Downwind“Republicans, Democrats, and Independents”
I have known my parents for many decades. They are farming Americans from the rural area. They might be Republicans or Democrats or Independents. I don’t know. After all those decades, I still do not know who they have voted for, if they have a party affiliation, or who they will vote for in the upcoming presidential election. Their vote has always been very personal, and they believe it is no one’s business to know how they vote (including their nosy son).
As we are approaching another presidential election, I will not know which candidate Mom and Dad support. I do know that political ads will take over the airways and media. Will those ads carry a positive or negative message? I think we know the answer to that one as well.
The national political conventions, Democratic Party in Chicago and Republican Party in Milwaukee, provide the additional benefit of local favor, hype, spin, drama, polls, news, protests, and commentary.
Political drama includes age, cognitive ability, fitness for office, and court cases for both parties to wrestle. Following the assassination attempt and words of unity, what will prevail…a higher ground of statesmanship? Partisan bickering? True issue debate? What will happen before, during, and after November. And now, President Biden has announced his plan not to seek re-election…fall out?
I am really (add another “really”) thankful that as a general farm organization, the Farm Bureau does not select a presidential candidate to support or to oppose. We have members that are staunchly Republican, loyally Democrat, and proudly Independent. Endorsing one candidate over another would not play out well with a chunk of members, and would be a great way to lose segments of the “member” vote. Members vote with their wallets and purses!
Ultimately, members want (and need) Farm Bureau to achieve the farm related policies and beliefs approved through our grassroots processes, no matter which party is in the majority. I’ve have seen it play out during the Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush 2, Obama, Trump, and now the Biden administrations (others before that are beyond my feeble memory). Each President arrived on the Washington scene with some good and some not so good farm related impact intentions. Knowing we need to work with whoever arrives in the office, Farm Bureau focuses on farm issues and communications about food, fiber, and fuel. We work to implement member policy related to those issues in a non-partisan approach with the President as well as elected bodies at the federal, state, and local levels.
And speaking of politics, cultivating the “farm vote” does not seem to be a concern to the presidential candidates or parties this year. Back in the day, presidential candidates and political parties would have a segment of their campaign platform focused on farming and agriculture. Just over 1% of the population farms. Certainly, not a big voting block unless farmers voted as a unified block (fat chance). However, the agricultural industry is huge with associated jobs, economics, and consumer impact. I guess polling data says the farm vote doesn’t matter.
The party platforms reflect that conclusion. I did a quick farm policy platform promises/proposals check and there is not much from either party.
The Democratic Party platform has a short section on rural Americans that includes mentions of family farmers, farm programs, non-discrimination by the USDA, and net-zero emissions.
The Republican Party platform has even less farm policy addressed with just a mention to protect farmers from unfair foreign competition.
On a personal note, when each presidential election cycle rolls around, I remind myself not to get too wrapped up in all the blustering winds of rhetoric. Now if the President were king, there would be more to be worried about. I have come to realize it is the actions of elected officials from municipalities, townships, the county, and other local units of government that have a greater direct impact on my life, family, home, and property.
If I were king, I would proclaim…love, peace, and tranquility to all voters. Maybe those farmers I call “Mom” and “Dad” have it right.
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August must be the time for Downwind heavy topics. My topic last August was the pending Farm Bill and the reasons why the average American should care about it. Here we are one year later, and I can’t believe that the US Senate and House have not yet approved a new Farm Bill… A year of wasted time, rhetoric, and unsurety for farms and landowners across the country.
At least I did not write about the Chevron Doctrine reversed by the Supreme Court last month and its impact on farming…talk about a heavy topic.