Published: August 10, 2007 12:49 am            

Dear Mississippi, Help! Yours Truly, billions

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “It is a tragic mix-up when the United States spends $500,000 for every enemy soldier killed, and only $53 annually on the victims of poverty.” Though he was referring to the U.S. quagmire in Vietnam, I do not doubt that he could apply his voice to a more modern reference: our response to 9/11. Our response is the Iraq War.

Even though 3,000 Americans were killed on September 11 by Saudi Arabian terrorists with zero links to the country of Iraq, we invade the country of Iraq. King stressed our nation as being “the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today,” and Americans automatically think it is because of war. However, the United States is the greatest purveyor because of what we are NOT doing. Sometimes, doing nothing can leave the biggest mark. Fortunately, Mississippi has the opportunity to change that.

As a $5.8 billion industry, agriculture is the number one industry in Mississippi. It employs approximately 30 percent of the state’s workforce and significantly contributes to all 82 counties. With about 42,000 farms covering 11 million acres, let’s just say that Mississippi knows its stuff when it comes to agriculture. Let’s also just say that Mississippi has the chance to lead the WORLD out of poverty. Sounds pretty far-fetched, huh? Well it is, but we’re about to show Congress that it is possible.

Considered once every five years, the U.S. Farm Bill is a massive opportunity that is in desperate need of change. The current Farm Bill endorses overproduction by American farmers and the flooding of world markets with crops sold at artificially low prices. Taxpayer money is being used to allow large farms to out compete small farmers by driving down prices. As a result, small farmers are simply unable to compete in Mississippi, Bolivia, Thailand, and all across the globe. Just imagine the improvements that could be made for children if fathers were allowed to sell their crops in a marketplace. The possibilities are endless, and all we have to do is pressure Congress to redirect billions of dollars so that the money will favor small farmers rather than hurt them.

“Sounds easy enough, but how do I get involved?” you ask. I urge you to contact Sen. Thad Cochran at http://cochran.senate.gov/contact.htm or U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering at http://www.house.gov/pickering/contact/.

The current system is not efficient, and Congress needs to be aware of your concern. Inform Congress of what YOU feel needs to be done, and let your voice be heard. Our local farmers of Mississippi deserve your time and energy, and we all hear the cries from around the world. E-mail Cochran or Pickering, and visit www.ONE.org http://www.one.org/ to learn more about the U.S. Farm Bill and the progress that is being made. There are also sample letters on the ONE Web site. Smart trade reform will benefit everyone, and let’s take it upon ourselves to lead the way, Mississippi!





E-mail teen columnist Alex Riess at dolcelle@yahoo.com

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.