French Farmers Rebel

The French, notorious for not stepping up in an effort to help us in World War II, are stepping up their battle against what they believe to be economic tyranny and suppression. No bully pulpit here but American farmers have always rallied to the cause of National need…whether it be committing themselves or their sons and daughters to armed conflict, immersing themselves in the political process or feeding America…and even much of the world’s population. There was a recent violent demonstration by Belgian dairymen in Brussels which drew this criticism from Bob Neaerbout, Executive Director of the Idaho Dairymens Association: “I’m not sure how much gets accomplished particularly here in the United States, that’s a good photo op, and it obviously gets you press coverage, maybe it gets you somewhere in the European Market but not here.

 Well the Associated Press says that French farmers are now up in arms. “French farmers struggling with slumping grain prices blanketed the Champs-Elysees with bales of hay and set them ablaze recently and blocked highways around the country as they demanded government help.

Grain farmers were staging nationwide protests to call attention to their debts and other difficulties that have mounted as food prices have fallen from record highs in 2007.