Why We Vote
The Register Star has brought together a group of people from all over the Rock River Valley to serve on our Election 2008 Voters’ Panel. These men and women are Republicans, Democrats, Independents and Green party members. Some are high school students. Some are retired. And some fall in between those two age groups. They all share this: The upcoming election is important and voters do have voices. They’ll share them in this blog.

Archive for April 3rd, 2008

Mega Farm or Family Farm?

Add comment April 3rd, 2008

I’ve been following the proposed development of the mega dairy farm in Jo Davies County for a while…mostly through the weekly article state rep Jim Sacia writes for some of the rural weekly papers.  I was really glad to see the RRSTAR  present a balanced perspective on the issue in this past Sunday’s paper.  That’s because representative Sacia seems to have taken on the role of cheerleader and “lobbyist” for the Bos family (owners of the proposed farm).  Is the future of farming in this country to become “mega farms”?  We’ve seen what mega super stores have done to the business economy of small communities (it’s not good).  What will our beautiful northern Illinois landscape turn into with the advent of mega farms…there are many unanswered questions…water quality,  noise, smell, traffic, etc.  This is not to mention the aesthetic  concern …there is beauty in a small farm across the landscape….I don’t think we’re going to see that in a mega farm.   I do believe rep. Sacia is sincere in his belief of the value, merit and safety of the proposed operation (although he really hasn’t addressed the concerns about groundwater pollution).  However… I don’t believe he is representing the concerns of his constituents in this matter.   We need legislators who are less concerned about promoting out of state businesses and more concerned about the quality of life in northern Illinois!

Jon Murray

 Jon Muray