The Democrats need to go back to "Farm-aid"

John Cougar Melloncamp was a major player in "Farm-Aid"; concerts to save famliy farms that were going under in mass numbers in the 80's. Democrats are the leaders in helping the little guy.....what happened? We lost "Middle America" to the big corporations and the right-wing republicans, by forgetting about our priorities. Democrats are the ones who fought for fair wages, unions, the family farm, civil rights, womens sufferage, ect... But, we have lost those people who were the core of our party...Middle America. We need to re-enforce what are values are, not by always talking about "The Middle Class", but by talking about those that need the most help....The Poor. Farmers are generally very low-income, living paycheck to paycheck...most doing the only thing they know how; trying to preserve their family farms. Let's remind these people who is really looking out for them...And Do IT!!

I'm sorry but I have to say, "Fuck 'em".

Throughout the 1980's, the Democratic Party did not make a peep when it came to helping out family farmers. So, when these same folks were neglected economically, and alienated on cultural issues, it's no surprise that they turned Republican.

But that's all a recent phenomenon. Midwestern Farmers used to be a hotbed of radicalism. They were the driving force behind the Populist movement of the turn of the 20th century, and many of them also helped propel the Socialist Party to some victories in the early 1900's.

Frankly, I don't blame them for feeling embittered toward Democrats. The Democratic Party abandoned them in their hour of greatest need. Now it will take a full generation to get this group back -- if they're even around anymore by that time, thanks to Cargill, ConAgra, ADM and Monsanto.

add that to the fact that most of them have never even seen a Democrat in the flesh and are less likely to hear one on the radio and you have your answer. The only Democrat they know is the evil liberal they hear about daily.

And I read through the issues book we were given on the plane to Iowa to volunteer in September.

Howard Dean had very definite positions to try to help these people. I so wish he could have been given the opportunity to do them.

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if they knew someone was fighting for them...but no one has in many years.

No ownership of both a farm AND a butchery or a farm AND a processing plant, that sort of thing.

That would make it very difficult for places like ConAgra and some of the pork companies to do what they do. They'd have to divest some of their holdings or something. It would give smaller farmers a more even shake at things.

He also wanted to make sure they had the technology they needed to do their jobs, and he wanted to extend high speed and other internet technologies out into the rural areas so they could be more informed and learn more computer-based information for themselves and their families.

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I think if their interests were addressed by anyone..they would sit up and pay attention...someone needs to do this.

He made sure to mention that he came from a mostly rural state, so he definitely wanted the farmers taken care of. In addition to everyone else.

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who were jumping in to help the family famers during the big "Farm-Aid" concerts. Remember...the "We are The World" benefit concert? It was progressives that helped push that movement. Same with Farm-Aid.

Hint: it hasn't been the progressives....

They have to be reminded who really cares about them....It's not the Republicans!! They have been fooled by right-wing radio, which most of the country is limited to. Am stations are generally the only stations that most of these farming towns can get. They hear hate spewing over the radio..day-in-day-out...and they really dont have time to really dig for the truth....I know... I grew up on a farm in a very small community....They need to be reminded who is really looking out for their interests.

See my post #3, above.

There aren't that many family farmers and the poor don't vote. And most Americans even the working poor do consider themselvse middle class.

But I do agree we need to do a better job of showing them who is fighting for their economic lively hood. I mean the conservatives are alwayas talking about family values--what does it do to a family when a father has to work 70 hours a week and never sees his kids?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

Who do you think "Middle America" is! It's range-land...far and wide. Farms!! And the poor do vote....do you think all these Evangelicals are rich?

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They were told that their rights were being taken away, by regulations being imposed on them. Of course many of these reulations were neccesary, but they were convinced by Republicans that Democrats are all about "Big Government, and that dems wanted to control them. Thats how Republicans have convinced many of their voters, that thier party represents individual feedoms and the Democrats just want to take those freedoms away. Which is ironic, since we have always fought for individule freedom and rights. Republicans= Patriot Act!!

And the good Christian Republicans bought it because underneath it all, they're prejudice as hell.

Right-Wing Radio= HATE!!

the 90s. And to think that those same idiots are turning us into the FBI for trying to carve out our own little support group on the internet. They were calling for the elimination of Liberals back in the 90s! The FBI never even blinked.

Hell, I don't want violence. I'm just wishing the American Indians realize the potential here and start communicating with Liberal-minded individuals to lease lands for us to build on. We can live safely within their borders as refugees. Who knew?