Sizzlin' Summer Giveaway…. talk about propaganda, I recently shopped at Fareway and was provided a Sizzlin Summer Giveaway BBQ contest giveaway entry. And just wow…enter the contest and you will learn how plant protein is inferior, 96% of Iowa farms are “family farms” and Iowa farmers rank #1 nationally, yes, you read that correctly, in protecting our water quality, and then they state how blissfully happy our pigs are in closed confined spaces, they only lack streaming services! Of course this contest is proudly sponsored by the Iowa Farm Bureau. It’s a “Giveaway” contest for sure, giving away citizens rights to clean water and facts. A more accurate contest should state how much money Iowa’s politicians who farm get in subsidies and make laws for their own benefit, and how Iowa ranks #2 nationally in cancer and the only state that continues to have rates climb, and list all the impaired waterways unsuitable for recreation. https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/Sizzlin-Summer-Giveaway?utm_source=QR_Code&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sizzlin_summer
Just remember last summer how, just north of Blair, rolling farm fields with Rickets, Harris, tRump signs stuck near the fence lines...a sad display. Recrords show, 77% of farmers voted for the clown show--that we now have before us. FAFO
Let's name it Art: The biggest cropaganda machine is The Iowa Farm Bureau, with millions invested in corn and soybeans and all related agribusiness (NOT farming)! That Spokesman is to farmers what the Wall Street Journal is to businessmen - God's Word.
How do I know that there's climate change? I remember going home with my report card after 1st grade and saw lilacs blooming. That had to be the end of May or even the beginning of June. Now they bloom the end of April or the beginning of May.
How do I know that sea level is rising? The marina near our condo in Florida goes under water but it didn't 25 years ago. When they built the pier, they put the electrical infrastructure under the pier and about 6-7 years ago, it went underwater and destroyed the elecrical. Of course, we could just be sinking instead of sea level rising, but I believe the experts: sea level is rising.
Thank you Art. I was trying to compose something for my modest substack. Art's column /substack motivated me to ask readers to develop 5 Rural America Questions for Candidates–for all parties–for state and federal candidates, legislators, too:
1. Economic Transition: Name a specific rural community facing industrial decline. Detail your exact policies to diversify its economy, federal resources committed, and success metrics.
2. Infrastructure Priorities: Choose between rural broadband expansion, regional healthcare networks, or water system upgrades. Explain your priority and sequencing strategy. (I often received questions like this during my campaigns; I learned that audiences knew it was an impossible question to answer; I also learned audiences valued how this forced me to articulate my values.)
3. Agricultural and Climate Policy: Describe your specific plan helping small farmers adopt climate-resilient practices while staying competitive. How do you prevent farm consolidation?
4. Population Decline: What policies would attract young families to 1,400+ shrinking rural counties? Address the brain drain of educated youth leaving.
5. Healthcare Crisis: With rural hospitals closing, detail your plan ensuring emergency care, maternal services, and mental health access. Would you subsidize rural hospitals?
These questions demand concrete plans beyond campaign rhetoric.
I learned from the 50 year, year round advocacy from anti-abortion groups. Pro-life advocacy demonstrates how persistent and consistent questioning drives political change through sustained pressure, grassroots mobilization, and long-term strategy that influences elections and party platforms.
“Let me state it plainly: we are rushing into the most dangerous period in human history, and the Trump administration seems determined that we do it blindly. It’s inconceivably stupid, and it’s entirely real. And the planet doesn’t care: physics will not cut us any slack because we elected a moron.”
I hope I'm not straying too far afield from your column, but the topics of evidence and propaganda have been burning in my brain since yesterday. At Bible study class (50+, mostly professional backgrounds), the leader asked what living person we would interview if given a chance.
One person submitted they would like to interview Trump, to "get the story behind the story" (or words to that effect)--suggesting that he is maybe different than who we see in public. Another built on this idea: "They" say he is actually "kind" (no attribution offered).
So, I'm thinking: Trump has been a public figure most of his life, and even more of a public figure since his 1st presidency. Multiple books have been written by (as such) and about him. He has given countless interviews and made numerous statements on social media, and you think he's someone other than who we thought he was? Or that kindness is a component of his personality?
If I were to interview them, I'd ask: how do you come to these conclusions? On what evidence?
I'm pretty clear who DT is. I'm more interested in the MAGA followers who so blindly, willingly and often GLEEFULLY support someone who has proven over and over to lie, cheat, bribe, ridicule, name call, demean, ridicule, break the law, ignore norms, threaten, dispense cruelty whenever possible and destroy our democracy from the inside out. What is in the mind of the person who supports DT?
Hadn’t been really living in Sibley/ Melvin since 1968. Grandpa Rose taught me how he farmed his quarter section from the time I was five years old. I remember reading in the Des Moines Register in 1958 about how over use of Petroleum could cause problems for Farmers since a Stable Climate was as important to a Farmer as Soil or water. I recognized Sibley and Melvin since the buildings were still there. Grandpa Rose would not have recognized the current Farming Methods.
Right...we've always had weather. Just as one highly informed elected official said recently, "...well, we all are going to die, so for heaven's sakes>" It is difficult to not become complacent, when faced with so much drama and trauma, and just say...oh well, I have to die from something. I'll just wait and see which one gets me first. I am sorry to have to say that, once again, you have said it all. Thanks Art!!!
