Detroit and the eat local movement (aka agricultural restoration in urban enterprise zones)

Farm subsidies are another way your grandparents hate you, children. They take money from you (your future) and give them to the old timers to grow crops (e.g. corn) that, well, make you fat.

I'm just saying.

Those old folks are tough so you may not be able to end these subsidies (note: those few states that brag about doing well, like North Dakota and Nebraska; see how much milk they've suckled from the federal teat over the last 1,5,10,20,50 years; but that's for another post). Instead, encourage *more* farm subsidies. Only, this time, for urban farms -- or, to make it sound more pleasing to "conservatives," then more farm subsidies for 'agricultural restoration in enterprise zones.'

We really ought to start with Detroit.

No one there has a job, I'm pretty sure. Nearly everyone who can leave, has. There are miles (literally) of boarded homes, vacant lots and empty spaces. Here's what I propose:

1. lobby the government to offer these urban farm subsidies
2. the city of Detroit offers these vacant lots free of charge *and* with no property taxes for 20 years, say, and offers subsidized bulldozing and hauling provided
3. the new 'owner' uses the area for at least the next 10 years for organic farming

This will spur more organic farming, more local eating, help cut down on blight, give crackheads fewer places to hide and maybe spread some of that federal food subsidy money to a few new (younger, less whiter) constituencies.

Can't hurt to try.