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Family as a Political Lens: An Examination of Agriculture Rhetoric and Policy Justification
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The language and images of family dominate American politics from grand rhetorical
appeals by politicians to the everyday language of public policy. Though policymakers use family in the language they use and the legislation that they write, the discipline of political science has largely dismissed family as part of the private realm located outside of “politics.” The end result is a picture of family in political research that looks very little like the role of family in politics. This paper is part of a broader panel that examines family as a lens for political investigation. Using family as a lens uncovers the ways that politics is conducted through the language and images of family and the power and legitimacy that this “natural” cultural symbol conveys. In this paper, I look at how family rhetoric is used effectively to support public policy positions. In choosing agriculture policy, I wish to show that the importance of family as a political lens comes not just in so-called family oriented policies (such as welfare or adoption rules) but in the very heart of day-to-day politics. In particular, I look at how the two simple words “family farm” have been used to sell agriculture policy to an increasingly urban/suburban America after World War II. Tying agriculture subsidies to images of American families has kept agriculture subsidies in place; the image of the family farm and the tremendous support it garners from Americans is the biggest obstacle to major agriculture reform. Looking at family highlights the importance of rhetoric and image in building and maintaining support for American public policy. Using family as a political lens offers a different—and valuable—interpretation from those offered from a more traditional political science interest group or gender focused approach. Putting the family lens front and center shows how familial relationships are an important component of American politics. From this vantage point, scholars may more fully unearth the political and gendered implications.
There are four parts to this paper. In the first section, I lay down the foundation to
thinking about family as a theoretical lens with much to offer for political analysis. In the second section, I show how family is a part of policymaking by examining how and why the “family farm” has become associated with agriculture policy. In the third section, I demonstrate the staying power of this image by examining the failed 1996 attempt to eliminate agriculture subsidies. In the fourth and final section, I compare the analysis of agriculture policy in this paper with traditional explanations of the staying-power of agriculture support that rely on the interest groups and traditional explanations of family that rely on gender.
F
AMILY AS A
T
HEORETICAL
L
ENS
Family is an important theoretical lens. We can understand “who gets what, when, how”
by examining the ways that family is used by political actors to accomplish their goals.
1
In the
world of public policy, family may be used as a criterion of eligibility to determine who is eligible for state-provided goods and services. Social security or health care, for example, are given not only to individuals for their own use, but to their families as well. Family may also be used as an administrator that takes policy incentives and delivers policy outcomes. The turn to market-based incentives means that parents and extended family relations are the front line in
1
Lasswell 1958
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| | Authors: Strach, Patricia. |
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1
The language and images of family dominate American politics from grand rhetorical
appeals by politicians to the everyday language of public policy. Though policymakers use
family in the language they use and the legislation that they write, the discipline of political
science has largely dismissed family as part of the private realm located outside of “politics.”
The end result is a picture of family in political research that looks very little like the role of
family in politics. This paper is part of a broader panel that examines family as a lens for
political investigation. Using family as a lens uncovers the ways that politics is conducted
through the language and images of family and the power and legitimacy that this “natural”
cultural symbol conveys. In this paper, I look at how family rhetoric is used effectively to
support public policy positions. In choosing agriculture policy, I wish to show that the
importance of family as a political lens comes not just in so-called family oriented policies (such
as welfare or adoption rules) but in the very heart of day-to-day politics. In particular, I look at
how the two simple words “family farm” have been used to sell agriculture policy to an
increasingly urban/suburban America after World War II. Tying agriculture subsidies to images
of American families has kept agriculture subsidies in place; the image of the family farm and
the tremendous support it garners from Americans is the biggest obstacle to major agriculture
reform. Looking at family highlights the importance of rhetoric and image in building and
maintaining support for American public policy. Using family as a political lens offers a
different—and valuable—interpretation from those offered from a more traditional political
science interest group or gender focused approach. Putting the family lens front and center
shows how familial relationships are an important component of American politics. From this
vantage point, scholars may more fully unearth the political and gendered implications.
There are four parts to this paper. In the first section, I lay down the foundation to
thinking about family as a theoretical lens with much to offer for political analysis. In the second
section, I show how family is a part of policymaking by examining how and why the “family
farm” has become associated with agriculture policy. In the third section, I demonstrate the
staying power of this image by examining the failed 1996 attempt to eliminate agriculture
subsidies. In the fourth and final section, I compare the analysis of agriculture policy in this
paper with traditional explanations of the staying-power of agriculture support that rely on the
interest groups and traditional explanations of family that rely on gender.
F
AMILY AS A
T
HEORETICAL
L
ENS
Family is an important theoretical lens. We can understand “who gets what, when, how”
by examining the ways that family is used by political actors to accomplish their goals.
1
In the
world of public policy, family may be used as a criterion of eligibility to determine who is
eligible for state-provided goods and services. Social security or health care, for example, are
given not only to individuals for their own use, but to their families as well. Family may also be
used as an administrator that takes policy incentives and delivers policy outcomes. The turn to
market-based incentives means that parents and extended family relations are the front line in
1
Lasswell 1958
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