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Farm Aid’s Nelson, Mellencamp, Young and Matthews Urge Congress to Redirect Bailout to Working Men and Women, Farmers
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PRNewswire-USNewswire
September 27, 2008
In response to the $700 billion Wall Street bailout currently being considered by Congress, the Farm Aid Board of Directors Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews sent an open letter to Congressional leaders urging them to redirect funds to farm communities and working men and women, where they can be better used to address our country’s economic, environment, energy and health crises.
“The proposed $700 bailout asks taxpayers to foot the bill without giving them the opportunity to share in any gains that might result,” Willie Nelson said. “On the other hand, a $1 billion investment in family farm agriculture would enrich all of us, because we are all shareholders of the family farm. The return on investment in the family farm includes thriving local economies, nutritious food for better health, a safer and more secure food supply, a cleaner environment and more renewable energy.”
Nelson and fellow Farm Aid board members Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews marked Farm Aid’s 23rd year last weekend with a New England-based benefit concert that showcased the tenacity of family farmers as an example of what it takes to solve America’s most pressing challenges.
“Family farmers are the bedrock of this country. They are always looking for new answers to problems and finding creative solutions that work,” said Nelson.
Farm Aid led by example at its annual benefit concert by becoming the only music festival to serve family farm food to concertgoers, artists, crews and VIPs, demonstrating what is possible in efforts to bring more family farm food to more people.
To read the open letter to Congressional leaders sent by Farm Aid Board of Directors Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews, please visit www.farmaid.org/lettertocongress.
Farm Aid’s mission is to build a vibrant family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host an annual concert to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food. Since 1985, Farm Aid has raised more than $30 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.
SOURCE Farm Aid
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September 27th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I agree that it’s a better investment and I would be happy to see it happen if the the gov. MUST invest taxpayer money. However the gov. “investing” is fake capitalism. Using the gov to control other people’s money is the primary problem in my view. It leads to the big game of lobbyist fighting over the big pie. The mob rule of democracy. The eventual consolidation of media to corporate interest and subsequent propaganda.
“It’s the constitution stupid” Small government = big freedom and perfectly and naturally balanced distribution of wealth.
I mean this with no disrespect to farm aid which is a great cause.
September 27th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
These people are true American hero’s.
September 27th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
We had this before..without GVT assistance ..
The US had farms(all farms were “family farms” before the US GVT and Big Farm Companies got involved around the late 1960s and early 1970s..
A farmer didn’t have “crop insurance” he farmed with skills learned generation after generation and did so in a way that he had to take risks with their own money.. Not some GVT program and the massive amount of chemicals…
The Farmer of two generations ago would be considered a master at his skill today..
Was eevrything perfect.. no.. You cannot always predictthe weather and crops fail.. But the American Farmer carried this country from conception until BIG GVT and BIG CO-OPs began to take over with $$$$$ in mind…
Now here we are..
September 27th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Whether this makes a difference or not. This kind of campaign is so needed as it brings in the much needed “Celebrity Factor” to reach an otherwise catatonic public. Now if only Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, George Clooney and other mega-stars would jump on board we might have at least some awakening that this bailout may be better directed.. like to your average John or Jill Doe.
Why shouldn’t these proposed funds not go to the people as this would stimulate our consumer based economy and with restrictions pay off these “Toxic Loans” that are the crux of the problem as I understand it.
I say this knowing that this whole collapse has been planned and is almost certainly past the point of defeat but maybe this celebrity interest could be the catalyst in possibly awakening at least 1 or 2 more.
Now if we can just get the Jonas Brothers to sing a song about the FEMA Concentration Camps we could really get somewhere.
September 27th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
This is great. I’m very proud of them for attempting this noble effeort to get the money to where it would really help. The last 8 years have been a travesty for us all and now they are trying to completely crush us with this fraudulent “bailout”.
CALL YOUR CONGRESSMEN. FLOOD THEM WITH CALLS ABOUT THIS!!
