2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes technology television terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

The larger issue raised by Tuesday's show, and one that would make a great topic for a future show, is the rapid rate at which U.S. farmers are being reduced to sharecroppers.  That is, they technically own the means of production, but are so far in hock to the folks that front them their seeds, fertilizer, baby chicks, etc. that they are effectively only working for a paycheck from an agribusiness empire.  This is already the situation for chicken and hog producers and the trend is well under way for cattle production.  Monsanto, Archer Daniels Midland, et. al. have made a good start on putting the same stranglehold on vegetable crops.  Banking heirloom seeds and supporting small local producers is a healthy trend and one that could be encouraged through further discussion and awareness of the issue. 

posted 3 years, 1 month ago
view in context

In the short term, people can still buy cane sugar (C&H is one brand) at the grocery store.  It is not raised organically and cane production has its own set of environmental issues, but it does let you avoid using GMO sugar beets.

posted 3 years, 1 month ago
view in context