A Couple Of Pigford Thoughts

I know you need some Pigford to keep you going through the weekend, so here’s a couple of stray thoughts…

1) An Appeal By Any Other Name

This is from Paul Friedman’s decision on the Pigford settlement…

“…there is no right to appeal those decisions, except that the Monitor shall direct the arbitrator or adjudicator to reexamine the claim if he determines that a “clear and manifest error has occurred” that is “likely to result in a fundamental miscarriage of justice.” Consent Decree at 9(a)(v), 9(b)(v), 10(i), 12(b)(iii)

Well, something must have changed because 10% of the decisions in Pigford were not only appealed but were actually overturned, according to the government’s own official numbers. There’s a chart showing ‘reexamination results.’ Check it out — thousands of results changed. How is that not an ‘appeal’?

I want to make it clear that I’m not opposed to these appeals. Some of them actually were the only way that bona fide farmers actually got anything from the settlement. But – something clearly happened and it’s different than Friedman’s decision.

What I think this does show is the whole process was screwed up and needs investigation. But you knew that already, right?

2) Should Conservatives Cash In On The “Love” Settlement?

For anyone who has been following my reporting on the Pigford “black farmers” settlement, I have a new website up that you will probably be interested in – check out www.AttemptedToFarm.com which has a slightly different take on the settlements, including…

• a recording of a tele-seminar that I did last night that shows how people can take advantage of the farmers settlement,
• a bit about my brand new organization The National Association of Attempted Farmers
• some information about my new alternate online persona, Dr. Lee Stranahan.

The Love v. Vilsack Woman Farmers settlement makes USDA money potentially available to not just any woman who fills out the paperwork correctly, but to almost every man who is related to a woman, regardless of race, creed, color…or political persuasion. Republicans and Libertarians, too.

As I mention the press release about the tele-seminar…

Dr. Stranahan also said that he hopes the event is attended by primarily Republicans and Libertarians. While making it clear that there is no political test required in order to collect a $50,000 check, Dr. Stranahan said that the government has done a “disgracefully poor job” of outreach to these communities. “I believe it’s time financial conservatives learn how to get their fair share of these settlements. They have nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed by. It’s time conservatives got paid.” said Dr. Stranahan.

It’s pretty clear to me that these settlements were designed to be payback to core Democratic constituencies. Just imagine the shock if tens of thousands of Republicans start cashing in on them. Really. Try to the imagine it.