>Jerry;
>
>Interesting!
>
>My recent trip to central and north eastern Oregon was an eye opener! Four years of drought, the federal government withholding water to farmers in the Klamath Falls area, and so many other problems that are not being addressed.
>
>In 1970 6% of Americans were engaged in agriculture to provide our country with food as well as a surplus. Today that number is 4%, which says something. Agriculture is a real topic. California produces 25% of the nations agriculture. Workers are treated worse today than 40 years ago. Agriculture is becoming more and more for big business. I will not address farm subsidies, surpluses, price fixing, how we control international markets, and do not address starving people in our own country or anywhere else in the world.
>
>Tom

Just after reading this thread I read the September 2002 "National Security Strategy of the United States of America", I recommend it for the entertainment value of the introductory pages.

"Free trade & free markets have proven their ability to lift whole societies out of poverty..."