Victimization of farmers has been occurring for decades. Whether intentionally mistreated or indirectly wronged, farmers must adapt according to the consequences of government action or inaction. One of the greatest injustices farmers have faced in the history of the United States occurred during the building of the railroad in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Currently, farmers must deal with the repercussions of genetically modified foods. A comparison between these two events depicts several similarities and differences in the characteristics of the parties involved and the participation of the government in the issues.
The Octopus, a novel written by Frank Norris in 1901, illustrates the struggles farmers face when up against the railroad company (Penguin Books). A group of honest, hard-working farmers being driven off their land by the corrupt railroad must resort to corruption themselves when their claims are continually denied by the courts. Despite a courageous fight, the end results for the farmers are loss of lives, ruin of livelihoods, and destruction of families.
The issues that farmers face in The Octopus relate to issues that farmers presently face in the debate of genetically modified foods. In The Octopus, farmers fell victim to the increasing prices of grain and hop transportation inflicted on them by the railroad (Norris). Farmers relied on the railroad as the sole means of transporting their crops. Aware of the reliance of the farmers, when the railroad looked to expand, they increased hauling rates in order to bankrupt farmers and take their land. The railroad was selfishly motivated and utilized corruption to satisfy their goals, taking full advantage of wealth and power.
In the era of the railroad, the United States was run by wealthy corporations. Money was power, and bribery often decided governmental proceedings (United States Senate). In The Octopus, this is portrayed in the government’s ignorance of the conflict between the railroad and farmers and in the court’s decisions in favor of the railroad (Norris). Although large organizations and corporations still impact the government, current governmental proceedings are much more immune to bribery and corruption stemming from organizations and corporations. For instance, the genetically modified food debate is fueled by companies like Monsanto and special interest groups like the Sierra Club. However, laws enacted by the government prevent these groups from placing farmers at their mercy like the railroad did to the farmers in The Octopus. Instead of satisfying the desires of groups like Monsanto and the Sierra Club, the policies of the government that dictate decisions regarding genetically modified foods are focused on consumer and environmental protection. Decisions of the government concerning genetically modified foods greatly affect farmers.
Government regulation (or lack of regulation) of genetically modified foods impact both organic farmers and farmers that grow genetically modified foods. A documentary about genetically modified foods briefly discusses how the unregulated planting of genetically modified crops affect organic farmers through cross pollination with compatible species (Shore). When genetically modified crops are in close proximity to organic crops that are sexually compatible, there exists potential for the genetically modified crop and the organic crop to reproduce. This leads to contamination of the organic crop. Because organic crops generally sell at a higher price, contamination of the organic crop leads to profit losses for the organic farmer.
Decisions made by government officials also affect growers of genetically modified crops. Recent government regualtion of the genetically modified sugar beet is affecting hundreds of sugar beet farmers throughout the United States. In the summer of 2010, Roundup Ready sugar beets were banned (Rodine). This means that sugar beet farmers must resort to planting traditional sugar beets or plant a different crop. The maintenance of traditional sugar beets is more intensive than maintaining genetically modified sugar beets, and traditional seed is much more difficult to come by since 95 percent of sugar beets in the United States are genetically modified (Isham; Profita). Theoretically, the result of the sugar beet ban will be an increase in the cost of planting and maintaining traditional sugar beets (Barker).
Similar to the farmers in The Octopus, current farmers must also suffer consequences of decisions made by more powerful entities. To the farmers in both instances, land is life. In The Octopus, the profits of the farmers were manipulated by the railroad through controlling the rates of crop transportation (Norris). Currently, profits that farmers receive are dependent on planting regulations decided by the government. These outside influences have potential to completely devastate farmers and their families. However, unlike that powerful entity that immorally took advantage of the farmers in The Octopus, the United States government is primarily concerned about safety of the crop in relation to the consumer and the environment. Although motives are drastically different, consequences to the farmer are considerably the same. Like the farmers in The Octopus, farmers continue to be the victims in decisions that affect land and crop usage.
Works Cited
Barker, Rocky. "Idaho Beet Growers and Organic Farmers Are Living in Uncertainty While A Lawsuit Plays Out." 26 March 2010. Idaho Statesman. Web. 20 September 2010.
Genetically Modified Food – Panacea or Poison. Dir. Josh Shore. 2005.
Isham, Bo. Certified Crop Advisor Kayla Isham. 4 October 2010.
Norris, Frank. The Octopus. New York: Penguin Books, 1986.
Profita, Cassandra. "Roundup Ready sugar beets? Not without an EIS." 16 August 2010. Ecotrope. Web. 17 September 2010.
Rodine, Kristin. "Roundup Ready Beet Growers in Idaho May Get Reprieve." 10 September 2010. Idaho Statesman. Web. 20 September 2010.
United States Senate. Direct Election of Senators . Web. 8 October 2010.
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