We have to look on the bright side... Compare this appointment with the last 8 years of White House Control or the 12 years of Republican Congressional control... Vilsack would be sooooo much better to work with than those in power for the last decade.. Thank your workers, thank your leaders for the Democratic control.. go recommend and work for Assistant Secretaries of Ag who favor your view on all the issues you fault Vilsack on.. Progress is being made... think of how Vilsack will be different and worlds apart on the National Forest Service... Vilsack's appointment is a great step forward in the evolution of Ag and Forest policy.. up from the bottom. Ken Larson ----- Original Message ----- From: daryl andersen<mailto:[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 11:12 AM Subject: Re: Vilsack chosen for US Ag Sec. I am not really in favor of Tom's appontment due to his support of GM initiatives and his close ties to big Indust Afr but it could be worse. Maybe Barracks committment to organics will influence him Daryl On Dec 17, 2008, at 10:13 AM, Bill Witt wrote: > I suspect that the TV appointment comes first as a favor to Tom > Harkin, who'll want a well-placed ally to help him put a more > midwestern ag* slant to the next Farm Bill, and second as another > mutation in the ongoing morphing of "Hope" into "Clinton III." > > In 2002, TV did deserve Sierra Club's scorn for his behind the scenes > gaming of the Water Quality Initiative and then the CAFO bill, in both > cases to feather his political nest at the expense of independent > farmers and the environment. Would Jim Nussle have done worse as > Governor? Of course. I suppose in that context, Vilsack's promise to > serve only two terms offered some justification. > > Bill Witt > > > * CRP, Sod Buster, and maybe a bit more support for sustainable ag > are things we can realistically hope/lobby for, but the Big Agro > guys (FB, DuPont, Ciba, Monsanto, et al.) will cozy up, and TV will > help get the goodies they want. TV is going to the trading floor > of the most enduring commodity of all--the Political Favors Board > of Trade. > > > > > Quoting Thomas Mathews <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>: > >> I sent this, below, to the Sierra Club national Genetic >> Engineering Action >> Team, of which I am a corresponding member, having been a >> voting member of the >> predecessor to it, the Genetic Engineering Committee, for many >> years. >> >> Let it be noted that it is to the enduring shame of the Sierra >> Club Iowa >> Chapter that we endorsed Vilsack for Iowa governor, not once, >> but twice, in 1998 >> and 2002. (I opposed the 2002 endorsement.) >> Tom >> ===================================================================== >> ========= >> = >> >> We need to watch what Vilsack says and does as Secretary of >> Agriculture. >> >> If he lies about genetic engineering, we need to speak out at once >> and state >> what the truth is. >> >> If he repeatedly lies about genetic engineering, we need to demand >> that the >> President replace him with someone who will tell the truth. >> >> If he proves to be a shill for agribusiness and an opponent of >> sustainable >> and organic farming, we need to demand that the President replace >> him with >> someone who cares about the environment and the future; someone >> who can give us >> hope; someone who supports a locally produced, sustainable food >> system. >> >> Maybe Vilsack will surprise us in a good way. But be prepared if >> he does not. >> >> Tom >> **************Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and >> favorite sites in one place. Try it now. >> (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new<http://www.aol.com/?optin=new>- >> dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010) >> >> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >> To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: >> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> >> >> Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: >> http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp<http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp> >> >> Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship >> e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's >> latest news and activities. 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