Patty Ann Smith and Craig Smith collaborated to give us a great video for “Lend A Hand To The Farmers.” I find it a real pleasure to feature artists who make it a point to deliver an honest point of view on real situations.

Just plain wrong information can come from anywhere. Even someone who teaches at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas and is a senior scholar at the Levy Economics Institute may say something silly like:

“To put things crudely, there are two ways to get the increase in total spending that we call “economic growth.” One way is for government to spend. The other is for banks to lend. Leaving aside short-term adjustments like increased net exports or financial innovation, that’s basically all there is. Governments and banks are the two entities with the power to create something from nothing. If total spending power is to grow, one or the other of these two great financial motors–public deficits or private loans–has to be in action.”
- JAMES K. GALBRAITH

It seems to me that this just does not make sense.

There is only one way to get an increase in total spending that is sustainable, that is you must increase net production of “stuff”, such as agricultural “stuff”, food.

• Neither public or private debt can increase wealth.
• Wealth can only be harvested, mined or manufactured.

I cannot believe that governments and banks can create something from nothing. I do not believe in free lunches, in my experience someone always pays.

I do believe we will be hearing and reading more and more things that do not make sense. It will become even more important to take care of the essential elements of our lives.

If we are not paying our farmers, and the evidence is that we are not judging from their massive rate of bankruptcy and foreclosure, then we destroy our oldest proven financial motor.

Patty Ann Smith and Craig Smith know this much and have lent their talents to spreading the message.

Why don’t you help “Lend A Hand To The Farmers,” too?

* * * * Artist’s Statement * * * * *

Craig and I lived in rural upstate New York for several years. It is our home state,  and we have many wonderful memories of our local farmers as friends and neighbors and also from county fairs and 4H events.

We gained the richness of their lives and work. It was a happy time then. However, unfortunately, those times have changed.

A nation that does not have an abundance of small family farmers ~ is an impoverished nation in body, mind, and spirit.

And, that is where we’re at right now.

Today, for every family farmer who is being torn apart by financial devastation, it tears apart the farmer, his family, and eventually the country.

Like a hurricane or tornado, this is each farmer’s devastating private storm.

Here are a few lines from Dougie MacLeans song Solid Ground that warm my heart and say something pretty profound:

Where is the honest fool
The open soul the simple smile
Who’ll be warm and true
for the passing stranger
who may rest a while
My fathers may have said these things
and now I  know
Yes didn’t they know
The joy a shared friendship brings
And now I know
yes didn’t they know
Now we stand on solid ground
we stand on solid ground
on solid ground
It ís the land that is our wisdom
It ís the land that shines us true
It ís the land that feeds our children
It ís the land
you cannot own the land
the land owns you
It ís the land
you cannot own the land
the land owns you

Many family farmers are teachers of the natural world, and we need them more than ever, now.

I find it unacceptable that the family farmers that have been feeding us all along are becoming some of the homeless and hungry among us.

For Willie Nelson and all his Good Works!

Willie, what a pleasure it is to be even a small part of being able to help save the family farmers of this land.

We know that the health of our country is at stake in more ways than one, and that we need to continue to support what ís right and in harmony with the Universal Truths.

Peace to All
Patty and Craig Smith