No Sacred Cow

[Happytrails]

To rockpile re why non supply managed producers oppose that system. Some of us resent the government telling us what we can or cannot grow and sell. And they can use force of arms if necessary to keep you from supplying the particular foods. Besides that some of us are more trusting of market forces than bureaucrats. Etc, etc, we all have a right to an opinion.

[rockpile]

Happytrails - you overlook two things: 1. that
supply management sectors govern their own
management and 2. they have complete and
unconditional support from their members. They
came from an environment of uncertainty to form
supply management to get out of an unsustainable
rut - especially dairy. Your conception of unfettered
free enterprise in a global economy is
commendable but unrealistic. Production quotas
may have an unbelievably high value, but at the end
of the day, does not the market place determine
that? Kinda of like complaining about the high cost
of land, don't you think?

[parsley]

'Govern their own management"

You have to be bloody kidding.

Supply management stickupartists in Canada
demand that LAWS be passed in Parliaments or
legislatures to throw folks like me in jail if I dont
comply with the want-list of supply-managed
members.

Their want list is simpy more money, with no
competition and no hassle from onlookers

Their threat is jail and fines and raiding folks like
me.

Yup. Fine- folks Yup Pars

[Kodiak]

rockpile- you overlook two things: 1. that supply management sectors govern their own management from the privileged position of a legislated monopolistic pricing scheme and government protection with tariffs in the 200% plus category. And 2. they have complete and unconditional support from their members because of the profits derived from this exclusive privilege, and from the protection from competition it affords them . That’s hardly surprising. Insiders benefit. Outsiders pay. It’s called a consumer subsidy, but the only reason those consumers pay the subsidy, is because they are forced to. Acting rationally in a free market, they would not.
And yes, quota prices are extremely high, but you overlook the facts above. It is the price outsiders are willing to pay for the privilege of being an insider, or the price current insiders are willing to pay for yet more privilege.
The price of protection in the underworld where monopolies are highly desirable due to the profits they derive is also high. Quota is just another word for exclusivity. Mafia bosses and drug lords love their privileges and are willing to pay very high prices to protect their “quota”. No matter where it occurs, privilege has its benefits, but it always and inevitably comes at a cost. We may be witnessing the first shots in yet another war on privilege.

[rockpile]

So, Parsley and Kodiak - are you in a race to the
bottom? Most other industrial ventures use whatever
tools are available to succeed. And they are quite
successful. At the end of the day - you have the right
to fail. Gawd, I luv stirring shit!!! In the end - sniff,
sniff - penis envy... Seems nobody likes a winner
anymore. I will boldly make a prediction for the future
of farming in Western Canada in 10 or 20 years: widely
diversified, 100,000 hectares in size or more. Fits so
perfectly with todays thinking, don't cha think?

[parsley]

I simply dont find it is within business-practices
acceptability to have all others jailed and fined for
trying to sell their oil paintings, while claiming a
portrait monopoly for myself, even if my uncle is
Prime Minister of Canada.

Its wrong morally, legslatively, fiscally, and
socially.

[parsley]

Your kind of thinking needs to be composted,
rockpile Pars

[Kodiak]

No, I'm not interested, nor in a race to the bottom. Just looking for a level playing field, equal opportunity, and an end to political privelege. Are those not your ideals as well?

[riders2010]

So we want someone to produce the cheapest bottle of milk the cheapest egg and expect it to be the best quality?

[rockpile]

Kodiak, in a perfect world yes those would be my
ideals as well. Parsley, in your words and vitriolic
attack I sense nothing more than an acceptance of
how it really is, and you don't like it. A while back I
believe Joe posted a video on farming in Argentina,
and Shaney posted an interview on farming in the
Ukraine. Pretty well no one paid attention, but like
leonardo playing the role of Howard Hughes in the
Aviator kept repeating at the end - "It is the way of
the future". You simply don't matter anymore and
I'm very happy to be out of the squirrel cage. Still
enjoy stirring shit though. Good luck with your
compost Pars.