Solomon Northrup was a farmer. What would he think of big governments involvement in farming? Eco activists? Illegal immigration?
"Facing drought, California farmers rally against regulations limiting water supplies"
read -
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/03/19/farmer-rally-against-regulations-limiting-water-supplies-amid-drought/"Regulations undermine best farm practices"
Fewer farms mean fewer sources for that food and possibly higher prices. On the other hand, larger farms have brought about greater efficiencies, higher yields and have helped keep prices at reasonable levels.
To maintain the farms we have and continue our wonderful productivity, we need to make it easier for farmers to farm and for more young people to want to go into the business. But it seems like we are doing just the opposite.
More and more government regulations, harassment by animal rights activists, law suits by environmental groups and media publicity that tends to be anti-farming all are part of the problem.
Taking a look at government regulations, here in Ohio we can expect more regulations on fertilizer application. A bill has already passed the Senate and is being considered by the House. It would require any farm operator applying fertilizer on 50 acres or more of land to take training and be certified. Records would be required and kept for at least two years documenting how much was applied, what kind and where.
Farmers are already required to take training and get an applicator's license to apply restricted pesticides.
EPA is proposing more Agricultural Protection Standards regulations. They would require workers to be trained every year instead of every five and records kept about the training. They propose about a dozen changes under the pesticide application section of the regulations.
Out in Washington State, there is a court case that has big implications for dairy farmers across the country. An issue involving the Safe Drinking Water Act against four dairy farmers was filed by EPA. The situation was resolved about a year ago, but then a group of environmental attorneys filed suit under the Federal Resource Conservation Act (RCRA).
read -
http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/601125/Regulations-undermine-best-farm-practices.html?nav=5005Imagine if Northrup and Obama had a chat...
Could Obama look Northrup in the eye and defend big government? Corporatism? TRILLIONS in debt? Debt bondage heaped onto the backs of generations of Americans?
My vision of the conversation -
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Obama - let me tell you about the great things we have lined up for your future. A 'Social Security' system. In my time, government confiscates about 15% of the wages and salary of every American. It started at just 1% of the first $300 in earnings and today, the sky is the limit. We advertise that it's in the 'Social Security Trust Fund'. No one knows where the money is today, Congress and the President have been spending it for generations. It's a pay as you go 'ponzi' kind of plan, we need to shore it up by legalizing 10's of millions of illegal aliens and opening our borders to millions more each year. No worries - we'll give them welfare. You may not know what 'welfare' is, let me explain. We give them free food, free housing, free education, free phones, spending money, let them gamble it away, spend on anything they like. They never have to work and they get a bonus for every child they bring into the world. They can also work with bogus identities, and collect even more in 'credits' and payments made through bogus tax returns.
Northrup - How are you paying for this system? Where is the money coming from?
Obama - Well, we just keep borrowing more money from our enemies. Enemies of all races, ethnic backgrounds, religions. It's all good. We just keep heaping all this debt onto future generations. Both political parties take care of their friends, political donors, and welfare recipients who vote. No voter id needed. ID is just for returns at the store, entering a union vote, and things like Democrat political events. ID for important things, not for voting. I have almost doubled the debt and I'm not done yet. I have three years to go. It was immoral when the Republicans did it. I'm a black man, a Democrat, a leftist, and it's not immoral when I do it. Both parties take turns. Its a great system.
How do we pay for it? Both parties stay up late thinking up new taxes, new regulations, new services (like Obamacare) that are forced onto the backs of working Americans and future generations. Our children are born with this debt hanging around their necks like a millstone. They can never pay it off, never be free of it, and we will continue to find new ways to confiscate their labor, wealth, inheritance, and make it harder for Americans to prosper.
At the same time, we are protecting the biggest banks and companies from failure. We give them money to 'create' jobs and never claw it back. We have a central bank, actually a big private bank that wheels and deals and prints new money all hidden from the people. We had a big depression, lasted over a decade that destroyed families, farms, businesses, and people. Today, I'm proud to say, I'm helping another. More Americans in poverty than in decades, higher never ending taxes.
Northrup - Ahhh...we fought a war for freedom over 1% tax the British imposed. How much of my labor would you be taking? 40%? 100%? My kids too? Is this the new face of 'freedom' for every American? How is this living free? Why did you need a central bank? Did it cause the great depression? In my day, downturns didn't last so long.
Obama - the big banks bring about change. They fool people into thinking that everyone can afford a home and should have one. They foreclose periodically. Millions lose jobs. Big banks get bigger. Big companies get bigger. Everyone moves jobs to China, India, and other low wage places. In fact today, they want to start processing dead chickens in China due the cheap cost of labor. Yup. We have Obamacare, which is cheap at $20,000 for families. It helps the medical industry create massive profits with $1000 a month drugs, million dollar a year treatments, all funded by other families and borrowing from our enemies.
Yup, lots to look forward to in the future.
Northrup - Ah, why don't Americans keep the fruit of their labor? Why is it spend on lavish entertainment by the ruling class? The masters? Lavish vacations and homes by the ruling class and masters?
What happened to the American dream? Every man, woman, and child keeping the fruit of their labor? Being free to choose their path in life?
Based on my imagination and opinions
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How would Northrup view the never ending taxes, regulations, bailouts, and forced purchase of things like Obamacare?
Welfare? In the olden days if you didn't make it in America, you returned to your country of origin. Today, the welfare state and lax laws seem to be a never ending invitation to come and take...returning nothing.
If you're an American family, being nudged into corrupt mega cities, how is Northrups plantation experience different from the crime and ghetto lifestyle? Where would you run?
Did masses of slave run away and collapse the plantation system? How far could they run before they were captured and returned?
Is the plantation system that different today? The master has mastered the language of making the plantation system palatable?
The founding of America was a great experiment in human history. Imagine a place where for the first time millions could reap the fruit of their labor and keep it.
Imagine big government, masters, and ruling class staying up late to steal, tax, confiscate that labor from working people.
What is wrong with our government today? Why aren't states fighting further enslavement of their citizens?
What if no one was there for Northrup? No one in his time kept abolition alive? If there was no abolition movement?
How could Obama look Northrup in the eye and say "You didn't plow that row of cotton." "I have to make sure the folks behind you (the master, his family, and overseers) are taken care of."
Northrup had free housing, food, medical care, clothing, and other benefits from the master.
Anyone think Northrup would prefer the free stuff? Or, would he prefer keeping the fruit of his own labor? The opportunity to prosper and better his lot in life?
What is wrong with our government today?
just my humble imagination and opinions