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IP Congressional Candidates in Farmfest Debate

by Brian Faas

Two Independence Party candidates for U.S. Congress -- Glen Menze (District 7) and Steven Wilson (District 1) -- sparred with their Democratic and Republican rivals in the 2010 edition of the Farmfest political debate.  Also notable was the fact that Republicans John Kline (District 2) and Michele Bachmann (District 6), opted to sit out.  Apparently, they had seen GOP gov hopeful Tom Emmer stick his foot in his mouth too many times and didn't want to risk the same outcome for themselves at Farmfest.

A panel of media from rural Minnesota asked questions of each of the candidates.  Topics in this wide-ranging session included the current Farm Bill, agriculture subsidies and price supports, energy policy and pending "Cap and Trade" legislation, immigration as a component of the Minnesota's agricultural economy, and education and health care in rural areas.

Below is the full video of the debate, courtesy of the folks at TheUptake.  It runs about 1 hour, 16 minutes, but you can skip forward and backward using the slider along the bottom of the window.


Comments (1)

GOP Farm Policy
written by Brian Banish , August 11, 2010

The GOP farm policy was created in the 80s when allowing foreign products to enter this country freely and drive down the profits from American Farmers. Since then 2/3 of American farms have changed hands...but not from one generation to the next, from many families to larger corporate farmers.

To date, ADM and other giants have a literal stranglehold on farmers. Monsanto, for instance, sues little farmers when they attempt to retain their grain for planting the following years...and none in government represents the little farmer.

Our farm policy has to be pro-American farmer and not pro multi-national conglomerate otherwise, like the petroleum industry, we'll be monopolized by a small number of sources and nations as to where we can source our food supply.

Why would a Republican want to show up and get his/hands dirty? It's bizarre, but most all of their districts that have been elected had done so in these rural communities.

Why do they then NOT show up? Because their campaign contributors are from large wealth districts and national corporate interests.



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