Topic: Greed

[sumdumguy]

Lifer, you are an eloquent poster, but from our perspective untold opportunity for western agri-business has been quashed because of the oppression forced on Western farmers.

When the Crow was disenbowelled, the bureaucratic line was that it was done so value-added initiatives with cereals could expand on the prairies, and I believe that would have happened, but for one problem, one big problem - you and a lot of others know what it is. I tried everything short of selling my first-born to pin the CWB down on an export permit. Ever try pushing a rope?

Granted, there are some farmers who want to grow wheat and barley and are only too glad to have someone else move it off their farm, but that is not the case for a lot of forward-thinking progressive farmers.

I hope I live long enough to see what actually can develop right here, under the prairie sun. My father-in-law fought and sacrificed so we could be free, somehow I don't see this as freedom. Short and long of it! Maybe that's why so many doth protest.

Honestly, do you think this is freedom?

[Lifer]

Sumdumguy, who do you mean when you write” from our perspective”.

I believe I have pushed enough rope and I don’t believe there is enough freedom with grain marketing in Western Canada. The way wheat is marketed in Western Canada has to change. From your post I get the impression you think I disagree with you. If that is the case I am a lot less eloquent then you gave me credit for .

Do I come off as sounding like I am against protesting? I am not. I am tired of whining. Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish between the two.
In the mean time I will make as many choices as I can that will distance me from people that do not want to work with me. One of which is the current CWB.

[TOM4CWB]

Lifer,

Just like the post by Agstar77... I am too sick of 'complaining'.

If we could grow Soybeans and corn... like Manitoba can we, on our farm, would get out of wheat and barley.

We have been here since 1881AD.

We will NEVER surrender to these greedy people that manage an otherwise hard working organisation that had a hallmark of integrity in the not too distant past.

Like the decision on the CWB SHIPS. They go against everything the CWB SHOULD stand for... OBERG and the NFU... are greedy and have lost sight of who they must serve... every grower of wheat and barley in the 'designated area'... NOT just the folks who believe in the CWB 'single desk'!!!

[Lifer]

Actually Tom doesn't the CWB need to serve its objective..... orderly grain marketing. Does it need to serve grain farmers?

[sumdumguy]

Sorry Lifer, if I misunderstood your post. By us, I mean myself and my family. We have refused to be led around by the nose by the CWB and in 1980 we made the choice grow all special crops and feed wheat. I believe those who grow wheat and barley in the Western Region are subjecting themselves to slavery.

I also believe that the government could be much more proactive in making the rest of Canada undestand that this injustice exists. Maybe they could at least make a token effort by promoting studies that will test the Act. I'm sure, not every loophole was closed by the last regime. Correct me if I am wrong. The playing field is not level, which is mind boggling, in a country that prides itself on freedom and reward for effort.

Where are the Sawatzkys who will stand up and be heard? Maybe the new post about the outcry will go somewhere since some farmers are not too busy to get in there and support the cause. The organizers will need more than money to make it fly. They will need committment and organization.

[TOM4CWB]

Lifer,

"Actually Tom doesn't the CWB need to serve its objective..... orderly grain marketing. Does it need to serve grain farmers? "

Since as far as I can tell this objective has never been officially tested in court to say exactly what this truly means.

It could certainly be argued that lost $100's of millions... on rogue trades by CWB PPO and pool operations... is NOT 'orderly marketing'.

It also could be easily argued that since the rail car purchases were initiated by and financed by federal government backed loans... the greed of CWB directors in dipping into CWB pools to pay for ships that in no way are 'REQUIRED' for the marketing of our Wheat and barley...

WOULD as well question seriously the motivation and legality of recent CWB management decisions and spending of our grain assets.

aT THE VERY LEAST THE cwb CAN NOT... i SAY DOES NOT have the right to say they (the CWB) return all our funds/revenues EXCEPT marketing costs!!!

There is no less justification in buying ships... than buying trucks for growers or locomotives for all the railroads.

[Lifer]

"I believe those who grow wheat and barley in the Western Region are subjecting themselves to slavery."

I have never experienced slavery. To me this is an exaggeration that doesn't help in the discussion. I agree there is injustice in grain marketing in western Canada. It is not even close to being compared to slavery.

[Lifer]

Good points Tom. Whether the CWB's objective of orderly marketing is better defined or understood still doesn't say that it's purpose is to serve farmers.