The study does not go back far enough.

Reader comment on: What Atul Gawande Left Out

Submitted by Lyle (United States), Dec 16, 2009 18:03

As noted the rate of employment started after the Civil War. You had the Morrill act building the land grant colleges who did Ag research, and indrectly the building of rails west of the Mississsippi. The rails opened up the Red River of the North valley, which was were industrial Ag got its start. These farms grew wheat at a lower cost than eastern farmers, and with the railroad reducing the distance problem, as well as the arrival of steam threshing machines, drove the New England and Ny,PA farmer bankrupt. (Note that the Railroad land grants for the Northern Pacific allowed the assembly of the large farms needed to drive Industrial AG) The same issue applies to Corn in IA and IL, driving eastern farmers out of the corn business. (This is why NY and New England have more trees now than in 1900)


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The Future of Capitalism replies:

Lyle thanks as always for your knowledgable comments.

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