tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171420941776673660.post4981387838204976647..comments2024-03-28T02:29:13.507-07:00Comments on Legal Ruralism: Invoking rural values and virtues to defend farm subsidiesLisa R. Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469550950363542801noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171420941776673660.post-25068053871492776612011-03-14T15:18:08.090-07:002011-03-14T15:18:08.090-07:00I definitely agree with the notion that we should ...I definitely agree with the notion that we should change - but not abolish - farm subsidies. As both Jen and Mark Bittman mention, they currently benefit agribusiness at the expense of the public, but I still agree with the premise that government should subsidize agriculture in some form. It's not about market control. It's about creating a healthier population. Healthy eating shouldn't be limited to people who can afford to shop at the Co-op.Jon di Cristinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09058747145544987632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171420941776673660.post-65660959316416421772011-03-13T13:21:36.594-07:002011-03-13T13:21:36.594-07:00I appreciate that Secretary Vilsack spoke up in de...I appreciate that Secretary Vilsack spoke up in defense of rural America, but I don't believe that supporting the current funding scheme for farm subsidies will do anything for those constituents he purports to care so much about. Farm subsidies help agribusiness and, as Mark Bittman so aptly points out, are a contributing factor to the obesity epidemic in the U.S. Unless the subsidies are tied back to the rural economy, they won't have a positive effect on rural communities. Instead, they will continue to destroy the local economies of rural places by promoting and perpetuating farm consolidation and conglomeratization.Jen Wickenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12731583154740920149noreply@blogger.com