Texas cow?

[whiteface]

If I speak with so much conviction that at any time it comes across as "in your face" I apologize to you jensend or anyone. I'm on team Canada and when I put it out there that I want to know what the alternatives might be it's only that I don't pretend for one minute to know everything. At all times I am open to cheering as well as critisism that maybe I have missed something. I believe wholeheartly in what I say and write but always willing to hear another persons view. Really, no bitterness to my writings, just passion for all of us to benefit. Nobody ever be afriad to voice any opinions with me. I do want what you want and will fight for all of us as passionatly as I write. I just can't do it all by myself.

[jensend]

to me the biggest issue is what will it take for speller, cca, abp, etc. to realize the strategy that has been followed for the last year hasn't worked and it's time to change course? there are nations dealing quite successfully with bse and we could learn something from them but especially cca has no plan b; they live or die on the whim of the usa.

[cowman]

What has been the point of all the massive government payouts to the beef industry? It is true that the money has kept the industry from completely collapsing but how did it solve any of the fundamental problems?
The fact is we have two American predators basically controlling the industry? The other fact is we need the US export market due to the fact our cow herd is way to large for domestic consumption?
Two simple solutions: Kill off the cow herd. Get rid of the two predators.
How much money did the government waste? If they had bought 1 million cows and slaughtered them and payed the producer $600, we would have a million less calves to move this fall! Do that for a few years and you've reduced the cow herd substantially? Use the pit if necessary!
Pack up 40 million in cash, go down to High River/Brooks and tell them they've just been bought out! Give them about 6 hours to get across the border!
Once the cow herd is at a sustainable level, limit all imports of beef and pass legislation to limit the number of cows in this country.

[Joe-2]

Cowman-"...pass legislation to limit the number of cows in this country."

I hope you aren't serious!!

[whiteface]

I like that idea of buying out the packing plants and giving them about 6 hours to move south where they belong. The govenrment buying the exess cows and giving the money to the producers would have, in hindsight, worked better. I would have been disgusted at the waste of meat if they had just buried the carcasses but back then I was as optimistic as rsomer still is. I just think it's time to get real. I love your optimsim rsomer but by the time you realize that optimsim by itself doesn't open borders and save your butt will it be too late for you to find another way - after the rest of us have given up. There will be that many less voices for any politicians to care about. We have the energy now and potential solution now, let's do something now and if we fall on our face at least we can leave with the dignity of having tried everything we could rather than someone else deciding for us.

[cowman]

Joe 2: Sure! Just don't make it too obvious(afterall we don't want to get the "free enterprizers" all upset...why they might forget to send in the forms for the latest cow welfare!)! Something along the line of you can't have a cow near an open body of water...or maybe no more cows on crown land! That sort of thing?