| MAGIC VALLEY, Idaho -- We can sum up the past year in
agriculture in one word: Owwwww!
It hurt, there's no denying that, and it's looking as though the hurt's
going to get worse before it gets better. But that's part of recovery,
right? We think so.
In the first place, we have a new Republican administration and a
Cabinet that we believe will be far more friendly to agriculture than the
last. But what's more, we have an atmosphere that will be far more
realistic than the last.
Reality
Clinton and company seemed to believe they could pick and choose
economic indicators and drive the same with beltway slight of hand. But
the tricks to support the illusion are now packed in a big black trunk on
its way home. Gone with it are the smoke and mirrors, leaving us with the
magician's final illusion: reality.
But reality is agriculture's friend. After all, it's not what you see;
it's what the rest of the country doesn't see. And for the past eight
years, the country has not seen the downturn in agriculture, our truest
economic indicator.
Instead, it has seen soaring mutual funds, a skyrocketing Dow and
perceived prosperity unparalleled. It's an illusion that has harmed
agriculture and eventually will scour the rest of the country. But at
least now, we hope, it's out of the hat.
Agriculture is ailing, and in our diagnosis, that means the country is
ailing. The sooner everyone recognizes that, the sooner we move toward
finding a cure.
Let us add, however, that neither Bush nor his Republican
administration can turn things around quickly. Nobody can. It's going to
take a while for the smoke to dissipate and even longer for those outside
of agriculture to adjust their vision. |