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Centrist Cabinet, Progressive President?
Jan 08, 2009
Who found it more difficult to get excited about an Obama presidency,
the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) or the progressive wing of the
Democratic party? The DLC folks are riding high, calling themselves
"The New Team". The progressives came away empty handed.
Progressives assumed change would extend to Obama's Cabinet, but we
never expected the change to be a reflection of the Clinton
administration or worse yet the Bush administration. We thought change
would mean, well, something different. New people, new ideas, economic
reforms, leaving Iraq, new energy policies and a kinder face to the
world.
The experts, the political junkies say Obama has loaded his cabinet
with centrists. Progressives can only wonder why the world suddenly
turned upside down. OK, it's his cabinet he can pick whom he wishes but
his picks seem a bit out of place. Like Michael Pollen eating a Luther
Burger.
History tells us unlikely people have sometimes done great things.
Lincoln put his major rivals in his cabinet, that worked out well.
Still, if Obama wants "a vigorous debate inside the White House" a few
progressive voices would help mellow out the DLC chorus.
Lincoln put his major rivals in his cabinet, that worked out well.
Still, if Obama wants "a vigorous debate inside the White House" a few
progressive voices would help mellow out the DLC chorus.
Then there was Obama's nomination of former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack
as Secretary of Agriculture. With a world food crisis, food safety
problems and a growing demand for local and organic food, the time was
right for a real change in national food policy on so many levels.
Obama could have picked someone who was knowledgeable about organic
farming, local and regional food systems, someone who felt more at ease
mending fence or thinning carrots than sitting in a corporate board
room. Someone who knew the difference between growing food and growing
commodity crops.
I don't doubt Tom Vilsack is a nice guy who did a lot for Iowa
agriculture. I know he did a lot for agribusiness, the chemical
companies, biotechnology and large scale farming. Apparently his vision
of better agriculture is bigger more intensive agriculture.
Is that Obama's vision of agriculture as well? Could be, it seems he's
been pal'n around with big agriculture biotech zealots. Sharon Long
(former Monsanto board member) and Michael Taylor (former Monsanto
vice-president), are both on his advisory team . Obama did endorse
genetically modified crops (GM) stating they were safe and had
"provided enormous benefits to farmers", so, choosing the Biotechnology
Industry Organization's "Governor of the Year" to head USDA shouldn't
have been surprising, but come on!
Obama once said "The Good Food movement, the organic food movement is a
wonderful opportunity for farmers to diversify. When they can diversify
and get other crops going, we can in fact produce a healthier food. And
more profits can go into the hands of family farmers as opposed to the
big food processors and mega businesses. Then I think we are doing well
for everybody". Michelle was quoted in the New Yorker as saying "in my
household, over the last year we have just shifted to organic---".
GM farming and organic farming are not compatible, GM pollen drifts for
miles and contaminates both organic and non-GM conventional crops. As
GM proponents spread their technologies worldwide they push out small
organic farmers and local food production. President-elect Obama isn't
a farmer, in practical experience he has no way of knowing, so we need
to tell him; there is a lot we need to tell him.
For one, it is difficult to have it both ways, disingenuous to want
organic for your family while supporting the "mega businesses" that
push GM on the world. If Obama's heart is really with small farms,
local production and organic food, why a Secretary of Agriculture so
closely allied with agribusiness?
The progressive community feels like we have been left "sucking hind
teat" again. But progressives have always kept the vision alive, in
spite of efforts to kill or cripple every progressive initiative. From
single payer health care, to fair trade, to local food, our issues
still resonate. We held against Ann Veneman, Dennis Avery and ketchup
as a vegetable. We can't let up, even a timidly progressive agenda
would be a step forward.
Obama is certainly no fool, could his cabinet picks unify Congress and
actually effect progressive change by stealth? I hope so,--- I
certainly hope so. As Obama so eloquently phrased, it "hope in the face
of uncertainty, the audacity of hope". Paul Wellstone once told me, in
Washington, ya gotta play the game. Well, the Games have begun. I'm
waiting to see which side Obama plays for.
