Page 56 - Summer2008

Our industrial city by his enemies. He eventually reached the labor wages and working conditions of indus-

agricultural Grove of the Furies, where he was killed by his trial farms and factories to overseas imports
servant, beheaded by Septimuleius, and his body from places like China, Mexico, and elsewhere,
practices have was subsequently thrown into the Tiber River to (where rules, regulations and requirements for
contributed join his brother’s. 3 fair wages, decent working conditions and pol-
Within one hundred years of the deaths of lution are minimal to non-existent), would drive
to the obesity the Gracchi brothers, the Roman Republic would out the small, local, American farms. Moreover,
and modern become the Roman Empire under Octavian Au- agribusiness had evolved, moving beyond mere
illnesses gustus Caesar and the people’s ability to govern slave labor to a vast array of chemical and
of the themselves would be irrevocably lost. The politi- biological weapons and expensive but power-
cal gridlock fueled by the wealthy and powerful ful fossil fuel-guzzling machines, furthering
developed special interests coupled with the apathy of the their competitive advantages against the small

nations and to general population would create an open door farmer. A government policy of “get big or get
the starvation for a dictator—in the name of the people and the out” would help galvanize a nation seemingly
common good—to gain complete control over bent on the loss and destruction of its lifeblood
and the whole nation. under the guise of improvement and progress.
oppression of Today, powerful and well-funded agri-

the TWO THOUSAND YEARS LATER business uses its political clout to manipulate
America was a nation built upon and politicians and public perception, all while seek-

developing around small farming communities, though not ing greater power over the global food system.
nations. without some debate among the founders. After Industrial farming practices, where the true costs
the industrial revolution and World War II, small are externalized on uninformed and ignorant
American farms found themselves in an all too consumers, give the appearance of low prices.
Roman-like situation, but only far worse. Over none of the real costs—polluted land, poisoned
the next sixty years, everything from the slave water, air barely breathable, horri cally abused

THE WISDOM OF THOMAS JEFFERSON

Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States, was a staunch defender of small farmers, broad based
democracy, agrarianism, and limited government in his debates with more industrial minded, aristocratic, bureau-
cratic men, such as Alexander Hamilton. His words, penned hundreds of years ago, are even more pertinent and
poignant today.

“Agriculture... is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and hap-
piness.” Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1787. ME 6:277

“Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the most independent, the most
virtuous, and they are tied to their country and wedded to its liberty and interests by the most lasting bonds. As long,
therefore, as they can find employment in this line, I would not convert them into mariners, artisans, or anything else.”
Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 1785. ME 5:94, Papers 8:426

“The United States... will be more virtuous, more free and more happy employed in agriculture than as carriers or
manufacturers. It is a truth, and a precious one for them, if they could be persuaded of it.”
Thomas Jefferson to M. de Warville, 1786. ME 5:402

“The way to have good and safe government is not to trust it all to one, but to divide it among the many, distributing
to everyone exactly the functions in which he is competent. . . To let the National Government be entrusted with the
defense of the nation, and its foreign and federal relations . . . The State Governments with the Civil Rights, Laws, Police
and administration of what concerns the State generally. . . The Counties with the local concerns, and each ward direct
the interests within itself. It is by dividing and subdividing these Republics from the great national one down through all
its subordinations until it ends in the administration of everyman’s farm by himself, by placing under everyone what his
own eye may superintend, that all will be done for the best.”
Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, February 2, 1816
54 Wise Traditions SUMMER 2008