In reality, we are in a situation not unlike war, however. A war for control
of our culture; a war for control of our natural resources; a war for the
control of our personhood.
The structure of agriculture is a war machine that creates winners and
losers (victims) in the eternal conquests for corporate control in the name
of world economy. Exploitation of people and markets is called global
competitiveness, while the cost of production never includes an accounting
line for air and water quality, soil loss, soil health, community
degradation, etc. The public pays for those line items through healthcare
payments, taxes, and special assessments for clean-ups and remediation. As
resources are squandered, higher costs will face future generations.
There was, at best a dubious peace dividend at the end of World War II. The
munitions industry became the fertilizer industry, moving from mined
resources into products manufactured using German chemistry developed around
a war machine and cheap petroleum guaranteed by our military access to the
Middle East. U.S. policies ruined Mexican agriculture and made that country
dependent upon our agricultural commodities for which they must trade petroleum.
The pesticide industry was born from the chemical warfare industry,
utilizing the technologies of nerve and blister agents. The pharmaceutical
industry is built upon costly development of powerful drugs that abate
symptoms, but do not seek to cure illness.
When I was a youth, I succumbed to the lure of tobacco which saturated our
culture. "More doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette," now carries a
conspiratorial tone that went unrecognized and without opposition in the
fifties. Now those tobacco companies own Nabisco, General Foods, and Kraft,
controlling hundreds of popular food items. More importantly, they contol
shelf space in our nation's grocery stores.
The control of agricultural markets by usually four corporations is well
documented. Their illegal and unethical acts are well documented. ConAgra
agreed to repay Indiana farmers that they defrauded at their grain
elevators. ADM and other conspirators agreed to a $45 million settlement in
a price fixing case. These are only the tip of the iceburg.
This circle of control is a closed loop supported by government policy which
is supported by the cash and influence of the monopolizers. Our public
universities have bought into the deal, led by agricultural economics
doctrine which dictates agribusiness consolidation and cheap raw materials
(ag commodities) at any cost.
Consumers need other options and education to vote differently with their
dollars. How are the voices of reason to be heard above the clamor of
agribusiness promotion? How are farm families going to survive the
stranglehold of corporate control? How are we all to going to be the change
we expect under these conditions.
There is an argument for cooperating with these large agribiz corporations
in the search for solutions; but, how does one crawl into bed with these
guys and get a wink of sleep?
Steve Bonney