Hon. Senator Nicole Eaton on C18 CWB Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Bill

[grassfarmer]

No wonder some of you folks make no sense - you can't count. If there are 60,000 farmers on the prairies (and most of you think there are less)how does that influence the federal election result where 14.7 million votes were cast?

Strange place western Canada where many of the folks are all mixed up about socialism, communism, free enterprise and Government control. I've never been anything other than a capitalist, have never voted for a socialist party or candidate in my life. I make my living every day competing in the meat business with the Government subsidized welfare recipients Cargill and Nilsson Bros. Yet these are championed as free market forces by the likes of Silverback who loves Government control as far as it extends to the said Government interfering with producer run organisations. Strange, strange place.

[pgluca]

The cost added by the operation and marketing expertise (lack of it)of the CWB. Plus the demurrage, subsitution of better quality when stocks aren't in the right place, and undercutting foreign competetors by a wide margin, will be absent for ALL SIZE farmers.

[gregpet]

I would argue with the current CWB board of directors the survival of the organization is very tenuous.

[farmaholic]

Grassfarmer: in my opinion you are absolutely right regarding the western "ag" vote influencing the outcome of the federal election. The majority mandate is the lamest excuse. Change the system if you will but don't use the majority as your excuse, how stupid do they think the grain producers are. Maybe they can use their majority to create a new law to legalize free market prostitution or abortion.

Once again, I am not arguing against the proposed changes, just the lame ass excuse(maojority) people are using to justify the governments actions.

[Happytrails]

So farmholic, what would work for you? How about respecting my property rights? And if you don't want to give authority to a majority party in parliament then who?

[silverback]

Capitalists don't force their neighbors to act the way they want them to.

Capitalism believes in freedom of association.

[wd9]

This whole conversation is proof positive the government will never make the right decision regardless of what it is.

[farmaholic]

Happytrails: I have no problem with the proposed changes that grant everyone choice to market their grain as they see fit, just the excuse. Theoretically, what I am saying is if everyone(grain producers) wanted to maintain the status quo and voted anything but Conservative and they still won a majority, producers wishes aren't reflective of the election results. The ag vote isn't that influencial/strong and is blended with urban votes in electoral districts that could care less one way or another regarding the CWB. In the Conservatives defence, they did campaign on elimination of the monopoly, no one should be surpised how things are unfolding on their side of the issue. What is dissappointing is the lack of foresight and unwillingness of the BOD to move ahead on this and come up with a workable solution. I will ask again like I did in a previous thread: what is the position of the 5 appointed directors? Couldn't the 5 appointed and two resigned directors put forth a strong enough arguement to convince the other 8 that their stance is going to be counter productive to the future of the new entity. Get on with it.

[grassfarmer]

Farmaholic, well done! you got the point of my post which seemed beyond everyone elses grasp.

silverback, you need to invest in a dictionary. Here is a start:

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000

cap·i·tal·ist (kp-tl-st)
n.
1. A supporter of capitalism.
2. An investor of capital in business, especially one having a major financial interest in an important enterprise.
3. A person of great wealth.
adj.
Capitalistic.


Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged

capitalist [ˈkæpɪtəlɪst]
n
1. (Economics) a person who owns capital, esp capital invested in a business
2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) Politics a supporter of capitalism
3. Informal, usually derogatory a rich person
adj
(Economics) of or relating to capital, capitalists, or capitalism
capitalistic adj

[LWeber]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000

cap·i·tal·ist (kp-tl-st)
n.
1. A supporter of capitalism.



OXFORD DICTIONARIES:


capitalism(cap¦it¦al|ism)

[mass noun]

[ ]More examples
Synonyms »

Categories »an economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state:

an era of free-market capitalism
private ownership is a key feature of capitalism