Posted on 05/19/2018 8:34:23 AM PDT by rktman
They're fleeing rural areas for cities because that's where the jobs are. There aren't small family farms anymore. Today there are massive corporate-owned farms where the work is done by machines.
What decade does this writer think we are living in?
I’ve been saying this for years. HUGE divide between rural and city type thinking - and it follows the maps of red and blue voters.
My 36 year marriage may not be the greatest but I do have to say my wife knows where food comes from, even though she was raised in smaller cities and nobody in her family was ever a farmer or hunter.
The first time I took her home to meet my family I went bird hunting. As I was cleaning my birds she came outside and asked me to teach her how to process the birds properly. Later on she did the same during deer season and she operated the meat grinder making the Bambi Burger, also, she really likes venison.
I sure have to stick up for her for how she understands the basics of life.
Our local Smith's store used to donate day-old bread and pastries to the Senior Center. A lot of people took advantage of their generosity. Then one old biddy complained about a bit of mold she found on an apple pie. Smiths no longer donates any food.
Wife and I did volunteer work at a Salvation Army food bank. We had to pull out all cans with labels that were obsolete due to a new law. We asked why they couldn't donate that stuff to the homeless. They replied, "Someone would sue us."
I used to work as a night stocker at Wal-Mart and would get sick at the stuff they had to throw away because of that threat.
Livin’ in a litigious world...... To the tune of material girl.
>>Sadly, more and more people are fleeing rural areas and migrating to cities. According to a recent article in the Hill, “Metro area populations surge as rural America shrinks.”<<
Well, for many of us out here in the boonies the news of people fleeing the rural areas is very good news. Less traffic, more peace and quiet, fewer people in check-out lines, etc. To those leaving we say GOOD RIDDANCE!
>>There aren’t small family farms anymore. Today there are massive corporate-owned farms where the work is done by machines.<<
Wrong. I live in the country and there are small family farms everywhere. Moreover, I travel the highways and byways all over the country and, although in some parts there are large corporate farms, there are also many small farms in the same areas.
>>It’s what happened in the Soviet Union, Stalin basically demanded all food grown to be given to the cities, and therefore millions in Ukraine starved to death.<<
Very few people today are aware of that particular holocaust.
>>Australia is working at importing South African farmers.<<
Well there should be plenty of SA farmers available because they’re now being systematically robbed of their own land.
>>Its great exercise and good for your mental health as well.<<
Yes, that’s true for those who are not too old or physically impaired to do the work.
>> or better yet, just get it at the supermarket ...<<
One successful EMP attack and the supermarkets would be devoid of food in a matter of days. Check out a copy of William Forstchen’s little book entitled Day of Wrath.
>>Although a bit of a non-starter (because many will associate it with cotton), I believe people on government assistance should be shifted out of urban centers and given some sort of “40 acres and a mule” deal. Perhaps some sort of government check (smaller) could still be sent if really needed, but anyone who is slightly able should be working the land, raising chickens and goats and growing fruits and vegetables. A solid percentage of your daily needs should be generated by your own handiwork — if you cannot contribute to society in any other way. And if you just “don’t feel like working”, then maybe we don’t feel like supporting you.<<
Well and truly said. Truth to tell, it’s a very short step to starvation and mayhem when the food supply is seriously disrupted. People will kill one another over a can of beans if they and their loved ones are starving to death.
>>Don’t forget the fisherman! So many regulations its hard to go fishing without breaking the law.<<
Actually under an increasingly repressive government it’s increasingly difficult to avoid breaking some law or other between sunrise and sunset. And in the former Soviet Union it was that state of oppression that enabled Lavrentiy Beria to truthfully say, “Show me the man and I’ll find you the crime.”
The left simply hates farmers and ranchers, and not just corporate- they hate all farmers and ranchers. The only exceptions are the small organic growers. As the article says they have no idea where food really comes from or the process. Not that long ago everyone had someone in the family that was still involved in agriculture, visits to the family at the farm or ranch gave people some insight that is rare now.
I honestly believe the left has been and are using the power of the government to put farmers and ranchers out of business with all their laws and regulations. Impossible to follow. The left had a slogan in the 70s “Cattle Free by 93” and they were serious, they wanted every head of cattle gone in the U.S. They have kept up that battle over the years and they are winning. Many young people that grow up on ranches have no desire to fight that battle of dealing with government agencies that are left leaning, and do not want ranchers. Government has also had many ongoing battles with farmers, fishermen, etc. The very young people who would love to continue to farm or ranch want no part of the battle with the government and lefty groups over water, grazing, nonsense regulations that they have watched their families go through year after year.
People, even here on FR talk about Welfare farmers and ranchers because of programs the government has done in the past to help agriculture. Most of those programs were started because our leaders at one time realized what a task it is to feed this country, and to try to level the playing field a bit to make up for all the blows mother nature can hand out. Now we resent those programs and have no understanding of them so no idea why we might need to continue.
I have often wondered what people expect to eat? Where they expect it to come from? If we don’t wake up real quick about agriculture in this country we will be waking up to no food. My family was heavily involved in agriculture, each generation less so. My grandfather’s ranch was sold because without government leases it would not support 1 family. It is no longer a ranch, it is a get-away place for a wealthy family. Not one of my kids is working in a career that relates to agriculture. The only animals we have now is for hobby; our family is not producing even one beef animal, or crop to feed others. Every family I know is the same, with rare exceptions.
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