Do We Need an Agriculture Department?
Ezra Klein thinks we don't need the Congressional Agriculture Committees any more. But the argument he's making also makes the case for getting rid of the Agriculture Department (though the department doesn't have the pernicious influence the committees do on other legislation). Ezra writes:
There was a time in American history when that made some sense. In 1862, the year Abraham Lincoln founded the Department of Agriculture, farm products made up 82 percent of American exports. The agricultural industry was one of the country's most important employers. And in an age of wars, famines, and general instability, there was a direct government interest in keeping an eye on food producers.But that went the way of powdered wigs and, well, sharecropping. In 2007, agricultural products weren't one of our Top 12 exports (and, interestingly, the top 12 exports combined only amounted to 38 percent of total U.S. exports; a far cry from the 82 percent that agriculture once controlled). Nor was agriculture one of our top 10 employers.
Most folks would probably say abolishing the Agriculture Department is crazy. But if Congress does manage to pass major health care reform, an environmental bill, immigration legislation, whatever, agencies are going to need to staff up and authorities are going to be rearranged. It might not be insane to do some major rethinking of the departments if that ends up being the case. Or, it could be a rehash of the Department of Homeland Security's growing pains all over again. But at least considering the idea has merit.
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Government Executive Staff Correspondent Alyssa Rosenberg takes a look at news affecting the management and operations of the massive federal bureaucracy.
Interesting how the analysis only presents data on agicultural exports. What about US consumers? Are we gonna get all of our food imported? Yeah! Let othe ragricultural countries add more additives to the food they'll sell us (along with melamine and other dangerous chemicals) so it can stay fresher while in transit so we can spend more money to buy from abroad what we can produce, and bankrupt ourselves while improving other countries' economies.. Yeah, let's do that!
KC Posted Friday, June 26, 2009 12:50 PMInstead, merge a few Agriculture's agencies and move them under FDA. (This will eliminate duplicity and conflict about who oversees FOOD issues for the nation and at the same time, will finally eliminate "The Last Plantation" in the US.)
will finally eliminate "The Last Plantation" in the US
Bob Posted Friday, June 26, 2009 1:20 PM________________________________
The newest thing in the US, everything is racist; tranformers - racist, governmental agencies - racist; holder not prosecuting the NEw Black Panthers for intimidating voters - racist. Get the picture?
a much better and cheaper solution is not to implement the nonsense that barak is proposing. Whenever he is asked he's unable to answer any specific questions on his initiatives. the most telling is that he doesn't want his healthcare program to restrict his ability to get the medical care he needs for his family. So its good enough for the taxpayers but not for him
dan m ketter Posted Saturday, June 27, 2009 3:02 PMAs long as Iowa has the first primary in the nation (for the Presidential race), we will have an Agriculture Dept and farm subsidies.
We must put a stop to this; most of the subsidies go to huge corporations. Stop corporate welfare!
Charleen Posted Monday, June 29, 2009 1:32 PM