Obama Speaks Farmers' Language of Hope

Editor:
Senator Barack Obama, candidate for president of the United States, cannot claim agricultural roots or wisdom, but in convincing ways he speaks the language. He plants the seeds of hope.

The one word that dominates the lives of those of us in agricultural pursuits is hope. We plant seeds; we breed animals; we have sales, we watch the market and weather reports; we purchase equipment; and we hope. A drought, a price increase or decrease, a reduced milk check, an elevated somatic cell count, showers on hay baling day, the death of an “excellent” cow — the list could go on and any one of those can become a hope dasher. For farmers, however, the “hope springs eternal” theme prevails and renewed spirit and efforts take over, again and again.

Senator Obama has been promoting hope ever since he began his run for the presidency. One of the places he offers hope is that he will make the end of the Iraq War a priority. We have no proof that he can succeed, but of the three remaining candidates, he is the one who truly opposed the war and advocates that we bring it to a close. Aside from the costs of lives and livelihoods in United States and in Iraq, the most tragic side, the war has for most of us incomprehensible financial costs — $720 million per day, $12 billion each month. Imagine what effect those dollars might have on the domestic areas of our lives, even some in farmers’ best interests, if they could be used there.

Obama promotes hope and change from the status quo, both at home and beyond, in all of his messages. It certainly is a refreshing theme; it sounds very much like the hope that prevails in the agricultural community, even when the challenges seem insurmountable. It is a message that offers new ways of tackling some of the severe problems which are begging for some attention and possible resolution.

I have changed my political party choice so that I can support Barak Obama in the Pennsylvania primary election in April. Whether or not he knows how to milk a cow or understands crop rotation is not terribly relevant; his message of hope and a fresh start for America, needing to regain its high ideals and standards, has been convincing to me. He offers me hope.
— Elaine Sollenberger
Everett, Pa.