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Jim Goodman
Jim Goodman is a retired third-generation dairy farmer from Wonewoc, Wisconsin and a member of Family Farm Defenders.
Who found it more difficult to get excited about an Obama presidency,
the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) or the progressive wing of the
Democratic party? The DLC folks are riding high, calling themselves
"The New Team". The progressives came away empty handed.
Progressives assumed change would extend to Obama's Cabinet, but we
never expected the change to be a reflection of the Clinton
administration or worse yet the Bush administration. We thought change
would mean, well, something different. New people, new ideas, economic
reforms, leaving Iraq, new energy policies and a kinder face to the
world.
The experts, the political junkies say Obama has loaded his cabinet
with centrists. Progressives can only wonder why the world suddenly
turned upside down. OK, it's his cabinet he can pick whom he wishes but
his picks seem a bit out of place. Like Michael Pollen eating a Luther
Burger.
History tells us unlikely people have sometimes done great things.
Lincoln put his major rivals in his cabinet, that worked out well.
Still, if Obama wants "a vigorous debate inside the White House" a few
progressive voices would help mellow out the DLC chorus.
Lincoln put his major rivals in his cabinet, that worked out well.
Still, if Obama wants "a vigorous debate inside the White House" a few
progressive voices would help mellow out the DLC chorus.
Then there was Obama's nomination of former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack
as Secretary of Agriculture. With a world food crisis, food safety
problems and a growing demand for local and organic food, the time was
right for a real change in national food policy on so many levels.
Obama could have picked someone who was knowledgeable about organic
farming, local and regional food systems, someone who felt more at ease
mending fence or thinning carrots than sitting in a corporate board
room. Someone who knew the difference between growing food and growing
commodity crops.
I don't doubt Tom Vilsack is a nice guy who did a lot for Iowa
agriculture. I know he did a lot for agribusiness, the chemical
companies, biotechnology and large scale farming. Apparently his vision
of better agriculture is bigger more intensive agriculture.
Is that Obama's vision of agriculture as well? Could be, it seems he's
been pal'n around with big agriculture biotech zealots. Sharon Long
(former Monsanto board member) and Michael Taylor (former Monsanto
vice-president), are both on his advisory team . Obama did endorse
genetically modified crops (GM) stating they were safe and had
"provided enormous benefits to farmers", so, choosing the Biotechnology
Industry Organization's "Governor of the Year" to head USDA shouldn't
have been surprising, but come on!
Obama once said "The Good Food movement, the organic food movement is a
wonderful opportunity for farmers to diversify. When they can diversify
and get other crops going, we can in fact produce a healthier food. And
more profits can go into the hands of family farmers as opposed to the
big food processors and mega businesses. Then I think we are doing well
for everybody". Michelle was quoted in the New Yorker as saying "in my
household, over the last year we have just shifted to organic---".
GM farming and organic farming are not compatible, GM pollen drifts for
miles and contaminates both organic and non-GM conventional crops. As
GM proponents spread their technologies worldwide they push out small
organic farmers and local food production. President-elect Obama isn't
a farmer, in practical experience he has no way of knowing, so we need
to tell him; there is a lot we need to tell him.
For one, it is difficult to have it both ways, disingenuous to want
organic for your family while supporting the "mega businesses" that
push GM on the world. If Obama's heart is really with small farms,
local production and organic food, why a Secretary of Agriculture so
closely allied with agribusiness?
The progressive community feels like we have been left "sucking hind
teat" again. But progressives have always kept the vision alive, in
spite of efforts to kill or cripple every progressive initiative. From
single payer health care, to fair trade, to local food, our issues
still resonate. We held against Ann Veneman, Dennis Avery and ketchup
as a vegetable. We can't let up, even a timidly progressive agenda
would be a step forward.
Obama is certainly no fool, could his cabinet picks unify Congress and
actually effect progressive change by stealth? I hope so,--- I
certainly hope so. As Obama so eloquently phrased, it "hope in the face
of uncertainty, the audacity of hope". Paul Wellstone once told me, in
Washington, ya gotta play the game. Well, the Games have begun. I'm
waiting to see which side Obama plays for.
