CWB result delayed till Monday 12th Sept by MNP...

[sumdumguy]

I wouldn't mind a farmer vote -
BUT it would have to be:

1. Vote NOT run by CWB
2. No MNP at all- Notta-none.
3. A vote for every ACTIVE farmer who declares farming income, not rental income, nor wheat income, not CWB employees nor directors.

[Fransisco]

Interesting, Johnstone's examples of medicare and autopac are both ones in which the general public didn't get a vote just like the wheat board. So much for "democracy"...

[jdepape]

1935 - NO VOTE on the establishment of the CWB
1939 - NO VOTE on adding barley and oats
1943 - NO VOTE on the single desk
The CWB was only meant to last five years. Every five years after 1943, the government decided to keep the CWB another 5 years. - NO VOTE
1963 - the government decided to make the CWB permanent - NO VOTE
1989 - oats removed - NO VOTE
1998 - changes to the CWB Act - NO VOTE

Interestingly, there wasn't even a call by CWB supporters for a vote on oats. I wonder if anyone even thought about it. The only reason we're talking about a vote is because the Act requires it for a change (Section 47.1).

BUT IT DOESN'T REQUIRE ONE TO REPEAL THE ACT.

Even the CWB has acknowledged the govt can do what it is planning without a plebiscite.

So why is the CWB involved in the court case by the Friends of the CWB trying to force a plebiscite?

[highwayman]

Chucky chucky, does your warped sense of democracy include one farm of less than 1000 acres receiving 6 ballots and the next farm of 8000 acres receiving 1 ballot. Democracy MY ASS. Mr. Ritz kill this blasted thing now and let the real business men and women rise to the occasion. May the CWB die a quick and painful death followed by a complete forensic audit into every little bit of dirt that they have been trying to hide for 65 years. Those that are responsible for any injustices should be held accountable with prison terms which would include the current crazy 8. AMEN and hallelujah

[Braveheart]

To Bruce Johnstone, Chucky, et al: Healthcare and auto insurance aren't a business for me. Growing livestock and crops including wheat and barley is MY BUSINESS. We invest thousands every year to do it. We take the risk individually. It is not shared or pooled or have adjustment factors applied to it. Therefore, NO ONE ELSE HAS THE RIGHT TO TELL ME WHEN I CAN SELL THAT GRAIN and collect the reward for that risk. Nobody. Period.

Bruce Johnstone, that was the weakest, most lame attempt to rationize forced marketing I have ever experienced. Journalism school called, they want the diploma back.

[Fransisco]

Okay lets wrap our heads around this little gem.

Johnstone said, "The reality is that no right is absolute."

I don't buy that one, but for the sake of argument lets assume that he's right. Then the so called "democratic" rights he's talking about aren't absolute either.

There are exceptions.

There are all sorts of things to which democracy doesn't apply. <b>LIKE MY GRAIN!</b>

Not real strong in the old intellectual department there Mr. Johnstone.

[begood]

A lot of comments and opinions could be put in perspective if any conflicts of interest; pecuniary interests; entitlements and positions that are wished to be protected, were disclosed in the open.
For instance; those who wish to protect their basically free world market access by denying captive CWB wheat and barley growers the same rights; should have little credibility.
Those who might have the ear of CWB employees; and receive preferential treatment should be seen for what they are.
And those who are afraid that others may get ahead though their own marketing skills have no right to drag everyone down to the CWB pooled price.
Finally; I would ask how far CWB supporters are willing to allow anyone into their personal pocket book. Why not pool off farm income, and oil revenues; and lottery ticket winnings, and inheritances etc. etc.
A lot of the rabid CWB support is about protecting self interest, jobs, entitlements and special treatment that has been actively developed over many years. Get rid of this sickening mess; even if there are some costs.

[bucket]

Good points begood.

The first thing the cwb should start pooling is the savings of producer car farmers to the rest of us.

Then we can start pooling the returns of organic producers as well. Like that gem, Stewie?

Why do commercial growers pool but the "special" interests don't have to?

[Hopperbin]

Like the guy that hired back after he spent 3/4 ths of his time watching porn. Maybe its like our grain industry, we need to pay these guys so that we go on with our business. The world is so ****ed up these days.

[chuckChuck]

Most of you are so blinded by your "free market" ideology that you are not at all worried by increasing concentration of power in the hands of a declining number of multinationals?

If you haven't already noticed the grain industry is losing competitors. What happens when Cargill or Bunge buys controlling interest in Viterra? What is the guarantee that we won't have a large near monopoly player in the future who will use their multinational power to get rid of or buy out the competition?

Many ag sectors have little real competition. Like the beef industry. How many packers are left? American farmers have been complaining about captive supply and the power of packers to set prices for a long time.

Viable free markets require numerous competitive players actually competing.

Washington and Ottawa are full of industry lobbyists paid to represent the industry and their business. Guess who has more influence.

If you think multinational agribusiness cares about whether you survive as a family farmer, you will be sorely disapointed.

In the world of politics farmers have little power.