Just curious

[cowman]

They say the Japanese are going to open their borders to Canadian and American beef in about a week? The USDA is going to get the border back to normal in 2006...maybe 2007?
Time to get back into the real world? I doubt we'll see a massive movement of live cattle into the States. Things have changed? Cargill and Tyson now have the capacity, if necessary, to kill every animal in Canada? Some new packing plants will be coming on line in 2006? I suspect the Sunterra plant will be agressively marketing beef into Japan, as their hog plants have an established market there with Japanese wholesalers?
In the big picture America and R-CALF in particular have helped create a very strong competitor up here? One that will take some of their export markets? R-CALF told us that was what we should do!

[Willowcreek]

FRENCHMAN- I know you and Canadian Tam, like many Canadians, seem to think of Bill and Leo as deities...Everything negative that has happened in Canada for the last 50 years is R-CALF's fault-But they still don't have the power to order the USDA to do anything....All they can do is request and lobby, which if you research a little, you will find is what they did...In fact I believe they joined with a consumers group in one of the letters sent requesting USDA and Congressional investigation of USDA policies- which I understand is what led the GAO to do further testing...Which in the mind of the CCA and NCBA makes R-CALF evil, since who would work with a consumers group...Instead we're supposed to tell them only what the Corporate World wants them to hear- but heaven forbid, telling "them thar dumb consumers" the truth.....

[FRENCHMAN]

FRENCHMAN- I know you and Canadian Tam, like many Canadians, seem to think of Bill and Leo as deities...Everything negative that has happened in Canada for the last 50 years is R-CALF's fault-But they still don't have the power to order the USDA to do anything....All they can do is request and lobby, which if you research a little, you will find is what they did...In fact I believe they joined with a consumers group in one of the letters sent requesting USDA and Congressional investigation of USDA policies- which I understand is what led the GAO to do further testing...Which in the mind of the CCA and NCBA makes R-CALF evil, since who would work with a consumers group...Instead we're supposed to tell them only what the Corporate World wants them to hear- but heaven forbid, telling "them thar dumb consumers" the truth.....

yeah Oldtimer they did so much you are unable to produce any statement from R-Calf None zzzzzzzzzzzzz...regarding the flaws within the U.S testing program and the fact that the test the U.S used was inferior.

!!!!!....

The consumer group that you proudly boost R-calf climbing into bed with is also a funder of animal rights groups..

As far as blaming R-calF for everything ...give yer head a shake

[cowman]

Now personally I have no problem with cattle groups getting involved with consumer groups, as long as they are not consumer groups with a wacko agenda! No sleeping with the enemy sort of thing!
If a consumer group has a legitimate problem with some of our product or how it is marketed then I think we should address that openly and honestly?
I have stated on here, often, that R-CALF has some good ideas that are a concern for Canadian producers as well as Americans? Unfortunately they can't see the forest for the trees...the trees being a few cattle crossing the border! The amount of cattle we send south is such a piddling amount compared to what you produce it is ridiculous to even go there!
In the big picture we do have a right to access your market...just like you can access our markets? Its called NAFTA...remember that one? You signed it, no one held a gun to your head?
There is a lot more to NAFTA than a few cows! Anyone who thinks it hasn't been a blessing for all countries involved is not living in reality! These little backwards protectionist moves are not helpful for the economies of any of the member countries? R-CALF needs to get with the real world and start addressing the problems that actually affect their members instead of focussing on a few old Canadian cows.