With the sudden withdrawal of Sarah Palin from public life, a vacuum has emerged in the heart, and I use the word ironically, of the Republican Party.

Now that Palin has proved the appeal of the no-nonsense, shoot-from-the-hip, hockey mom on the campaign trail, where will the GOP turn for its next female media star? Luckily there is no shortage of candidates within its own ranks.
Take for example, Missouri State Representative Cynthia Davis who, in explaining her opposition to a program subsidizing lunches for poor children in the summer, explained “hunger can be a positive motivator.”

But how does she stack up against the woman who assured us of the depth of her foreign policy knowledge with the words, “I can see Russia from my house”? Davis is a mother of seven, a former Christian book store owner and current chairwoman of the Missouri House Special Standing Committee on Children and Families. Not only that but, unlike Palin, her crazy remarks come as the result of carefully considered thought.

Representative Davis’s comments came in a written commentary issued in response to a press release about the program issue by the responsible department. In other words, this was not a “slip of the tongue” or “poorly expressed thought” this was a considered reaction that was presumably written, edited and checked by Davis and her staff before release.

Among her objection to the program Davis cited that people up to the age of 18 could qualify. “Can’t they get a job during the summer by the time they are 16? What is wrong with the idea of getting a job so you can get better meals?” opined Davis. ” Tip: If you work for McDonald’s, they will feed you for free during your break,” she added helpfully.

“Who’s buying dinner? Who is getting paid to serve the meal? Churches and other non-profits can do this at no cost to the taxpayer if it is warranted. [...] Bigger governmental programs take away our connectedness to the human family, our brotherhood and our need for one another,” she continues apparently unaware that most of the summer feeding program locations are actually hosted by churches and last year the program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, fed 3.7 million meals at a total cost of less than $9.5 million last summer($2.56 a meal), according to the St Louis Dispatch.

I must at least offer praise for Davis on one count – she says what she means and is not concerned with how it makes her look. It is even possible that she believes it will make her look good in the eyes of her constituents in O’Fallon, Dardenne Prairie and unincorporated St. Charles County, Missouri.

However, by taking her beliefs to the logical conclusion, Ms. Davis has spoken the unspeakable and she doesn’t care who knows it. In fact it has brought her 15 minutes of fame and if she is clever she could parlay that into a Palin-like rise from obscurity.

Her natural talent for the wider stage can be seen in her ability to see through the smokescreen that feeding the hungry is the goal of the subsidized meal program. Davis knows the truth about such programs,” It really is all about increasing government spending, which means an increase in taxes for us to buy more free lunches and breakfasts.” in other words feeding kids may sound like a good plan but it is all part of a giant conspiracy to raise your taxes.

Representative Davis may not be the front runner to take Palin’s crown but she has made a memorable entrance into the wide public awareness and remember this time last year none of us could name the Governor of Alaska.

“Eco Tourism” and “Green Vacations” represent some of the fastest growing trends in the Hospitality Industry.  Guests are looking for travel opportunities, lodging, entertainment and food that has a more earth-conscious base to it.

For me, nothing says ‘green’ more than eating locally produced food at the peak of its season.  Summertime is so marvelous with the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables available to us.  Make sure when you are shopping that you look for foods that have been produced closer to home when possible.  A head of lettuce that has been shipped from California has rung up quite a large tab with its cross-country trip!

Buy from local roadside stands and farmer’s markets when you can and support the growers directly.  Learn to love the vegetables that come out of the ground in abundance at this time of year, regardless of what they are.  I joined a CSA a few years ago (Consumer Supported Agriculture – a subscription service that provides fresh local vegetables weekly) and was determined to eat everything that came my way.  My first real challenge was the red radishes, which have always had too much bite for me.  I found that cleaning them and putting them in a shallow dish with a little olive oil, salt and pepper and then roasting them at 325 degrees for 20 minutes or so took the harsh bite out of them and left them with a wonderful mellow radish flavor!  YUM!

Our bodies have evolved to need the starchy vegetables such as winter squash and potatoes during the winter time, and cooling foods such as watermelon in the summertime.   While it is possible to get foods from South America or father away that provide you with grapes in the winter or apples in the spring, try paying attention to what is available from local sources in their seasonal times of abundance.  It will be healthier, less expensive, and make a really positive contribution to a ‘green’ lifestyle!

Bon Appetit!