK THAT’S IN THE FARM BILL BUT THAT’S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT’S BECOMING MORE AND MORE UNDERSTOOD AS JUST GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF RESOURCES ALL THE WAY AROUND.

 

BRAD: IT’S A BIG PUSH BY VARIOUS GROUPS TO GET THAT INTO THE FARM BILL IN A WAY THAT REALLY MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.  ONE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY ABOUT THE FARM BILL, THE FARM SITUATION IS THAT THE FARMER IS IN A SITUATION IN BETWEEN ALL THE INPUT SIDE OF THINGS YOU BUY IN ORDER TO PUT IN A CROP, A BIG POWER COMPLEX, A BIG AGRI BUSINESS TECHNOLOGICAL COMPLEX THAT IS SELLING TRACTORS, COMBINES, CHEMICALS, PESTICIDE, A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS IN TO FARMERS AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, THERE’S ANOTHER BIG KIND OF LIKE A MANHATTAN PROJECT WHERE YOU THEY’RE BIG AND YOU CAN POUR A LOT OF RESOURCES AND INVENT SOMETHING AMAZING BUT OF THOSE FOR EXPORTING, WHO ARE PROCESSING THE COMMODITIES AND SOME OF THAT, ANYWAY, THEY EACH HAVE I’LL SAY IN THE FARM BILL, AND THEN AS THE PRICE HAS GONE ON THIS SIDE OVER HERE THEY SAY WELL, WE’RE A PACKER, WE’RE BUYING LIVESTOCK FROM FARMERS, WHY DON’T WE START RAISING IT SO THEN WE HAVE LIKE A 3^RD ONE WHERE THEY’RE GETTING BIG FEED LOTS AND FACTORIES TO RAISE USING THE CHEAP, BELOW COST GRAIN TO RAISE LIVESTOCK IN COMPETITION WITH FARMERS AND IN THE FARM BILL LIKE IN, ON THE LOCAL FOODS, THERE ARE *** FOR RESEARCH FOR EXAMPLE A RESEARCH TITLE BUT THE RESEARCH MONEY A LOT OF THAT WAS USED ON THINGS LIKE HOW DO WE BIG CORPORATIONS TAKE THE MARKET AWAY FROM LOCAL PEOPLE BY THINGS LIKE, WELL, PROTO RATE CATION, WE CAN MOVE THINGS A LONG LONG WAYS, BETTER, FARTHER WITH RADIATIONAL OR PUTTING ADDITIVES IN **, DIFFERENT KIND OF THINGS THAT WERE RESEARCHED.  THEN AS A WAY TO HELP FARMERS SUPPOSEDLY, BUT IT ENDS UP COMPETING WITH AND DAMAGING LOCAL MARKETS.  SO LIKE WHEN I GO TO SELL CHICKENS, I’M GOING TO GET THEM PROCESSED IN IOWA TODAY, THERE’S ONLY ONE STATE INSPECTED CHICKEN PROCESSOR IN THE EASTERN 3/4 OF THE STATE OF IOWA, AND ONE FEDERAL.  SO THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A LOCAL SYSTEM ISN’T THERE LIKE IT USED TO BE.

 

SO THE BIG AGRICULTURAL CONCERNS ARE PROFITING BY THE CURRENT FARM BILL NOT THE SMALLER ONES? 

 

IN ADDITION TO THAT FROM WHAT I’VE READ, THESE BIG CONCERNS ARE NOT PRODUCING THE HEALTHIEST FOOD.  IS THAT A CONCERN THAT THEY’RE PRODUCING A LOT OF FERTILIZERS THAT ARE MADE WITH CHEMICALS AND PETROLEUM THAT ARE PROBABLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE AMOUNT OF ILL HEALTH THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COUNTRY.  NOT EVERYBODY CAN AFFORD TO PURCHASE ORGANIC FOODS AND SO THE STANDARDS FOR BUYING FOOD ARE PROBABLY NOT THAT GREAT IN THIS COUNTRY AND SO PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY POOR PEOPLE HAVE TO TAKE WHAT THEY CAN GET AND END UP PUTTING A LOT OF STUFF IN YOUR BODY THAT’S PROBABLY NOT VERY GOOD FOR YOU.  EVEN IF YOU’RE TRYING TO EAT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN’T AFFORD.  THE COST OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES HAS GONE UP INCREDIBLY.

