>Farmers themselves are the architects of the new sustainable agriculture.
>They are the explorers, the colonists and the revolutionaries. Like the
>revolutionaries who created a democracy, they will confront hardship,
>frustration and failure. Ultimately, they will succeed.
I see this was written by an agricultural economist who might
put more emphasis on the farmer, but i see many factors.
Some feel the consumer is now in control and some us think
small gardens may be a big factor some day.
>It s time for a new revolution in American agriculture. It s just plain
>common sense.
The talk about Tom Paine and revolution suggests conflict as the
best path for sustainable agriculture. While i agree we have a
problem it bothers me to leave the suggested solution as a vague
concept called revolution. What is professor Ikerd asking us
to do? He seems to think the farmers are in the trenches and
they will lead the charge.
Looking around i see the problem everywhere and think we are
all in the trenches. This then leads to the question: how
does one fight? My preference is peaceful change and
cultural activism by living the answers. It isn't the only
way, but if no one lives the answer we end up fighting
and creating good fighters. Somewhere there is a balance
between fighting and creating solutons.
We become like those we fight.
Choose your enemies wisely.
The end does not justify the means,
in the end the means are part of the result.
jeff (looking for balance and peaceful paths forward)
