A
wise man once said,
If you don’t vote,
someone else is voting
for you on issues that
are important in your
life. This is
particularly true as we
head into the final
stretch of the Nov. 4
election.
There is plenty at stake
for each one of us.
Elected officials
responsible for helping
determine our future,
that of our children and
our agricultural
industry will be filled
at all levels of
government.
This presidential race
is historic and some
believe astonishing. The
race between Sen. John
McCain and Sen. Barack
Obama appears to be
going down to the wire.
On
the national level,
there are many issues at
stake, but none so
important as the
economic health of our
nation. Other key issues
such as energy and trade
must continue to be
advanced.
With a new president we
can expect movement on
the main issues
impacting this nation
and its farmers and
ranchers. One of the key
issues will be
appointment of a new
U.S. Trade
representation and
broadening our trading
partners. Other
countries are eager to
get back to trade talks.
Congress has yet to take
action on three critical
trade agreements –
Panama, South Korea and
Colombia. Every one of
these will positively
impact every sector in
Kansas, and agriculture
is at the top of the
list.
What about future farm
bills? Have we seen our
last Commodity Title in
this nation’s farm bill?
We
barely came up with the
current farm bill. It
took an over-ride of a
presidential veto. This
farm bill wasn’t vetoed
because President Bush
doesn’t like farmers. It
was vetoed because he
saw the price tag as too
high.
Budget pressures will
drive the agenda in
Washington for the
foreseeable future. The
political will to
sustain direct payments
to farmers simply may
not exist when the next
farm bill is written.
Closer to home, cost
and availability of
credit, contracting
export markets and the
recent declines in
commodity prices vs.
input costs are
paramount on the minds
of Kansas producers.
In
the energy arena, there
will be debates on
coal-fired electricity
generation and
greenhouse gas
emissions. Every sector
of the economy could be
negatively impacted by
inappropriate and
overreaching regulation.
Local governments
may feel pressure to
raise property taxes,
resulting from the state
budget pinch. And we
must ensure the
management of Kansas
reservoirs is not
detrimental to farmers
and ranchers dependent
on their releases. We
must manage reservoirs
in a more prudent manner
beneficial to all
Kansans.
Yes, every one of the
candidates in our Kansas
election is vital to
farming and ranching.
When it comes to
figuring out which
candidate to vote for,
each one must be
evaluated individually
to determine strengths
and willingness to work
on behalf of agriculture
and rural Kansas.
Some farm organizations,
including Kansas Farm
Bureau recently finished
its final and vital push
to implement grassroots
public policy positions
that its members have
developed throughout the
year. Our organization
has also endorsed 114
candidates in the U.S.
Congress, Kansas Senate
and the Kansas House.
All are friends of our
organization and
understand the
importance of
agriculture in our
state.
So
many of the issues have
been cussed and
discussed. The machinery
is in place. All that
remains is the action of
voting for the
candidates who have an
ear that will listen to
those in agriculture and
rural Kansas.
Exercise your privilege
and vote this Nov. 4.
Remember, if you don’t
someone else will vote
on issues that impact
your life and
livelihood.
Vote – make a difference