Iowa is pillaged for the benefit of a few

Sustainability? What happened to sustainability? As Iowa leaders allow all manner of exploitation of our natural resources, it seems the concept of protecting Iowa’s soil, water, wildlife, and quality of life have gone off the radar screen.

Most Iowans want these things. Many of us remember when our grandfathers and grandmothers took care of the land for their children, grandchildren and so on. Many of our landowners are now mining our soil, ruining our water and damaging our wildlife. Corporate-owned food production and distribution is promoted everywhere in Iowa. We can’t get away from it. At the wrestling finals, every Saturday at football games on our televisions, and even on water bottles, industrial agriculture promotes its products and methods.

Project our water problems, our soil loss and our manure problems into the future. What will Iowa look like? Many Iowans reject the idea that our state is to be sacrificed for the benefit of so very few powerful people. Our farmers markets are doing great! However, we import the vast majority of what we eat and drink. And, we are not eating well in Iowa. Our calories are coming from corn and beans through all sorts of processed “foods” and fattening corn syrup drinks.

It seems our lean meat cuts are leaving Iowa while we are encouraged to eat bacon. I suspect our only avenue to change this food system rests with the consumers. Our policy folks respond to their donors. Of course, they have no option if they want to stay in power. So sad.

Mike Delaney, Windsor Heights