 

SO WE SUBSIDIZE THE MOST UNHEALTHY FOOD?

RIGHT. 

 

MARY: WOULD YOU ALL AGREE WITH THAT?

 

THE FOODS THAT MAKE YOU OBESE.

 

MARY: YEAH, IT’S IRONIC. 

 

BRAD: AND SUBSIDIZED MEANS LOWER PRICES BUT FARMERS ARE FIGHTING BACK SO YOU’RE GETTING A SUBSIDY, YOU’RE LOWERING IT DOWN AND GIVING IT A SUBSIDY DOWN HERE NOT UP ON TOP BUT DOWN LOW AND THOSE LOW PRICES THEN FOR EXAMPLE, IN, SUGAR’S A LITTLE COMPLICATED, IN CORN SUGAR, CORN SYRUPS, YOU SEE SO WIDE SPREAD IN SO MANY THINGS.

 

IN SODA. 

 

BRAD: ARE BASED ON A LOW PRICED CORN, A LACK PRICE SUPPORT.  ONE EXCEPTION INTERESTINGLY IS CANE AND BEET SUGAR.  I WAS DRIVING OVER HERE AND THEY HAD, AT THE TIME WE’RE TAPING THIS AND THEY HAD A PROGRAM ON THAT THEY SAID THEY’RE COMPLAINING THAT SUGAR IS COSTING AN EXTRA THIRD, CANE AND BEET SUGAR BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY DOES HAVE A PRICE SUPPORT.  SO IT’S BAD BECAUSE CONSUMERS HAVE TO PAY TOO MUCH SO WHAT THEIR REALLY SAYING IS YOU HAVE TO PAY AN EXTRA THIRD IN THE SUGAR VALUE IN A CANDY BAR.  JUST THE OPPOSITE OF THE CORN SYRUP WHERE IT’S TOO LOW AND THEREFOR YOUR CANDY BAR IS TOO CHEAP.

 

MARY: I TELL YOU, THIS WHOLE FOOD THING IS JUST BYZANTINE AS FAR AS I’M CONCERNED. 

 

SEEMS LIKE SO MUCH OF IT IS SO FAR SIGHTED IN TERMS OF LONG TERM HEALTH ISSUES DOWN THE LINE.  POVERTY COSTS OUR COUNTRY AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF MONEY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES PROPERLY AND IT WOULD BE SO MUCH WISER EVEN IF YOU DIDN’T CARE ABOUT THE QUALITY OF PEOPLES LIVES AND HUMAN MISERY JUST FROM AN ECONOMIC POINT OF VIEW TO HELP PEOPLE UP FRONT WITH PREVENTION AND WITH HEALTHY LIFESTYLES THAN IT IS TO TAKE CARE OF THE ILLNESS LATER. 

 

LET ME ASK YOU THIS. 

 

ELLEN: I WAS GOING TO MENTION ONE OTHER, ONE OF THE FOOD PROGRAMS THAT’S IN THE FARM BILL AND THAT’S THE EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BECAUSE THAT PROVIDES STORABLE FOOD, NON PERISHABLES TO FOOD BANKS WHICH DISTRIBUTE IT THEN TO LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES AND OUR AS OUR COUNTY TRACKS DATA FOR HOW MANY PEOPLE REQUIRE FOOD ASSISTANCE, THERE ARE ACTUALLY 13 THOUSAND REQUESTS, 13 THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS REQUESTING FOOD ASSISTANCE EVERY MONTH IN LINN AND JOHNSON COUNTY AND MANY OF THOSE REQUESTS GO TO OUR FOOD BANKS, THE CHURCHES IN MARION PANTRY, THE LINN COMMUNITY FOOD BANK, LOAVES OF FISHES, HELPING HANDS.  THOSE FOOD BANKS, THOSE FOOD PANTRIES GET FOOD TO DISTRIBUTE FROM THE HACAP FOOD RESERVOIR AND HACAP FOOD RESERVOIR GETS IT THROUGH THE T** PROGRAM THAT’S IN THE FARM BILL.  SO, AND THE HEAD OF THE HACAP FOOD RESERVOIR HAS SAID THAT THE AMOUNT OF COMMODITIES COME OUT OF NON PERISHABLE FOOD COMING INTO IOWA TO THE HACAP FOOD RESERVOIR TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO OUR FOOD PANTRIES HAS BEEN GOING DOWN SO THAT IS ANOTHER PART OF THE NUTRITION PROGRAMS IN THE FARM BILL THAT NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED, IT’S SUPPORTING A LOT OF FOOD NEED IN LINN COUNTY. 

