What should our groups have done?

[farmers_son]

good post farmers_son. kgb, I would suggest that you serve as a municipal politician or an ABP delegate or both, and then a year later see if your outlook has changed.
As far as the city of Calgary needing to spend dollars on infrastructure goes, that is something that anyone with half a brain could see is a priority, however, aldermen will no doubt either consult their constituents or bring the infrastructure requirements of their ward to the table when deciding how the next five year plan is developed. That is my point about polling the public. As far as ABP goes, I am not going to suggest that they have represented every issue that producers brought forward well, but I do think it is a bit of a stretch to say that they have done nothing. I hear that about municipal politicians when I know the individuals and how hard they work on behalf of their county. Any succcessful municipal politican will consult with the people they represent and do their utmost to represent the wishes of their constituents. One such elected official is cowman's municipal councillor. She has been there for many years and the reason is that she goes to the people to see what they want done and how they feel about issues facing the county. That is true representation regardless of what Political Science 101 happens to teach. I would doubt that .01% of elected officials or ABP delegates have studied the course. Municipal politicians are for the most part volunteers who are paid a stipend for their time, which in many cases is time away from their farm, family or business.
Its easy to point fingers and criticize, but are those who do so willing to put their name on a ballot or offer their services as an ABP delegate ?
I know that Randy did last year and it is unfortunate that the folks in his zone didn't recognize his willingness and ability to make a difference.
I would like to see my ABP delegate more often than at the fall zone meeting, and I would like to have the opportunity to discuss issues that I am concerned about with him, and it would be interesting to see what his involvements have been on my behalf since he was elected. I am not overly satisfied with the communication to producers done by ABP, I realize that they send out publications on a regular basis but they don't really tell me what my delegate is doing.

Randy, I was asked by ABP to run as a delegate several years ago, and declined. I have always felt it my responsibility to work tirelessly for any organization that I belonged to as a volunteer or otherwise, and I really felt that being an ABP delegate was a thankless job, and chose not to pursue it.
I certainly encourage you to lay the groundwork now for any resolution you want to bring forward this fall,and wish you well in the process.

[cowman]

kpb: Using your own logic perhaps the ABP was doing the right thing and the will of the people? Maybe the majority of producers wanted to just keep the status quo? Maybe the majority of producers don't see the value of a producer owned cow plant? Obviously if they did the uproar for one would be overwhelming? How many producers attend the ABP zone meetings? How many vote? Doesn't that imply that the majority of producers are content with the leadership?
I suspect your average producer is a wee bit leery of these type of "co-op" ventures? They always seem to go broke or become an "old boys club" where the benifits seem to flow to a few? I mean in reality does UFA really do a good job and give you a big advantage in prices?
The meat business is down and dirty! These packers could teach the Mafia a thing or two!
A producer owned packer could only compete with some government rules that kept the sharks at bay? Otherwise Cargill/IBP would eat them for breakfast!