Chris, I would like to note another objectionable aspect of the current finance disclosure laws. Did you see that your state senator wrote checks TO the state party for $771,250? Whether designed to obscure the flow of political funds or not, state Senator A accepts the donation and forwards it for redistribution through the state party. The result is a laundering of the donation (in terms of financial clarity, a way to tie politicians more closely to the party organization using the redistribution, and in many cases funds being taken from rural areas to be spent in metropolitan areas. Both Republicans and Democrats are doing this. My state Senator was not on the ballot in 2022. The Senator’s campaign disclosure reports showed he sent $42,000 to the Iowa Republican Party of $43,500 raised.
I view it as a form of chicanery. I encourage people to view the reports available from the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. Call out the politicians who play this game.
This vegetarian is not offended by your statement. This is not a knock on tofu or vegetarianism. This vegetarian understands the assignment. For the purposes of this conversation we're talking about someone who is fake. This is not a knock on fake meat, lol. But that would probably be another article. Yeah we've got some fake ass democrats here. My youngest daughter moved to la two years ago. With no intention of ever coming back. Why would she? California may have its problems but the push there is not towards ethanol. And her uterus has more rights than a gun. Not to mention the pool of men.... Oh, and to continue with this PCness, this is not a knock on men....
Well, all of the information about the democrats and campaign contributions was depressing, but so was this: "To be clear, this is not a knock on tofu or vegetarianism."
What you wrote sure felt like a knock on tofu and vegetarianism. I would think you might be more supportive because you know so much about the negatives of CAFOs.
Thanks Chris. This is "where it is at" following Citizens United. Our politicians are bought. If the public were well informed this might change. Newspapers are losing out to the "new media." Old timers like me remember the warnings of Orwell and Huxley from the past. Thanks to you, Cullen, Belin, Hamilton, Mutel and Kimmerer for speaking truth. We must keep private universities, public schools, newspapers and books viable. The Dark Ages were not fun nor was Hitler's Germany.
Thanks for this column; I always learn from your posts. I continually receive donation requests from Zach Wahls despite my attempts to unsubscribe. I do not live in Johnson County; I live in Washington County where the total human population is about 23,000, although as you have pointed out, the number of hogs is 1.3 million. If only the hogs could vote. The Democratic Party has never seemed to care much about what happens in my county with its now overwhelming water and air pollution. Certainly, Zach Wahls has never shown any interest in the quality of my life or my neighbor's.
I have been a vegetarian since I was 10 years old which means I haven't eaten meat for the past 18 years. Reading this essay I did not feel "knocked" for my dietary choices whatsoever. This essay made me laugh, it provided valuable insight, it demonstrated that in addition to adept research skills Chris Jones has amazing instincts for editorializing. And let's be real - Tofurky (the shit shaped like a dead animal, not the deli slices) is repulsive and tastes abominable. Thanks Chris!
I am sometimes amazed/ashamed as to how old I was when it finally became apparent to me that the majority of Iowans don't really give a fig about water quality, especially if attaining it in any way hinders the Corn/CAFO mafia running this state. Reading Chris' writings and research really opened my eyes , which is great, but sad too , in that I'm not seeing many voices except his and a few others, raising the alarm.
I know Dave Loebsack and am proud to count him as a friend, he and his wonderful wife Teri. I am sure he is well aware of the Corn/CAFO water connection too, so assume it's political reality/survival to look the other way, just like the other Dems listed in the piece. Not an excuse really, just an explanation.
The phrase" hard-working farmers" is now one word politically, though hardly the truth, they work no harder than any other trades person trying to make a living. Its just romanticized nonsense. Though the framing contractor, machine shop owner, electrician or hardware store operator have to make it all work WITHOUT taxpayer subsidy. Farms are just factories without walls. Any other production facility that dumped effluent into streams and rivers like row crop farmers regularly do, would be in handcuffs, or at least in court. But, when you own an entire Legislature and Governors office? Fuggedaboudit.