Jim Goodman
Jim Goodman is a retired third-generation dairy farmer from Wonewoc, Wisconsin and a member of Family Farm Defenders.
Who found it more difficult to get excited about an Obama presidency,
the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) or the progressive wing of the
Democratic party? The DLC folks are riding high, calling themselves
"The New Team". The progressives came away empty handed.
Progressives assumed change would extend to Obama's Cabinet, but we
never expected the change to be a reflection of the Clinton
administration or worse yet the Bush administration. We thought change
would mean, well, something different. New people, new ideas, economic
reforms, leaving Iraq, new energy policies and a kinder face to the
world.
The experts, the political junkies say Obama has loaded his cabinet
with centrists. Progressives can only wonder why the world suddenly
turned upside down. OK, it's his cabinet he can pick whom he wishes but
his picks seem a bit out of place. Like Michael Pollen eating a Luther
Burger.
History tells us unlikely people have sometimes done great things.
Lincoln put his major rivals in his cabinet, that worked out well.
Still, if Obama wants "a vigorous debate inside the White House" a few
progressive voices would help mellow out the DLC chorus.
Lincoln put his major rivals in his cabinet, that worked out well.
Still, if Obama wants "a vigorous debate inside the White House" a few
progressive voices would help mellow out the DLC chorus.
Then there was Obama's nomination of former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack
as Secretary of Agriculture. With a world food crisis, food safety
problems and a growing demand for local and organic food, the time was
right for a real change in national food policy on so many levels.
Obama could have picked someone who was knowledgeable about organic
farming, local and regional food systems, someone who felt more at ease
mending fence or thinning carrots than sitting in a corporate board
room. Someone who knew the difference between growing food and growing
commodity crops.
I don't doubt Tom Vilsack is a nice guy who did a lot for Iowa
agriculture. I know he did a lot for agribusiness, the chemical
companies, biotechnology and large scale farming. Apparently his vision
of better agriculture is bigger more intensive agriculture.
Is that Obama's vision of agriculture as well? Could be, it seems he's
been pal'n around with big agriculture biotech zealots. Sharon Long
(former Monsanto board member) and Michael Taylor (former Monsanto
vice-president), are both on his advisory team . Obama did endorse
genetically modified crops (GM) stating they were safe and had
"provided enormous benefits to farmers", so, choosing the Biotechnology
Industry Organization's "Governor of the Year" to head USDA shouldn't
have been surprising, but come on!
Obama once said "The Good Food movement, the organic food movement is a
wonderful opportunity for farmers to diversify. When they can diversify
and get other crops going, we can in fact produce a healthier food. And
more profits can go into the hands of family farmers as opposed to the
big food processors and mega businesses. Then I think we are doing well
for everybody". Michelle was quoted in the New Yorker as saying "in my
household, over the last year we have just shifted to organic---".
GM farming and organic farming are not compatible, GM pollen drifts for
miles and contaminates both organic and non-GM conventional crops. As
GM proponents spread their technologies worldwide they push out small
organic farmers and local food production. President-elect Obama isn't
a farmer, in practical experience he has no way of knowing, so we need
to tell him; there is a lot we need to tell him.
For one, it is difficult to have it both ways, disingenuous to want
organic for your family while supporting the "mega businesses" that
push GM on the world. If Obama's heart is really with small farms,
local production and organic food, why a Secretary of Agriculture so
closely allied with agribusiness?
The progressive community feels like we have been left "sucking hind
teat" again. But progressives have always kept the vision alive, in
spite of efforts to kill or cripple every progressive initiative. From
single payer health care, to fair trade, to local food, our issues
still resonate. We held against Ann Veneman, Dennis Avery and ketchup
as a vegetable. We can't let up, even a timidly progressive agenda
would be a step forward.
Obama is certainly no fool, could his cabinet picks unify Congress and
actually effect progressive change by stealth? I hope so,--- I
certainly hope so. As Obama so eloquently phrased, it "hope in the face
of uncertainty, the audacity of hope". Paul Wellstone once told me, in
Washington, ya gotta play the game. Well, the Games have begun. I'm
waiting to see which side Obama plays for.
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