fatherphil

if you guys don't want farmers having more weight in voting, do you think we should overhaul the senatorial structure?

Hubble head

fatherphil, what do they grow out in the rural areas? Wasn't the hoopla about oil for food about, well, food because they grow very little?

From what I've seen, I'd say the rural people are rural because they like to be left alone for the most part and don't care to participate much as long as goats still bring a fair price.

Posted this on another thread but it kind of appplicable here too:

Overall, if we could split the country into three distinct Iraqi states and give them blueprints for state governments to work out mostly on their own it might help. The US will continue to tie it all together from the top with the military, oil and new federal govt. The states could refocus the unrest to work out their own diverse issues/laws and leadership important to that region's primary group. Overall everyone would contribute to the country as a whole similar to things here. Just my armchair opinion...but something needs to happen soon. -I'm not sure Chalabi or Garner will make it the whole way.

Nataraja

Doesn't most of our food come from large commercial farms?

Hubble head

Nowadays, yes narajna. But if you buy fresh from the co-op or farmers market you are usually getting stuff from family farms or small private co-ops.

Anything canned, served as fast food or frozen is commercially farmed -often in Mexico or South America where the farming regulations on chemicals and soil condition are looser.

Another great change brought to us by our friendly and caring Federal Gov. Always working hard to improve the quality of our lives.

Nataraja

I get my food from a co-op and a place that specializes in top-quality fresh meats. I like fresh veggies and meats. Also, the fish restaurant I like to eat out at is owned and run by the same people who pulled their fish from the sea. The processed stuff makes me somewhat ill. I really don't see how people can survive on it.

fatherphil

states of a union under the jurisdiction of a strong federal government which guarantees certain rights and protections for all seems appropriate. perhaps the 51st, 52st, & 53rd states. but seeing how the csa has become a democratic powerhouse, it could only weaken the republican party. this might actually gain some support for the idea around this forum

btw, farm references were made to pertain only to the side discussion involving the electoral college.

Nataraja

I think that pulling out of Iraq on the condition that they allow different provinces to make their own rules as to how its citizens should behave and that they set up an instution resembling in principle a democracy, preferably based on something of the sort that already exists, in addition to the force that gains the largest pool of power and support would be much more likely to lead the people of Iraq to a future in which they will not be oppressed. For example, ask for a bicameral government that is composed in one part of officials that are elected for each province and in the other part of traditional leadership. This way, the Shiites, who will very likely end up running the show, will not have to give up all of their authority and the people of Iraq will have some protection against falling under an oppressive theocratic government. Many of the most successful nations have a government that is controlled by more than one power.