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

[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.

[jdepape]

Chuck:
I don't disagree that the CWB has countervailing power over the industry. Problem is that in practice it has never been effective and comes at a huge expense. And I don't mean just the CWB's overhead. The CWB has cost the industry millions over the years in bad decisions and lost opportunities.

I think everyone involved recognizes the potential for this process to be a "king-maker". But most also recognize that we will almost undoubtedly see new entrants into the business. There has been a steady stream of inquiries from new companies looking at entering this market. Rather than seeing these companies as vultures that will swoop in and take advantage of farmers, many see this as a huge opportunity to increase competition which we all agree drives costs out of the system and improves service.

Chuck I know this counter intuitive for you but the grain companies you deal with are not the same as the ones your father dealt with. These companies recognize that their success is a function of farmers success. It's a cut-throat business based on volume. If I can gain volumes by making you more successful, I'll do it.

Oberg said at the recent meetings that the only way a grain company can make more money is if farmers make less. It's comments like this that convince me he doesn't understand this business - or he's hoping you don't.

[Fransisco]

Of course I'm concerned about the concentration of power. Duh! That's why I'm opposed to a single monopoly buyer of my wheat and barley like the current wheat board.

[slick]

Being from
Ontario, I don't have a dog in this fight.
We had our shackles removed years ago.
Hopefully you guys will also be free soon. Our system now is such an improvement.
We get paid full price for all our grain sold, in a few days. No waiting 12 months.
Regardless of the sham vote, Ritz will emancipate the farmers of Western Canada, as promised.
BTW, I know a guy that is interested in buying those boats the CWB just bought.
good luck
slick

[bucket]

Is his name Paul Martin?