Tech vs Ag - Too Many Bridges Burned?
Technology and Agriculture have made interesting bedfellows in this state. Many have argued that ag is the withering dinosaur and tech is the shining star of the future. I myself have been caught up in this “bipartisanship”.
Many have ranted and raged about the need for the state to do more to help tech succeed (once again I point the finger at myself). We’ve yelled so loud that most people (especially those that serve in our legislature) have quit listening.
Our points are not unfounded. but I’m afraid our cries for more equal consideration are only perceived as childish whining. And in many cases that may be true (once again, finger pointed at myself).
Mayor Bieter made a comment about something in his most recent State of the City Address that I’ve been thinking about personally for a while. To paraphrase, he said that most of us are not that far removed from an agricultural heritage.
I have a confession to make. My background is about as Idaho ag as you get in Boise, without having actually grown up on a farm. I’m 6th generation Idahoan, I’m 4th generation Boisean. My heritage stems from both Irish potato farmers and Mormon settlers.
And while I may be politically agnostic ( I know it exists, I just don’t understand it) I also have some strong ties to Idaho politics. Growing up here in the 80’s my father, Andy Anderson, was a lobbyist for the Idaho Farm Bureau, he was racquetball partners with Dirk Kempthorne, and my family even used to go skiing with Larry Craig’s family.
In many articles you’ve read here about the state of politics and tech my cynicism has been painfully apparent. It is hard for me to hide; I wear my emotions on my blog.
That cynicism stems from a lifetime of watching the ag “good-ol’-boys” club run the political machine in this state. It stems from knowing how hard of a battle we have ahead in order to get tech and ag to the same table in a civil conversation.
The problem lies on both sides of the table. The local tech community understands politics as well as most of our politicians understand technology.
We have started down the road of a vicious cycle between tech and ag. This cycle won’t benefit anyone.
I know that the Governor wants to grow our agricultural revenue. Those of us in tech want to grow our technology revenue. This is not an either or proposition. Nothing says we can’t grow both at the same time and I’m not just talking about agricultural tech.
We will grow the overall State income by focusing on both tech and ag than we will by only focusing on one or the other. I also believe that it will be more cost effective to focus on both simultaneously.
I for one would like to start off on a new foot. I would first like to apologize to our Governor and our legislatures for my sarcastic, cynical and at times disparaging comments. There are still many things that they have done (and will probably do in the future) that I don’t agree with. But that’s politics, right? But from here on I want to try and be more constructive.
Anyone can sit back and throw stones but it’s much harder to offer suggestions (that then other people can throw stones at).
I hope that our political leaders can also put aside the negativity around the issue and lead the way for all of us to work together. I know that by working together we can come up with much more innovative solutions than we can fighting against each other.
As Tac alludes to, there is no reason to have two sides to this issue. There is way too much common ground. Like many issues, the Tech and Ag world is way too defined by the fringes; those that are driven by ideology, ignorance, fear, etc.
Somewhere in the middle is the rest of us - tech people that understand that ag people are entrepreneurs and ag people that understand that tech people are part of Idaho’s future.
My biggest concern is that this becoming a Republican v. Democrat thing; with Ag being GOP and tech (somehow) belonging to the Dems. As such, it will continue to be a “versus” issue defined by politics and not practical solutions.
As for me, I won’t vote for anybody that says they are “Pro Ag” or “Pro Tech”. If you are an Idaho politician, you should be for BOTH.
Heya, Justin-
I agree that Ag is dominated by Conservatives, but I don’t see Tech “belonging” to the Left. Are you referencing national/international Tech or local?
