Big [Bad] Ag will be pouring lotsa money into the 2012 races. Those of you who support organic farming, sustainable agriculture, and relocalized economies can fight back by supporting candidates who support the same. Case in point: The Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act has been introduced as part of the 2012 Farm Bill.
It’s a good Act-a step in the right direction–and it’s endorsed by MA Senate candidate Marisa DeFranco (the only candidate for Senate in MA who talks about sustainable agriculture and cutting subsidies to Big Ag). If this is on your radar, please consider making a donation to the one candidate who addresses these critical issues and stands up for local, organic, sustainable food networks. You can contribute to Marisa DeFranco here:
Join the conversation by LIKING her Senate page here
The other candidate in this race is raking in big money from some very suspect sources (more on that later). The only way to get OUR concerns promoted and talked about in these races is to put our money where our mouths are. $25 will help ensure that a genuine people’s candidate has the ability to make your voice heard contributing (more will ensure that it’s amplified!). And when you DO contribute, pass along a note explaining that you expect to hear more on whatever issue it is that matters most you-especially if it’s the relocalized, sustainability realm!
BTW, this Act is also endorsed by the Northeast Organic Framing Association. As noted in a post below, I’ll be at their always entertaining, eye-opening all-day conference in Worcester on January 14. If you’re going-and you can walk-in register-and want to learn more about the Farm Bill, there’s a workshop on the Farm Bill, 3:30-5pm.
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And Scott Brown is not my Senator. Neither is John Kerry. I mean, I know that, technically speaking, they are. But in the sense that these people are supposed to represent me in the United States Senate, or ever COULD represent me in the United States Senate, they are not. And I don’t believe — however much I want to — that Elizabeth Warren ever could either. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. And like Barack Obama, where hopeless citizens projected their deepest desires onto a relatively blank slate, Elizabeth Warren is providing a blank canvas upon which hopeless citizens can paint their dreams.
I look forward to what you’ve got to say about Warren’s financing… in the meantime, I’d like to point people to 2 troubling examples of Warren’s disregard for human rights and social justice:
Now, I dare anyone with a conscience, a brain and a heart to watch that second video and choose Elizabeth Warren as their candidate for United States Senate. Basta! Enough is enough.
I don’t easily throw my support behind Democratic candidates, but you can consider this a personal endorsement for Marisa DeFranco. I don’t know if she can beat Elizabeth Warren, and if she did, if she could beat Scott Brown. But sometimes you have to draw a line in the sand and stand up for a different kind of politics, one that’s driven by the power of love instead of the love of power. One that’s driven by truth and dialogue rather than rhetoric and spin. If we don’t stand up for this — and force relatively good candidates like Warren to take bold stands and demonstrate leadership as candidates, then we’ll continue to elect politicians who will fail us as elected officials.
That said, I cannot and have no desire to vote in the Democratic Primary, so I’ll be making my first contribution to a Democrat in a very long time. And like Michael did above, I invite you to join me.