sidenote’s Recent Comments

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  remaking the House Ag committee

  Tom, thanks for tackling this question - after blogging the Pollan interview, one of my key questions was just how a committee becomes exclusive.  After looking around just a little bit, I pretty much threw my hands up - this post is very informative!  

  As for PhillyProf, I disagree - this is how I see the situation, as I wrote in my blog response - "It's difficult to imagine a world where a Democratic Congress in a time of severe economic recession would cut funding to food stamps and other aid programs that feed people, so why would proponents of those programs need to bundle them with the Farm Bill to get them passed?  They wouldn't."  

  It seems like political suicide for either party to cut funding to this program - it is already highly regulated, supported by a well organized caucus, and feeds impoverished children, not to mention there is a President assuming office that comes from an urban background working with lower income citizens and has children of his own.  I just don't see how this program doesn't find strong support.  On Trying to restructure the House Agriculture Committee might not be worth it posted 10 months, 1 week ago 3 Responses

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  First steps in the right direction

  I think progressives have to realize that change won't happen overnight - by all accounts Vilsack is a solid choice that will move the USDA toward a more environmentally sensitive path.  Vilsack has worked for a broad group of organizations in Iowa and that makes him influential and powerful, which is exactly what you need - an insider to move the agenda forward.  

  Obama is going to have to play the game like every politician and Vilsack seems like a smart choice for realistic reform.  On What happened to the big win for progressives, the environment, and organic food? posted 10 months, 2 weeks ago 5 Responses