 

I THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED AT HOW MUCH HUNGER THERE IS IN LINN COUNTY.  IT’S INCREASING ALL OVER IOWA, BETWEEN 2000 AND 2007.  THAT’S REALLY RIGHT HERE AT HOME, WE HAVE CONCERNS HERE ABOUT THIS.  IF I COULD JUST INSERT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RESULTS PROGRAM BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING PEOPLE IN LINN COUNTY CAN GET INVOLVED IN.  IT’S LIKE THAT IN THE WORLD IN THAT IT’S A CITIZEN ADVOCACY GROUP BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS PERHAPS THAT IT’S NOT A CHRISTIAN OR RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION, IT’S NOT SECRETARIAN BUT WE DO THE SAME SORT OF ADVOCACY WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND WITH ** TRYING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE, BRING UP AWARENESS AND IT’S A GREAT ORGANIZATION, OUR CHAPTER HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR NOT QUITE A YEAR NOW.

 

MARY: CAN PEOPLE CONTACT YOU?

 

THEY CAN CONTACT CHRIST CHURCH IF THEY ARE INTERESTED.  IT JUST HAPPENS TO MEET THERE AND PEOPLE CAN COME FROM ALL OVER TO BE INVOLVED, WE’D LOVE TO SEE MORE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER.  WE WRITE LETTERS TOGETHER ONCE A MONTH AND IT’S A GOOD WAY TO DO IT. 

 

MARY: LET ME ASK YOU THIS.  ARE THE NEEDS OF FARMERS AND THE NEEDS OF POOR PEOPLE AT ODDS WITH EACH OTHER IN THE UNITED STATES? 

 

ELLEN: I DON’T THINK SO BUT I’LL BE INTERESTED IN WHAT BRAD

 

BRAD: IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU STRUCTURE IT.  THE POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES IN REGARDS TO 4 DECADES HAS BEEN TO EXPORT OUR MAJOR COMMODITIES AT THE LOWER COST OF PRODUCTION.  THE POLICY THAT I SAY THEN IS WE LOSE MONEY ON EXPORTS ON AN ONGOING BASIS OF THESE MAJOR COMMODITIES.  THAT IS SO THAT CORPORATIONS CAN MAKE MONEY OFF OF LOW PRICED, BELOW PRICED ** AND THE STRATEGY THAT HAS DIVIDED PEOPLE AND WE RIGHT NOW IN CHURCHES AND IN THE MOVEMENT TO TRY TO GET A FARM BILL THAT WILL HELP THE POOR AND OTHER COUNTRIES AND HELP FARMERS IN THE UNITED STATES AND WHAT HAS DIVIDED US IS THAT AS THEY HAVE LOWERED THE PRICE OF EXPORTS, THEN THEY ADDED A SUBSIDY TO TRY TO AS A WAY TO GET THE FARMERS NOT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE LOW MARKET PRICE.  WE HAVE GROUPS TODAY THAT ARE, WE DON’T HAVE PRICE SUPPORTS IN THE FARM BILL AND SO PEOPLE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT IT.  BACK IN THE 1980'S WE HAD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT FARM PRICES HERE IN IOWA, ALL THE MAINLINE CHURCHES WERE ON BOARD WITH PRICE SUPPORTS AND NOW THEY’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT PRICE SUPPORTS MOSTLY, THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT IN MANY CASES ONLY ABOUT SUBSIDIES.  BUT IF YOU GOT RID OF THE SUBSIDY, IT WON’T RAISE THE PRICE FOR FARMERS IN THE UNITED STATES.  IT WOULD BE A DISASTER AND IT WON’T RAISE THE PRICE OF THIS LOW COST SUGAR.