September 27th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
They need to have benefit concerts and donate 30 mil to the family militia and we’ll arm up and kick ass…
September 27th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Here’s a story where men who pulled for America and worked and gave so much more then a president who says he has. This is one positive story in a field of so much negatives surrounding us day to day. Willie Nelson’s always been a leader for the Family Farmer,which in all actuality is for the betterment of us all. Other performers, John Melloncamp,Dave Mathews, Neil Young gave there Talents in performing for this benefit. All proceeds go to the betterment of Family programs and Family Farming.
Why does it seem its the so-called Little Guy bailing or helping to bail out our country problems where the Big Man or Big business is more concerned in how much his returns will bring him. I guess its those who have little are those who have the Biggest heart. What they bring of it, shows they never forgot where they came from. Thats important today in a world that is so material.
September 27th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Im with Big Nusses,let these dimwads have a MILITIA AID.All these benefits are a temporary bandaid for the middleman.Im all for REVOLUTION AGAINST THE NEW WORLD ORDER AID!!!!!
September 27th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
This is pretty cool. Hell yeah.
September 27th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Even if you don’t agree with Farm Aid’s views, it just goes to show you that there are a thousand better and cheaper ways to spend tax payers money to boost the economy. Also, showing the American tax payers better alternatives than what the bankers and Washington fat cats will offer, but would never consider, since it won’t line their own pockets is proof that it’s not about saving the economy, you, or the American way of life.
September 27th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Alas – the crooks at the top want the destruction of America. Of course this is the sane decent and humane solution. But your poor country has already been raped and gutted. Only a mass awakening and takeover by ordinary people can save you now.
September 27th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Good for those musicians who are trying to bring attention to a fundamental part of our country. This makes me want to buy their cd’s in order to pass back the blessing.
September 27th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Right on!
Debt Forgiveness NOW for America’s Middle & Working Classes. NO BAILOUT for Wall Street’s fraudsters and con-artists.
Listen-up Washington DC: BAILOUT = GENERAL STRIKE!
September 27th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Zechariah chapter 7
7:9 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
7:10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
7:11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
7:12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.
7:13 Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:
7:14 But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.
Repent, turn from your wicked ways, Judgment day is coming.
September 27th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
If they are going to bail them out, then they should erase all of our personal debts as well, fuck this country, each state needs to succeed from the union, We’ve been hijacked people!!! and i’m pissed as hell goddamnit!! How bout everyone else, are you mad enough top get off of your ass yet, call your senators, congressmen, get pissed off, raise a ruckus!!!!!
September 27th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Be watchful of the Judas among you. He wares the image of the angel of death upon his heart.
September 27th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Willie Nelson needs to talk to Dave Matthews and educate him on the WTC Controlled Demolitions while they are hanging out talking about Government corruption. Dave Matthews going public would and could be instrumental in getting the truth out to the masses.
September 27th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
no comments?!
September 27th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
…Ah-bdi… The only problem being that family farms are f***in’ Wall street’s arch enemy , hence ,
they might be considered ” Al Qaeda ” as we speak !!!
September 27th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
just tell your neighbors congress wont listen dont divide , unite for any reason stop seeing diffrences and imagine simularites , support local business if there are any left .. make flyers hold rallys , be smart and be safe.. your vote counts lets just make shure we are heard .. vote for anyone but the big 2 spread the word …it’s getting scarry out here the net is slowley dying … npr is a joke….
September 27th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
PROBLEM = THE WORLD
SOLUTION = JESUS CHRIST
September 27th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
when this country was born in 1776, 80% of the population lived on farms. now it’s only 2%.
the 70’s and 80’s were very hard on the rural communties. we have yet to see the rural communities regenerated after a devastating couple of decades.
one of the reasons is that high schools have brainwashed a majority of the youth into going to college instead of living around their home town. haven’t you ever noticed how teachers hypnotically repeat, “go to college or become a loser flipping burgers at mcdonalds”? this is the wrong approach of guiding the youth of this country.
and the other reason was there were some economic hardships for the farmers in the 80’s.
no insurance, low grain prices, and weather played a factor into the destruction of the small family farm way of life. it’s an empty feeling out here much like the native americans felt after losing their way of life.
September 27th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
thomas Jefferson: “those who labor in the earth are the chosen people, if ever God had a chosen people…”
From the bewilderness-thanks for coming!
James Mansfield
September 27th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Did anyone besides chaos actually read the post in which they are responding?
