Are you concerned about the stability of U.S., leadership by elected officials and the country’s future?  If so, plan to vote on November 4 or surrender your right to complain.   My personal position on politics is to look for the best person for the job, regardless of party affiliation.   That remains true this election, but Obama’s affiliation with animal rights and connections with HSUS leaves me questioning what would happen with food production under Obama’s leadership.

McCain’s camp just announced their ag policy yesterday – learn more at https://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/8d810b1d-a6db-47b0-b54b-334c2255aa4e.htm.  And, they sent a link for absentee voting https://secure.johnmccain.com/ActionCenter/registertovote/information.aspx with the following message.

“There is a significant push to promote voting by absentee ballot—the Democratic ag group would like farmers to vote as soon as possible by absentee ballot because it shortens the campaign time – once the absentee ballot has been cast – it cannot be changed.  We should be communicating to farmers to vote absentee , but not absent-mindedly.

While the Democrats have been heavily promoting their perception of the difference between their ag policy and the McCain – Palin ag policy, it was not possible to do an accurate comparison because the McCain team just released their policy on September 22. While the Democrats may suggest that demonstrates poor planning,  Republicans say they want to get everyone to the table BEFORE we get into office as opposed to AFTER – a plan the Democratic campaigners talk about when faced with tough questions from farmers about their anti- animal agriculture and anti-trade policies.

The Democrats have a strong policy statement supporting ethanol use and like to claim that the McCain – Palin team is opposed to ethanol. John McCain is a firm supporter of ethanol. He would like to see the demand for this fuel supported by the market rather than unreliable government subsidies. John McCain is looking for a path to that goal. A careful examination of the Democratic ag policy raises many concerns, here are five:

1. Anti – CAFO. Four years of a Democrat President and Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House – could easily mean the beginning of the end of modern meat and milk production in the US.
2. Anti- Trade. New trade deals with other countries under the Democratic plan means other countries will need to meet the Democratic ideals of environmental and human rights standards. In other words – no new trade deals.
3. Increased environmental regulations on all agricultural production.
4. Limited – if any – new oil production. This means continued higher energy costs, continued increases in crop input costs.
5. An ethanol market that continues to rely on government subsidies to be viable.

Vote absentee, but vote after you get all the facts about the McCain plan for growing profitability in American agriculture and rural America .”