 

MARY: DON’T PRICE SUPPORTS MAKE FOOD MORE EXPENSIVE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO BUY?

 

THAT’S A REAL HONEST QUESTION.

 

DOES THAT PUT HUNGRY PEOPLE AND FARMERS AT ODDS WITH EACH OTHER?

 

BRAD: IF THEY RAISE PRICE SUPPORTS IN THE UNITED STATES HELPS US HERE AND ALSO HELPS THE FARMERS OVERSEAS THIS IS THE SAME THING AND IF YOU RAISE PRICE SUPPORTS THEN YOU DON’T NEED SUBSIDIES.  SO THEREFORE YOU HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY THAT YOU DON’T NEED TO SPEND ANYMORE AND MORE MONEY CAN BE PUT INTO FOOD STAMPS. 

 

MARY: I SEE.  ELLEN?

 

ELLEN: DO YOU BELIEVE IT WOULD HELP FARMERS.  ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BREAD HAS BEEN ADVOCATING HAS BEEN RE DIRECTING MONEY WITHIN THE SUBSIDIES, THAT IS, BREAD IS NOT ASKING FOR SUBSIDIES TO BE ELIMINATED BUT IN THE FARM BILL THAT’S ABOUT TO EXPIRE, WE ARE PAYING SUBSIDIES TO FARMERS WITH INCOMES OF 2 AND ½ MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.  UNDER THE HOUSE VERSION OF THE NEW FARM BILL, WE WOULD STILL PAY SUBSIDIES TO FARMERS EARNING A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.  ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BREAD WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS MONEY RE DIRECTED FROM THE WEALTHIEST FARMERS TO FARMERS OF MODEST MEANS SO WE COULD PROVIDE BETTER SUPPORT TO FAMILY SIZED FARMS.  WHAT IS YOUR THINKING ABOUT HOW MUCH THAT WOULD HELP OR NOT HELP FAMILY FARMS?

 

BRAD: THE TO PUT A CAP OF SUBSIDIES DOESN’T DO MUCH.  TO GET THE SUBSIDY, BASICALLY PRICES ARE LOWERED DOWN.  IF YOU’RE LOWERED DOWN AND THEN YOU’RE WIDE BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOT OF BUSHELS, YOU CAN GET A MILLION DOLLARS OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS BUT ONLY DOWN HERE.  IF YOU TAKE THAT SAME LOWERING OF PRICE AND YOU GIVE IT TO THE CORPORATION THEN YOU PUT IT UP OVER ON TOP.  THEY GET THE BENEFIT ON TOP, THE PROCESSORS AND THE BIG FEED LOTS AND SO FORTH.  THEY GET THAT SUBSIDE, A MULTI BILLION DOLLAR SUBSIDY FOR A SMITHFIELD, TYSON, CARGILL, ADM LIKE THAT.

 

ELLEN: BECAUSE THEY’RE BUYING THE CHEAP

 

BRAD: YEAH AND IT DOESN’T DO ANYTHING.  SUBSIDIES DON’T LOWER THE MARKET PRICE.  THEY DON’T REDUCE THE SUPPLY.  TO CUT BACK, THEY DON’T EFFECT THE SUPPLY, ONLY THE PRICE SUPPORT WITH SUPPLY MANAGEMENT EFFECTS THAT AND THAT’S THE ONLY THING THAT WILL EFFECT THE PRICES AND THAT WILL HELP ** JUST IN A NUTSHELL, ONE DOLLAR IN AGRICULTURE CAN GENERATE 7 DOLLARS TO THE ECONOMY IN A DIVERSIFIED AGRICULTURE.  THAT’S HOW YOU CAN RAISE THE PRICE SUPPORT.  IF YOU MULTIPLY IT FOR THE POOR.

 

WELL WE COULD TALK ABOUT THIS FOR ANOTHER 3 HOURS COULDN’T WE?  BRAD, ELLEN, BARBARA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  AS YOU CAN TELL THERE’S A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT THIS AND I HOPE YOU WILL READ ON THE INTERNET AND IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND THEN CONTACT YOUR SENATOR WITH WHAT YOU THINK.  WE’LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.