September 27th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
a big AMEN to this article which will fall on deaf ears, of course !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vma8wnb6UmI
September 27th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Love your answer Bob.
September 28th, 2008 at 12:09 am
The neocons cut the links to te letter! I can’t read it…
Is there any voluntury who can cut up those neocons from the web!? Computer diversion is asked… and more sites like this one
September 28th, 2008 at 12:13 am
You could divide up less than half of that 700 billion across the nation, every man, woman, and child, and the economy would flourish, homes could be paid for, but the bankers and the brokers wouldn’t like that much. Hey how about the guy at Washington Mutual bank…17 days on the job and they closed the bank. He walked away with a 20 million dollar severance…unbelievable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcZSh1diQRQ
September 28th, 2008 at 12:37 am
Here’s a new type of farming that renders Iraqi oil obsolete, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyoKTbxerpQ
September 28th, 2008 at 2:12 am
The fall of Rome!
September 28th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Hey Willie, this is for you my friend…..
I Gotta Get Drunk…bail out version
Well, I gotta get drunk and I sure do dread it, cause I know just what they’re gonna do..
They’re gonna spend my money and it sure as hell aint funny
And we’ll all wind up singin the blues….
They take my whole paycheck while our nation is a wreck
Hijacked by some bankster Jew
Well I gotta get drunk and I sure do dread it, cause I know just what they’re gonna do……
September 28th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Punish the Banks not the People, wipe off all debt, let the People keep their homes and business’
New banks will spring up as people will now have more wealth, IE no mortgage or loans to pay off.
September 28th, 2008 at 10:37 am
#38 did you say to give all the people that have a home now for free. You frickin kidding me right, so what about all the people that paid off there homes the old fashioned way, what about the people that did not refi there home mortgage. What about the people that bought more home than they could afford. What about the 30,000 dollar millioniares, they should get a home. Piss’s me off, everybody thinks they deserve somthing when you earn everything.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Amen, Willie, et al.
End the oppression. Let the agrigultural system fluorish and send the bankers, the ruling elite, the crooks in Congress… to the massive prison-industrial complexes they designed and built on the backs of, and with the blood of, the poor.
September 28th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
wow i cant believe you guys removed my post.its ironic alex jones promotes censorship now.
anyway,and the vast majority of americans still hate the mexican-native american migrant farmers(illegals) who have been coming back and forth over the border,for over 100 years,to do the majority of america’s farming.
and then the same americans do not want to give these people the right to own a home, VOTE, or send their children to school here.
typical american self-righteousness and ignorance.
September 28th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Yep–it’s just as ol’ Andrew Jackson would happen if the bankers got a toehold–and he
fought them with everything he had–although they just about killed him when he did.–
God bless his memory–may his tribe increase–PRAY FOR THE MERCY OF GOD ON
AMERICA!
September 28th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
to: solar nyc
go spew your crap somewhere elase like CNN or Fox
September 28th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Sounds like it may be a very successful event this year, I only wish I could go to the concert!
The shortcut to the letter to congress seems unable to work currently.
Im glad to see so many celeberties involved in change!
September 29th, 2008 at 1:08 am
John cougar Mellencamp “Rain on the scarecrow blood on the plow” Love that song I”m from the “small town” I can feel his music.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:12 am
http://www.ExposingChristianity.com
The pen is mightier than the sword.
__________________________________________
- Everything in Christianity has been stolen from religions predating it by hundreds to thousands of years.
- Judaism, Christianity and Islam are all programs to keep spiritual knowledge away from the populace in order to keep humans enslaved by the global elite.
- Nearly everything in the bible consists of symbolism, allegories and twisted truths that are to be taken literally by the masses.
- Contrary to what most people have been indoctrinated with, Judaism, Christianity and Islam are relatively new religions. Humanity goes back tens of thousands of years. These three have worked relentlessly to keep us from spiritual knowledge and using this power, of which all of us have.
- The survival and prosperity of this vicious hoax on humanity requires only ONE thing- A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE!
October 1st, 2008 at 3:05 am
preach on brotha Sharper!
I am with ya!
March 20th, 2009 at 10:11 am
lovelove love love i LOVE this song