When the Court Divides: Reconsidering the Precedential Value of Supreme Court Plurality Decisions

Abstract Many opinions are divided on what religious freedom should protect and the area is unexploredin preschool. Is it the parents, the child or preschool teacher right? The aim of the studywas to investigate Maria klasson Sundin´s concept and theoretical models of religious freedomfor children through three Swedish preschool settings and also how three teachers interpretsand expresses children's freedom of religion. Through a qualitative interview study theaim was to investigate how the concepts of religion, autonomy and freedom is interpreted andexpressed by the teachers so a picture through this three concepts can categorise the teachersin a model; freedom of thought, tradition and life interpretation model so a broader picturecan be made to understand how the children's freedom of religion is expressed in the preschoolsetting and how the teachers work. The Result showed through the analysis that themodels fail to categorise the teachers in any theoretical model but on the other hand the understandingof preschool teacher’s expression and interpretation of the concept of religion,autonomy and freedom showed both diversity and lack of knowledge on the subject mattersreligious freedom which fall within the child rights issues. Furthermore the analysis showsthat children in preschool lack religious freedom, it can be interpreted rather in terms of afreedom of parents and preschool teachers. Further research is needed in the area of children'srights and religious freedom for preschool children and their teachers in (e.g.) investigate differenceof public municipal and private preschools, religious, and non-religious

A new vision for agricultural policy

After six decades of evolution, U.S. agricultural policy may be about to enter a revolution. Ever since farm programs were created in the 1930s, farm policy has generally evolved along predictable lines. To be sure, over the past decade policy has tended to move in a market direction, but the goals and policy instruments remain amazingly akin to those put in place during the Great Depression. Now, federal fiscal discipline may cause the nation to rethink an antiquated farm policy and replace it with a much leaner, more targeted policy to answer the nation's food needs for the next century.> With the budget forcing change and economics supporting it, the question is, where should agricultural policy go? Debate on the 1995 farm bill has focused almost entirely on the budget, while neglecting the more important question. A new vision for agricultural policy is lacking, mainly because current arguments center on whether to maintain the status quo. But the status quo is unlikely to stand. Rather, the future of agricultural policy lies in the pursuit of four key goals: competing in world food markets, improving the nation's diet, conserving the nation's natural resources, and increasing economic opportunity in rural America. In combination, these goals will encourage continued growth in the agricultural sector, enhance the welfare of consumers, and have the added benefit of requiring considerably less government involvement than in the past.> Drabenstott and Barkema develop a new vision for U.S. agricultural policy. First, they review the budget imperative that is forcing the debate. Second, they present three economic arguments that justify a redirection of policy. Finally, they explore four goals that mark the way to a new policy.Agriculture ; Agricultural industries - Finance

U.S. agriculture: review and prospects

An old maxim holds that too much of a good thing can be bad for your health. That maxim pretty well sums up U.S. agriculture's predicament in 1994. The nation's crop producers produced record harvests and livestock producers sent record amounts of meat to the nation's meat counters. The abundance of food, however, brought the industry back to its traditional problem--record supplies bring low prices. Hence, farm income declined in 1994. Fortunately, most farmers and ranchers had healthy balance sheets to cushion the fall.> Drabenstott and Barkema review the farm economy in 1994 and consider the outlook for 1995. The farm economy should stabilize. While crop prices will probably stay low, export markets should lend some support to crop prices as recovering economies in Europe and Asia boost world food demand. Also, relatively low feed prices will brighten livestock prospects, particularly if cattle and hog prices continue to recover from 1994 lows. A new farm bill will be written in 1995 and, while the new bill will have little if any effect on the farm economy in 1995, the major overhaul of farm programs that now seems possible will have a lasting impact in years to come.Agriculture ; Agricultural productivity ; Agricultural prices

Agriculture rides out the storm

Harsh weather pummeled U.S. agriculture in 1993, destroying crops and threatening a downturn in the farm economy. But while the rough weather took a large toll from many farmers, others prospered. Overall, the industry ended the year in solid financial condition.> Barkema and Drabenstott explain why agriculture is well-positioned for a better year in 1994. With a return to normal weather, crop production should rebound. Higher crop prices, pushed up by lean crop inventories, may reward farmers for bringing larger crops to market. But higher crop prices will also push up feed costs for livestock producers. Overall, prospects for farm earnings are relatively bright, although little change is expected in the industry's already strong balance sheet.Agriculture ; Agricultural prices

The U.S. farm export boom: how will it be shaped by global infrastructure?

A recent surge in U.S. agricultural exports has triggered a wave of optimism about the industry's prospects in the world food market. At the root of the industry's recent export gains are rapidly growing populations and incomes across Asia and Latin America. Adding fuel to U.S. agriculture's newfound optimism is the recent emergence of China--the world's most populous nation and most rapidly growing economy--as a net importer of food.> The world food market may not live up to current expectations, however, without substantial investment in food processing and distribution infrastructure in developing countries. Much of the developing world has limited capacity to process and distribute food, whether imported or produced domestically. For example, in China and Mexico--two of U.S. agriculture's most promising markets--the existing transportation and distribution systems are inadequate to meet current food system needs. Such infrastructure limitations could become a crucial bottleneck for exports of some U.S. farm commodities. At the same time, however, exports of other kinds of products, including U.S. farm and food technology, could be strengthened by efforts to upgrade the infrastructure supporting the food systems in the developing world.> Barkema and Drabenstott examine how an inadequate food system infrastructure in the developing world may affect U.S. agriculture's prospects in the world food market. They conclude that inadequate infrastructure could tilt U.S. exports toward food technology and products and away from traditional bulk commodities.Agriculture ; Farm produce ; Exports ; Food industry and trade

A new century for community banks

Banks and banking ; Rural development ; Rural areas

A new agricultural policy for a new world market

A new farm bill will be enacted in 1995, and the debate over it has already begun. With farm bills being renewed just once every five years, the 1995 bill provides a propitious opportunity to re-evaluate the current bill in light of fundamental changes to the marketplace since the adoption of the 1990 bill. One of the most important changes since then has been in the world food market. Selling successfully in world markets is vital to U.S. agriculture because it produces far more food than domestic consumers require. Thus, while the upcoming farm bill will spawn debate on many issues, few will be more important than reconciling U.S. agricultural policy with a new world food market.> Recent developments in the world food market reflect basic changes in two key market features. The market for finished food products is much stronger than for bulk commodities. And the food market has been growing more rapidly in Asia and North America than in Europe. If these trends persist, will current farm policy be in step with the world food market of the future? Barkema and Drabenstott examine the factors likely to shape the world market and conclude that agricultural policy must be overhauled if U.S. agriculture is to excel in tomorrow's marketplace.Agriculture ; Agriculture - Forecasting ; Exports