Farmer Relay–Tea Party Patriots
Well folks, it looks like “those tea bag people” (as the President refers to them) are at it again. What is the protest about this time? Those crazy people are always complaining about higher taxes, less freedom, bigger debt, socialized medicine. What is on their plate now? I’ll tell you what. Farmer relief.
That’s right! The Tea Party Patriots have partnered with various other organizations to form a Farmer Relief and Freedom Relay which takes place November 8-22nd. The relay will benefit the California farmers who have been hit with devastating legislation which will limit their irrigation needs in an effort to protect the delta smelt, a small fish commonly used for bait. The legislation will be implemented within the next few weeks. When this happens, farmers will not have access to the water that they need for 2010.
We have plenty of farmers around our southwest Georgia who have problems of their own. You might be asking how the pending legislation affects you. Did you know that 12 percent of the nation’s agricultural products come out of California? With that 12 percent gone, imagine what will happen to food prices. Also consider the fact that if they are willing to destroy agriculture in California’s Central Valley, appropriately now dubbed—The Valley That Hope Forgot, what will they do to the local farmers in the future? It is time that we stand together as Americans and resist these policies that will hurt fellow Americans and our nation. That is why the Tea Party Patriots are conducting this relay.
The relay is making many stops across the country, but only two stops in Georgia. One is in Atlanta and the other is in Albany. The Albany stop will occur sometime between 6-7:30pm at the K-Mart parking lot. Local representatives of the Tea Party Patriots understand that it will be dark and raining, but they are willing to do their part to make this relay a success and send support to California’s farmers. All are welcome to attend so make plans to come out tonight to support these patriots!
If you would like to help with the relay, donations are being collected. Specifically they are looking for gift cards from Target, Wal-Mart, etc. You can also donate via PayPal. This movement is trying to raise $60,000 for the farmers of California for a little relief while the legislation is being challenged.
You can learn more about this ambitious project by clicking here.
Hope to see you tonight!
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November 10th, 2009 at 11:05 am
This issue is far more complicated than Hannity has led his listeners to believe. I’m not siding with the smelt but I’m not going to make a donation to a valley farmer sitting on millions if not tens of millions of dollars worth of land either. The dollars raised should go to help the displaced field workers, if you feel compelled to contribute.
November 10th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Wilson,
I didn’t see the story on Hannity so I guess I missed the over simplification of it. I can see that millions of dollars worth of farm land that cannot be farmed might be worth a lot less now, especially in this economy. Oh well, they should pack it all in and sell, right? I can see the affect that this will have on food prices and I can see that if we don’t stop federal encroachment on the farmer in California now, they will be here next. In fact, if the Cap and Trade bill passes, they will be here destroying our family farms too. Oh well, who needs to eat, right?
November 10th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Bill,
Oh well, based on your reply the Hannity piece would only have reinforced your “thinking”. Oh well, as I said previously this is a very complicated issue; it isn’t just the government screwing farmers. If you are interested in actually learning something about the issue start with researching government subsidized water delivery in California. You’ll find that the billions we (yes you and me) spend annually to deliver water to a desert so valley farmers can grow rice with flood irrigation gives valley farmers a competitive advantage over growers in much of the US.
BTW are you always so snarky when responding to a comment?
November 10th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Wilson,
Are you making the argument that because the farmers in California received subsidies (which is common to most of the farming industry) they do not deserve the help of the Tea Party Patriots or willing donors? We can argue about subsidies on a different thread. This is about Americans helping Americans without the assistance of the government. What is wrong with that?
I’ll try not to be so snarky in the future.
November 10th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Bill,
I’m merely suggesting the plight of this particular group of farmers might be misunderstood. There is no question the government isn’t making the situation any better but water issues in the desert west are vastly different from what most of the rest of us are familiar with and this isn’t an isolated case of ag losing out to other users. It happens frequently. The reasoning goes like this: we have only so much water, do we grow more artichokes or protect the environment, provide drinking water, keep an industry open, etc. ag loses every time. These guys are very organized they have very well funded advocates, this is BIG business not your typical 40 acres and a mule operation. Should they suffer because the government is inept, corrupt, (insert your choice), etc. no. Are they among the truly needy in the country? Not by a long shot. Help them if you wish and more power to you but this issue; like so many others, isn’t clear cut.