#bogeyman #BogeymanIssues #politicians #farmers #farmland #voting #China
A politician criticizes his or her opponent for allowing, or at least not being concerned about, China buying up farmland in their state.
Were that true, a governor or state legislature might be hard-pressed to stop it.
A quick fact check showed China purchased no farmland in said state, though it has purchased other non-farm properties there, and farmland elsewhere in the U.S.
It seems to be one of those “bogeyman issues” a politician likes to use to rile up his or her base and avoid talking about issues people really care about.
There might be two reasons farmers might sell their land to China. Either: farmers are going bankrupt because the cost of raising a crop might be more than they get for the crop in the marketplace.
Or, farmers want to retire, and their kids do not want to take over the farm.
The “bogeyman issue” of China interferes with real discussions about government policies that might help farmers.
The farmers trying to make ends meet between costs and crop prices would be helped by the government trying to keep prices down. Starting wars in the Middle East raises prices for fertilizer and diesel fuel, which most farm equipment runs on.
Shutting down USAID, which not only helped starving people around the world, but also gave U.S. farmers a stable market for their products, also did no favors to farmers.
That indicates that government may be contributing to farmers’ distress, rather than trying to help it.
Then, there’s the matter of passing family farms to the next generation. Studies show that only between 15 percent and 35 percent of students who study agriculture in college go on to become hands-on farmers.
Most of the others pursue careers in other parts of agribusiness.
Farming life is hard. One has to love it to deal with so much they can’t control, like the weather, climate change etc.
If students with an interest in agriculture would rather pursue careers in which they might sit at a desk or in a lab, rather than be out in the hot sun working a field, how can you blame them?
It would be tough for any government to incentivize agriculture students to take over farms.
For the retired or retiring farmer, much of his or her nest egg rests in his or her land. If farmers can sell their land for a decent price, regardless of the buyer, why wouldn’t they?
It all goes back to politicians not wanting to discuss issues that affect most people, or that most people care about.
The “bogeyman issues” may get a small percentage of the electorate’s attention, but they do not contribute to solving real problems.
When going to the polls, ask yourself what Person X, presuming he or she is an incumbent or has served in other capacities, has done for you and your needs.
Then, listen to what their opponents say THEY will do for you and your needs. If you don’t like Person X, give Person Y a try.
If Person Y is elected, and doesn’t at least try to fulfill what he or she said he or she would do, then vote for someone else the next time.
Politicians all face realities that inhibit them from being able to do all they promised. But, if they appear to be doing all they can to do so, they deserve the seat.
Whatever your persuasion, you must vote whenever you have the opportunity. Not voting at all is sure to give you someone you don’t want – like a “bogeyman.”
Peter