John IkerdNov 10, 20216 minSuccessful Small Family Farms: Myth or Reality?Someone recently forwarded me a link to an opinion piece by freelance writer Sarah Mock that begins: “I tried to prove that small family...
John IkerdSep 13, 20215 minThe National Debt Deception"Government spending is out of control! We can’t afford new government programs to rebuild infrastructure, mitigate climate change, or...
John IkerdAug 14, 20215 minThe Economic Realities of CAFOsI don’t like watching videos of my own presentations, but I force myself to do it from time to time. I know how I feel about...
John IkerdJun 12, 20216 minSome Thoughts on Racism and PatriotismI have been reluctant to write about political issues since the 2020 presidential election. I had hoped some of the bitterness and...
John IkerdMar 25, 20216 minRevelations of COVID-19—One Year LaterIt has been a year now since COVID 19 was proclaimed a pandemic. Virtually everyone has experienced the disruption of the food system in...
John IkerdFeb 21, 20215 minWhy Do We Need a Farm Bill?Why do we need a “Farm Bill”? Farmers make up only 1.3% of the total U.S. population and even less than 10% of the population of counties...
John IkerdJan 21, 20213 minA Green New Deal for Family Farms & Rural CommunitiesThe "Green New Deal"[i] has been systematically demonized by corporate propaganda targeting rural America. Rural people have been led to...
John IkerdNov 24, 20203 minA New Agenda for Farm Bill 2023I have been writing a regular column for the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development for the past 10 years. My...
John IkerdNov 17, 20204 minFour Years to RegroupThe election of 2020 is finally over. Yes, it is over. Joe Biden won and Donald Trump lost. This conclusion was not reached quickly or...
John IkerdOct 13, 202076 minThe American Covenant -- Collection of 12 EssaysThis series of short essays makes a compelling case for returning the U.S. to the long, difficult journey toward "a more perfect union."
John IkerdSep 27, 20208 minCan We Afford a New Bill of Rights?How can the U.S. government pay the economic costs of fulfilling its responsibility to secure liberty and justice for all?
John IkerdSep 18, 20208 minReaffirming the American CovenantIf our democratic republic survives the November election, it will still not survive unless we reaffirm the American Covenant with God.
John IkerdSep 11, 20205 minGovernment is Not a Business“We need to run government like a business”--a common refrain in the U.S. But, governments and businesses have very different purposes.
John IkerdSep 3, 20207 min "Make Us A King"In democracies, the people consent to common values to guide government. In a monarchy, the individual values of the "king" are supreme.
John IkerdAug 28, 20205 minReclaiming the American SpiritIn the elections of 2020, Americans will decide whether we continue the quest toward a more perfect union or choose a different future.
John IkerdAug 7, 202012 minThe New Progressive Political AgendaThe skepticism of those with memories limited the past 40 years are understandable. The new progressive movement nonetheless holds promise.
John IkerdJul 30, 20207 minReparation and the Pursuit of Happiness My previous blog post advocating reparation raised economic and political concerns about reparation. My proposal avoids these concerns.
John IkerdJul 24, 20207 minReparation for Three Original Sins of the NationThe denial of territorial rights of Indigenous peoples, human rights of slaves, voting rights of women are three original sins of the U.S.
John IkerdJul 17, 20208 minToward a More Perfect UnionThe United States of America is a “work in progress”—and probably always will be. We must continue the quest "toward a more perfect union."
John IkerdJul 10, 202036 minFinding Common GroundA compilation of eight post written in 2017 about finding common ground and healing the Great American Political Divide.