I too would hate to see it eroded down to values of political expediency…
Tac,
You are dead on in your “new” thinking. It has never really been Ag v. Tech or for that matter Rural v. Urban as some would like us to belive. We have alot more in common than many people think. We are by nature problem solvers and “pioneers”(free thinkers). Always have been, always will be. Our “test tube” environment (nearest big city) has enabled lots of our folks to become entrepreneurs (self-employed) and to look for better, faster, cheaper ways to get things done. It did not matter where you lived or what business segment you were in. Think about how we grow, harvest or process nearly any crop today versus 10, 20 or 30 years ago. Innovation has increased our productivity and profit in every business segment. Competition has driven the productivity (get better or die). Our competition today is not the town or the county next door or even, in many cases, the state next door. It is other countries and lots of people have figured that out. So the real question is how do we out innovate and compete the rest of the world. My answer is “divided we fall, united we stand”. It is action not talk that moves us forward. Start today!!!
Leo - In local politics, it appears that the Dems are trying to make tech their pet issue - especially as it relates to “investing” more in education. The GOP tries to make Ag a conservative issue. I’m all for a good ideological dust-up when necessary - I just don’t think these two issues should be partisan driven.
A tough Romanian politician, Traian Basescu (a former ship’s captain, mayor of Bucharest, and now Prime Minister) once said, “There is no such thing as several Romanias, but only politicians who divide Romania depending on the interests of their parties and their clout.”
There is something in human nature that likes to create artificial division. Technology aspires to no morality or political stripe.
I think of BullyDog.com and their story - coming out of rural American Falls. Or the Rodenator coming out of Midvale.
There are a lot of good stories re: rural innovation.
Answer honestly:
People who work with their minds are morally superior than those who work with their hands”. If even thought briefly “Yes”, then you’re part of the problem.
Ditto for the opposite sentiment.
If that’s too extreme, try: “People who manipulate symbols (words & numbers) are more important than those who manipulate things for a living.” [lifted from Bozeman economist John Baden]
Be honest. My gut reaction was “yes” to both questions. And I *know* better. I can program and I can ride. (That $#%*@ PhD, I guess… LOL) It’s human nature to draw lines… We and Them.
If we’re going to move beyond the divides we face - we all need to get past the “we” & “them” thing that’s an ever-present part of human nature.
And the good news? There’s at least two pieces of that… but we need to cherish each other.. even those evil GOP/Dem/tech/ag folks…. LOL
Still with me? Sorry for the schmaltz, but I can’t do stats and theories all the time.. LOL
Idaho is very much a rural state… socially & culturally;
Idaho is very much an urban state, economically. And guess what?
Evidence continues to mount (courtesy of economic geographers) that urban and rural economies Need Each Other.
That is, a strong rural economy is great for the cities; a strong urban economy is a significant boon to rural counties. There IS a synergy. It also means the first piece of potential good news:
THIS SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT AG vs. TECH! (If there’s even the hope of synergies…) The argument that we are failing to make is becoming crystal clear from researchers & practitioners alike globally - there is common ground, a common theme for us all to rally around.
Entrepreneurship.
Grow your own damn jobs. We know how to do it - we have experts who can teach us. Urban areas need to nurture this; rural areas really need to nurture this - and know it.
Thus, the 2nd piece of good news - the top minds (& hands) in rural Idaho are pushing hard on entrepreneurship.
Consider the Idaho Rural Partnership who is working to build an entrepreneurship resource directory/info portal so anyone can tap what Idaho has to help current & future entrepreneurs, they’ve commissioned a distance-delivery HS entrepreneurship course, and are exploring ways to help Idaho inventors & craftspersons to better market their creations. (Yes, the IRP…)
in 2008, Idaho is also going to resurrect a national tradition - a annual “Farm-City Day” where we celebrate how rural and urban economies support one another. While this is a rural initiative, the people behind it are completely open to how we can make this something worth celebrating.
The rural crew is reaching across the divide… and the real bridge is our shared passion for entrepreneurship!
Ping me if you want to know more.
Farm-City day sounds great. I used to attend it in Nampa — best barbecued chicken in the *world* — and I was sorry when they stopped having that.
As far as ag and tech, as someone who is both a Grange member who lives in rural Ada County and a geek who doesn’t go anywhere there isn’t wifi, I support both sides. They are not mutually exclusive. Cow chips and memory chips, y’all.