Rob: Well the debate over Oklahoma's poultry industry,
well, it's a tough one.
And it currently looks as if the only way to solve it
may well be in the courts.
But something Attorney General Drew Edmonson told me really struck home when
he said, "From an economic standpoint, the money generated from tourism
dwarfs the revenues that come from agriculture, " on the surface, all true;
but here is what troubles me.
Increasingly, we live in an economy that rewards low cost producers.
And while my tie is from Korea, my shirt from Malaysia, and my suit from
Italy, I'm not so sure that's where I want all my food to come from.
Call me old fashioned, but I worry about an economy that ships agricultural
production overseas, all in an effort to lower production costs due to
fewer environmental regulations.
I respect our attorney general when he pulled no punches in saying what he
wants is to pass the cost of the clean-up of Oklahoma waterways on to
consumers buying chicken which will invariably cost more.
But what I fear, is rather than accept that responsibility, we will
turn our backs on higher priced homegrown food and purchase low cost imports;
which raises the question, do we really want to be dependent on other
counties for our food supply?
Because when push comes to shove, I can wear this shirt again and again.
But when it comes to food, that's a shortage
no American ever wants to see.
I'm Rob McClendon.
Thanks for watching.
See you soon.