In other words, it wants to reinvent farmers as a general proxy for rural life, and reward them in that capacity.

ECONOMIST: European farm budget

The MHC is also thought to act as a proxy for general outbreeding, with all the hybrid vigour that can bring.

ECONOMIST: Perfume science

Environmentalists are openly using the project as a proxy for their general opposition to oil sands development.

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Likewise, to see his case as a proxy for whether abortion in general is evil is likely to mischaracterize.

FORBES: Chen Guangcheng and the Abortion Issue

For the upcoming proxy season, however, ISS has changed its policy to a general recommendation of voting in favor of these proposals.

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