In his platform, Joseph has a unique plank on healthy, affordable, sustainable food, where he calls for:
- a ban on the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in factory farming,
- a more rigorous antitrust policy with regard to agricultural industrial consolidation, and
- incentives for more sustainable, healthy and responsible food systems.
In his plank on water, he proposes:
- considering water a public resource, not private property,
- using the Clean Water State Revolving Fund as leverage to encourage better, more efficient management of state water systems,
- strengthening the Clean Water Act and
- removing perverse incentives for agribusiness to waste water.
We learned about Joseph from the Texas-based Farm & Ranch Freedom Alliance. Here’s what they say about Joseph:
Joseph Kopser is one of the only candidates for any state or federal office to include local food and water issues as an issue on his website. And the substance of his issue statement is excellent. He mentions the high-profile topics of obesity and farm subsidies, but more importantly also focuses on one of the core problems that is too often ignored: consolidation of the food and agricultural system in the hands of a few large companies.
Kopser calls for “more rigorous antitrust policy with regard to agricultural industrial consolidation” – something that could fundamentally change our current, deeply flawed federal agricultural policy.
Kopser recognizes that taking on Big Agribusiness will not be easy. On his website, he states “America is awash in cheap food, and cheap food is easy, good politics. There is no doubt that America’s relatively inexpensive bounty is something that, for immediate economic reasons as well as the intrinsic political reasons described above, has made real farm policy reform a third rail.” He displays rare courage in calling out this fact, and we urge our members to support his campaign.
Vote for Joseph! To support his campaign, please donate and get involved.
Why so few candidates in Texas? There were some great candidates we endorsed in the Texas primaries who unfortunately lost their races. And, we’re sure we missed some. If we did, please send us an email at info[at]citizensregenerationlobby.org.