In recent weeks, I have had a number of conversations with other farmers.
They cover the spectrum from Millennials to Gen Zers to folks of my generation, with many of that last group remembering the heartache of the 1980s. During that time, lots of folks lost their farms, and the effects were felt throughout rural America as bankruptcies were frequent occurrences.
The essence of a bankruptcy for an individual or an entity is either to reorganize one’s financial affairs or completely liquidate assets, in effect, to start over. Bankruptcies are not reflections on a person’s character, but sometimes an indication of unexpected circumstances that could not be reasonably foreseen.
I soon realized that some of the farmers on the other side of our conversations were not referring to the possibility of the nation experiencing financial bankruptcy, although the current budget deficit of nearly two trillion dollars was clearly on their minds, as was the reckless spending on monuments and misadventures around the world.
They were referring to a social and moral bankruptcy. Keep in mind that many of these folks had voted for Donald Trump in 2024, with some also voting for him all the way back to 2016. Many admitted the error of their ways in their prior votes and acknowledged that they had been conned.
Mind you, these folks are typically salt of the earth types who place high values on trust, integrity and keeping one’s word. They see a nation that is adrift, one that is “led” by a president aided and abetted by people who have no moral code. They see a nation that has lost the respect and the trust of the world, and they realize that regaining that trust and respect may take decades.
Their concerns go well beyond the damage to the world markets that have bought American farm products for decades.
My generation has seen a lot in our lifetimes — wars, utter disregard for human life, discrimination based on race and religion, the rise of fascism, the poison of big money pouring into our politics, the recklessness of social media. The list is lengthy. But until the Trump era, we have been able to rely — for the most part — on leaders who functioned with a moral code and a sense of duty.
Bipartisanship also meant something. Our late Sen. Bob Dole is a great reminder of those days.
Even in the most difficult of times, a moral code prevailed. Now, it has become a free-for-all.
History will look back on this era and not be kind in its telling. This nation is bankrupt — in the most fundamental of ways. This goes to the core of our humanity. Perhaps it is difficult to admit that one was wrong with a certain decision. But way more is at stake here than, say, some decision about one’s business or personal life.
This is about the core values that have defined our nation for generations. For many Americans, the conversation starts with that person in the mirror.
Ben Palen is a Kansas native and a fifth-generation farmer and agriculture consultant in Colorado and Kansas. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.