U.S. Election

[farmers_son]

Any thoughts on the U.S. election?

[loric]

Thought I would post an interesting editorial from the Edmonton Sun I sent out to some people today.

OBAMA BACK UNFAIR LABELLING LAW

On September 25 - around the time Sarah Palin's meltdown interview with Katie Couric was airing, and a couple days before she was sliced and diced by Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live - a letter arrived on Ed Schafer's desk.

If you're not too sure who Schafer is, don't worry.

It's hard keeping up with the revolving door at the United States Department of Agriculture.

Schafer is the latest - and clearly the last - Secretary of Agriculture that the Bush administration will ever have. It's not easy being in the cabinet of the most unpopular U.S. president in recent history.

And the job just got a whole lot worse when the rocket from 27 US senators arrived in Honourable Ed's mail slot.

To begin with, it commended him for finally bringing in the controversial Country of Origin Labelling rules for fresh food sold in U.S. supermarkets. And in particular, pork and beef, of which this province exports many tonnes.

"This rule is a step forward after years of effort," the senators told Bush's farm boss. "To provide clear, accurate, and truthful information to consumers."

So far so good.

But Schafer was also told that "there's a good deal of room for improving the rule."

In the senators' eyes the Bushies fudged the "intent of Congress" by creating loopholes.

"Producers and consumers have waited long enough," the letter railed. "And deserve a common-sense rule that accomplishes the goal of letting them know where their food products come from."

Including Alberta.

All the usual border state suspects' signatures appear. But there are some stars, too. Hillary Clinton signed. So did John Kerry. Vice presidential candidate Joe Biden also inked the letter.

But the scrawl that jumps out at you like a yard dog is that of Barack Obama. Who by tonight, unless John McCain is blessed by angels, will become the U.S. president-elect.

This was a political fact that Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach was trying to wrap his head around yesterday.

"Both presidential candidates have talked about some of the measures they're going to take to protect America's economy," Stelmach sighed.

Forestry is mentioned. So is Country of Origin Labelling. Even though the Alberta Beef Producers spend millions from the mandatory cow tax to promote "If it Ain't Alberta it Ain't Beef," letting the Americans in on our secret is apparently a bad thing.

"It's certainly hurting our producers," the premier snapped. "And it's unfair."

He promised to "press very hard through our federal government" to force the U.S. pols to change their minds.

But Steady Eddie isn't the only one who wants to hold the prime minister's feet to the fire.

Canadian Cattlemen's Association president Brad Wildeman is also in a letter- writing mood these days.

He recently wrote Harper to complain about the Canadian cattle industry's "unique" situation.

"The industry is now being directly attacked by the new, onerous mandatory country of origin labelling law," he complained. It kicked in on Oct. 1. He said it is having "a damaging impact on the prosperity of the Canadian cattle industry."

There's already another round of Alberta cowboy welfare scheduled for the new year.

"Some U.S. facilities no longer accept Canadian livestock," Wildeman told Harper. "And most that still do restrict acceptance to certain days and at reduced prices."

He estimates Canadian beef producers will be losing half a billion bucks a year.

"We fear the next U.S. administration may further tighten procedures," Wildeman gulped. Especially if Obama and the cattle country senators have anything to say about it.

The Canadian Cattlemen want Harper to "initiate a trade challenge" and create a "cabinet-level envoy" to take on the Yanks.

"We're going to be asking the prime minister to deal with a few issues with the new American president," Stelmach vowed.

But not next Monday when the rest of the premiers meet face-to-face with Harper in Ottawa to talk about the economy.

Because by then Stelmach will have winged away on a jolly trade mission to Europe

[grassfarmer]

So what - we are supposed to pray for a McCain win? look how well we have done under the Bush administration in terms of export trade in beef.
ABP/CCA does not recognise the fundamental truths spelled out in Cam Ostercamp's "behind the veil" document of 2004 that we simply cannot win in a fight with the biggest bully in the world. Perhaps instead it would be wise to look to other markets for our beef? - hence Stelmach heading to Europe and Groeneveld just back from the far east. Getting beef that is not controlled by the big packers killed and exported off this continent is the only route to help producers.

[loric]

Whoa - just thought it was an interesting editorial and wanted to put it up on the election post.

[cropduster]

And the CCA `lobbyist` Masswold has no clue what/where the roots of COOL are!Said so in Veteran.Trade actions and lawsuits will guarrantee him a job for the rest of his life!Why not talk face to face with American ranchers and tell/explain our issues to them??They can then tell their politicans(by their X`s)that this legislation is not in their best interest.Just trying to `get to` the guy at the top,by legal or lobby action WILL NOT be effective!