Sizzlin' Summer Giveaway…. talk about propaganda, I recently shopped at Fareway and was provided a Sizzlin Summer Giveaway BBQ contest giveaway entry. And just wow…enter the contest and you will learn how plant protein is inferior, 96% of Iowa farms are “family farms” and Iowa farmers rank #1 nationally, yes, you read that correctly, in protecting our water quality, and then they state how blissfully happy our pigs are in closed confined spaces, they only lack streaming services! Of course this contest is proudly sponsored by the Iowa Farm Bureau. It’s a “Giveaway” contest for sure, giving away citizens rights to clean water and facts. A more accurate contest should state how much money Iowa’s politicians who farm get in subsidies and make laws for their own benefit, and how Iowa ranks #2 nationally in cancer and the only state that continues to have rates climb, and list all the impaired waterways unsuitable for recreation. https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/Sizzlin-Summer-Giveaway?utm_source=QR_Code&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sizzlin_summer
Just remember last summer how, just north of Blair, rolling farm fields with Rickets, Harris, tRump signs stuck near the fence lines...a sad display. Recrords show, 77% of farmers voted for the clown show--that we now have before us. FAFO
Let's name it Art: The biggest cropaganda machine is The Iowa Farm Bureau, with millions invested in corn and soybeans and all related agribusiness (NOT farming)! That Spokesman is to farmers what the Wall Street Journal is to businessmen - God's Word.
How do I know that there's climate change? I remember going home with my report card after 1st grade and saw lilacs blooming. That had to be the end of May or even the beginning of June. Now they bloom the end of April or the beginning of May.
How do I know that sea level is rising? The marina near our condo in Florida goes under water but it didn't 25 years ago. When they built the pier, they put the electrical infrastructure under the pier and about 6-7 years ago, it went underwater and destroyed the elecrical. Of course, we could just be sinking instead of sea level rising, but I believe the experts: sea level is rising.
Powerful stuff, your columns. Enough to make you think!
Thank you Art. I was trying to compose something for my modest substack. Art's column /substack motivated me to ask readers to develop 5 Rural America Questions for Candidates–for all parties–for state and federal candidates, legislators, too:
1. Economic Transition: Name a specific rural community facing industrial decline. Detail your exact policies to diversify its economy, federal resources committed, and success metrics.
2. Infrastructure Priorities: Choose between rural broadband expansion, regional healthcare networks, or water system upgrades. Explain your priority and sequencing strategy. (I often received questions like this during my campaigns; I learned that audiences knew it was an impossible question to answer; I also learned audiences valued how this forced me to articulate my values.)
3. Agricultural and Climate Policy: Describe your specific plan helping small farmers adopt climate-resilient practices while staying competitive. How do you prevent farm consolidation?
4. Population Decline: What policies would attract young families to 1,400+ shrinking rural counties? Address the brain drain of educated youth leaving.
5. Healthcare Crisis: With rural hospitals closing, detail your plan ensuring emergency care, maternal services, and mental health access. Would you subsidize rural hospitals?
These questions demand concrete plans beyond campaign rhetoric.
I learned from the 50 year, year round advocacy from anti-abortion groups. Pro-life advocacy demonstrates how persistent and consistent questioning drives political change through sustained pressure, grassroots mobilization, and long-term strategy that influences elections and party platforms.
A very good recent quote:
“Let me state it plainly: we are rushing into the most dangerous period in human history, and the Trump administration seems determined that we do it blindly. It’s inconceivably stupid, and it’s entirely real. And the planet doesn’t care: physics will not cut us any slack because we elected a moron.”
— Bill McKibben
I hope I'm not straying too far afield from your column, but the topics of evidence and propaganda have been burning in my brain since yesterday. At Bible study class (50+, mostly professional backgrounds), the leader asked what living person we would interview if given a chance.
One person submitted they would like to interview Trump, to "get the story behind the story" (or words to that effect)--suggesting that he is maybe different than who we see in public. Another built on this idea: "They" say he is actually "kind" (no attribution offered).
So, I'm thinking: Trump has been a public figure most of his life, and even more of a public figure since his 1st presidency. Multiple books have been written by (as such) and about him. He has given countless interviews and made numerous statements on social media, and you think he's someone other than who we thought he was? Or that kindness is a component of his personality?
If I were to interview them, I'd ask: how do you come to these conclusions? On what evidence?
I'm pretty clear who DT is. I'm more interested in the MAGA followers who so blindly, willingly and often GLEEFULLY support someone who has proven over and over to lie, cheat, bribe, ridicule, name call, demean, ridicule, break the law, ignore norms, threaten, dispense cruelty whenever possible and destroy our democracy from the inside out. What is in the mind of the person who supports DT?
Thank you for your witty article. It really makes me think.
Hadn’t been really living in Sibley/ Melvin since 1968. Grandpa Rose taught me how he farmed his quarter section from the time I was five years old. I remember reading in the Des Moines Register in 1958 about how over use of Petroleum could cause problems for Farmers since a Stable Climate was as important to a Farmer as Soil or water. I recognized Sibley and Melvin since the buildings were still there. Grandpa Rose would not have recognized the current Farming Methods.
Right...we've always had weather. Just as one highly informed elected official said recently, "...well, we all are going to die, so for heaven's sakes>" It is difficult to not become complacent, when faced with so much drama and trauma, and just say...oh well, I have to die from something. I'll just wait and see which one gets me first. I am sorry to have to say that, once again, you have said it all. Thanks Art!!!