Chris, I would like to note another objectionable aspect of the current finance disclosure laws. Did you see that your state senator wrote checks TO the state party for $771,250? Whether designed to obscure the flow of political funds or not, state Senator A accepts the donation and forwards it for redistribution through the state party. The result is a laundering of the donation (in terms of financial clarity, a way to tie politicians more closely to the party organization using the redistribution, and in many cases funds being taken from rural areas to be spent in metropolitan areas. Both Republicans and Democrats are doing this. My state Senator was not on the ballot in 2022. The Senator’s campaign disclosure reports showed he sent $42,000 to the Iowa Republican Party of $43,500 raised.
I view it as a form of chicanery. I encourage people to view the reports available from the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. Call out the politicians who play this game.
This vegetarian is not offended by your statement. This is not a knock on tofu or vegetarianism. This vegetarian understands the assignment. For the purposes of this conversation we're talking about someone who is fake. This is not a knock on fake meat, lol. But that would probably be another article. Yeah we've got some fake ass democrats here. My youngest daughter moved to la two years ago. With no intention of ever coming back. Why would she? California may have its problems but the push there is not towards ethanol. And her uterus has more rights than a gun. Not to mention the pool of men.... Oh, and to continue with this PCness, this is not a knock on men....
Well, all of the information about the democrats and campaign contributions was depressing, but so was this: "To be clear, this is not a knock on tofu or vegetarianism."
What you wrote sure felt like a knock on tofu and vegetarianism. I would think you might be more supportive because you know so much about the negatives of CAFOs.
Thanks Chris. This is "where it is at" following Citizens United. Our politicians are bought. If the public were well informed this might change. Newspapers are losing out to the "new media." Old timers like me remember the warnings of Orwell and Huxley from the past. Thanks to you, Cullen, Belin, Hamilton, Mutel and Kimmerer for speaking truth. We must keep private universities, public schools, newspapers and books viable. The Dark Ages were not fun nor was Hitler's Germany.
Thanks for this column; I always learn from your posts. I continually receive donation requests from Zach Wahls despite my attempts to unsubscribe. I do not live in Johnson County; I live in Washington County where the total human population is about 23,000, although as you have pointed out, the number of hogs is 1.3 million. If only the hogs could vote. The Democratic Party has never seemed to care much about what happens in my county with its now overwhelming water and air pollution. Certainly, Zach Wahls has never shown any interest in the quality of my life or my neighbor's.
Great work, Chris, and giving me some research ideas!
I have been a vegetarian since I was 10 years old which means I haven't eaten meat for the past 18 years. Reading this essay I did not feel "knocked" for my dietary choices whatsoever. This essay made me laugh, it provided valuable insight, it demonstrated that in addition to adept research skills Chris Jones has amazing instincts for editorializing. And let's be real - Tofurky (the shit shaped like a dead animal, not the deli slices) is repulsive and tastes abominable. Thanks Chris!
Are there any clean water Democrats we can support?
Chris you are too good
Sadly all you say is true and it is hellishly depressing
I am sometimes amazed/ashamed as to how old I was when it finally became apparent to me that the majority of Iowans don't really give a fig about water quality, especially if attaining it in any way hinders the Corn/CAFO mafia running this state. Reading Chris' writings and research really opened my eyes , which is great, but sad too , in that I'm not seeing many voices except his and a few others, raising the alarm.
I know Dave Loebsack and am proud to count him as a friend, he and his wonderful wife Teri. I am sure he is well aware of the Corn/CAFO water connection too, so assume it's political reality/survival to look the other way, just like the other Dems listed in the piece. Not an excuse really, just an explanation.
The phrase" hard-working farmers" is now one word politically, though hardly the truth, they work no harder than any other trades person trying to make a living. Its just romanticized nonsense. Though the framing contractor, machine shop owner, electrician or hardware store operator have to make it all work WITHOUT taxpayer subsidy. Farms are just factories without walls. Any other production facility that dumped effluent into streams and rivers like row crop farmers regularly do, would be in handcuffs, or at least in court. But, when you own an entire Legislature and Governors office? Fuggedaboudit.
Great column! Thanks.
How much water does ethanol production use? How does that effect water quality?
Thank you for this! I truly didn't know, and once gave a few bucks to Zach Wahl's campaign. Ouch.
Thank you for your continued great words & work! The truth is beyond sad… wake up Iowa!