Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, the agri-business puppet many consumer groups fear. Tom Vilsack, shining light regarding the reform of farm subsidies.
Hmmm.
As noted here previously, the Organic Consumers Association pressed hard against Vilsack's nomination, apparently to no avail. Given that I am an Obama Mama, I waited to see what PE-Obama said regarding this candidate in his December 17 press conference.
As reported in the Washington Post, Obama stressed that he was concerned with"...ensuring that the policies being shaped at the Departments of Agriculture and Interior are designed to serve not big agribusiness or Washington influence peddlers, but family farmers and the American people."
It appeared to me as if the Interior Secretary pick, Ken Salazar, was top banana in the announcements, even though Salazar evidently is not much favored by environmentalists. It's possible that Agriculture and Interior would work pro-actively together, with Ag seemingly taking its cue from Interior.
In the question period, Obama suggested that Vilsack had an interest in developing
"cellulosic ethanol." Since this is bio-fuel developed from non edible plants or parts of plants, it certainly speaks to those of us who find severe drawbacks in corn-based ethanol.
All in all, however, we are not enthused about these two picks.
( Heartening for those of us who live in close contact with native Americans, Obama stated this: "Among the many responsibilities Ken will bear as our next secretary of the interior is helping ensure that we finally live up to the treaty obligations that are owed to the first Americans. We need for than just a government-to-government relationship; we need a nation-to-nation relationship. And Ken and I will work together to make sure the tribal nations have a voice in this administration.")
FYI--For several days C-Span has been running a fascinating in-depth series on the White House--two things stand out for me thus far--one, that the WH has a "Chocolate Shop; " secondly, that the only edibles apparent on the grounds are some puny hanging baskets containing herbs.
We, and probably many others, already have emailed the Obama-Biden Transition team re the re-establishment of veggie gardens on the grounds. Apparently John Adams, the first President to live at the White House, established some. Greenhouses, too, stood there for well over 50 years--Andrew Jackson established the first "orangerie " at the White House, an environment for the growing of assorted fruit trees. But these all are long gone.
UPDATE--Michael Pollan, ubiquitous media guest on the topic of food--Pollan has written several superb books on food issues--was interviewed this morning on NPR.
"I was very disappointed in that news conference," ( Pollan) said, "not to hear Vilsack use the word 'food' — or 'eaters.' And the interests of everybody except eaters was discussed: farmers, ranchers, people concerned about the land." Interestingly, Pollan asserted that it was possible that Energy Secretary Steven Chu, an opponent of corn-based ethanol, might face off against Vilsack, collegially, of course, on this issue.
Both Pollan and NYTimes columnist Nicholas Kristof in recent days had called for the naming of a Secretary of Food for the country.
Harrumph---O. better keep their respective toes to the fire, eh?
Posted by: Foodie | December 20, 2008 at 06:55 PM
Hmph...
I guess I'm really not surprised.
Posted by: Sonya | December 20, 2008 at 07:39 AM