Flaws in Jones’ book on Iowa’s water quality

Chris Jones’ book, “The Swine Republic,” has done a great job of bringing attention to the crisis of Iowa’s water quality. Still, I don’t rate it as highly as does Iowa’s affiliate of the Library of Congress.

Its key strength is in providing public access to information from the natural sciences on Iowa’s water pollution. Another, quite different reason for its popularity is that it’s a major rant, complete with “bathroom” language, against the dominant narrative that helps allow the pollution to take place.

The weakness of the book comes from the poor quality of its information from the social sciences and history, especially the history, sociology, economics and politics of Iowa agriculture, and of social movement activism both generally and involving Iowa farmers. For example, there is no discussion of the reduction and elimination of farm price floor/supply management programs since 1952, the devastating results, and the mass of activism against it and against agribusiness. Overwhelmingly, Jones sees only farm subsidies, with no mention of decades of huge reductions in farm income. In fact, he lumps farmers together with agribusinesses, as if they have the same, not opposite, core economic interests.

At one point Jones suggests removing 40% of corn ethanol acres and planting them to seven fruits and vegetables, apparently not realizing that increasing that production by 70% would crash market prices.

Jones also criticizes most environmental and conservation title activists. Philosophically, he alternates between a Catch-22 style futility and the generalized hope of activist Howard Zinn.

Brad Wilson

Springville