Letter to the Editor, Posted: 7/13/05
TO THE EDITOR:
Minnesota farmers have a lot more to lose than gain from CAFTA. The Senate action, and Sen. Norm Colemanís support of CAFTA, is very disappointing. After the vote, Sen. Coleman was quoted as saying that he hoped his ëfriends in the sugar industry would reflect on whatís good for them.
President Eisenhower once said that farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and youíre a thousand miles from the corn field. Sen.Colemanís statement shows that he does not respect the judgment of farmers as much as Eisenhower did.
Sen. Colemanís remark implies that farmers donít know what is in their best interests. Thatís condescending and just plain wrong. Our farmers de-serve more support than that. Minnesota sugar beet farmers and other producers are smart enough to know whatís good for them, and they know CAFTA is not good for them. Letís hope that as this trade deal moves through Congress, other Minnesota lawmakers will do a better job of responding to farmersí concerns, and vote to defeat CAFTA.
Doug Peterson, President
Minnesota Farmers Union
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