Eighth, Americans have the right to a policy which protects the environment.

Ninth, Americans have a right to preserve farmland from urban sprawl. I believe in the family farm and as our NEXT CONSERVATISM essays suggest, the Amish have demonstrated that a family farm can be economical. Often the sprawl which results from the sale of farmland results in nothing but traffic delays. On the other hand, we must be careful not to deprive owners of their right to dispose of private property.

Tenth, Americans have a right to a policy that fosters sustainable farming practices. I am not sure what the definition of sustainable farming practices is. If it is what I think it is perhaps we agree.

I agree with more than half of the Blumenauer Farm Bill. It could be more, depending upon definitions. That means we should form a left-right coalition when we approach the current Agriculture Reauthorization Bill. For example, should we use the funds, maybe one billion dollars, to teach school kids to like vegetables? We may as well throw away the money. At the same time high schools all over the nation are discontinuing gyms and athletic programs. Why not take that one billion and distribute it to schools to continue gyms and athletic programs?

In any case, clearly we can agree with Congressman Blumenauer as to many of these items. We ought to refashion the Agriculture Reauthorization Bill. The Congressman and I don't agree on many things but where we do we ought to cooperate. Many conservatives do not desire to work with Democrats unless they agree all of the time.

In our case, we are willing to work with anyone unless by doing so we compromise national security. Working on the Agriculture Bill would hardly do that.