Barley Freedom Fighters' Day

[TOM4CWB]

Cropduster,

I COuldn't believe how incoherent that Measner was...

All about the democratic choice of grain growers?

Measner should have a long hard look in the mirror... and give his head a shake.

Barley growers voted... just as they have for 10 years in CWB opinion poles... to request the CWB change the way it markets barley to a multi- marketing optional system.

Measner and every single minded person at the CWB know this fact.

Do they respect our requests?

NO.

WHY?

Because we are too stupid to know what is best for our families and farms?

Reminds me of ole Bob R. and his article saying the CWB and Feds are grain farmers "Big Daddy"

SICK... and they he went on to say he was afraid of being blown up by his mail when he opened it!

I wonder why?

[parsley]

He needn't worry about choice farmers. Choice farmers believe in choice, not force. Not violence. Not jail. Not fines.

Choice farmers believe in co-operation, and teamwork and picking partners, and working together.

Wheat Board mentality advocates force, so poor old Roehle could only fear what he believes in, and advocates and enforces.

He cannot envisiona world where choice is the way of life.

Parsley

[TOM4CWB]

Parsley,

I agree, well put.

That Roehle is still around after he said so many insulting and dumb things is a testimony that proves you are RIGHT.

Respecting and loving our neighbour/humankind requires people who are, Caring, Honourable, Humble and Patient.

Thanks Parsley for being all of the above... and to ALL you folks that put these principals ahead of personal short term gain...

People who believe in the principle that if we take on a project... it is worth doing well... we will finish what we started.... NO Matter who tries to trip us up as long as we draw breath!

These are the principals that built our strong and fair Canada!

[Burbert]

The barley pleb was PHONEY from the get go. A flawed process, that was flouted to be the best thing that ever happened to Western Canadian Farmers. Thank goodness for due process. Yapping and BS does not a market make. Current grain prices have nothing whatsoever to do with Angriville opinions and strategy. These are facts that you duds can put in your pipe to smoke! Careful now don't get to high, and forward sell all your crop, ha, ha, ha!!!

[wedino]

Nothing wrong with the barley plebiscite. The only other way would be with a 2 question vote, with 75% majority required in favor of cwb. At least that's the way it's done in Quebec to establish a compulsory marketing board.

[padron]

I would agree the plebiscite was flawed - in that it didn't proportionately represent barley growers in western Canada. It's nothing short of criminal that small production farmers and growers who do not even grow barley have a say in how a farmer, whose livelihood depends on barley, can and cannot market his production. If the vote were acreage based it would be a landslide in favour of "choice marketing". Who's kidding who that the process is in any way fair. No one buys that crap for a second. We all have our own perspectives on fairness. Mine is that if I grow 1000 acres of barley and another guy grows 100 then I have 10 times more at stake than he does. This isn't about democracy - save that for human rights and populist elections. This is about making a living in a country that is supposed to be open to free trade and individualism. The CWB doctrine prevents that and to me that is just plain wrong.

[wilagro]

padron: You know what you can do with your "weighted vote" scheme.

I think that "every" farmer capable of growing barley should have had a vote and every vote should be EQUAL. Just because one doesn't grow barley while using his/her rotation, shouldn't disqualify him/her from the eligibility to vote.

The marketing of barley affects EVERYONE, not just the big acreage grower.

I see that you believe that might equals right...perhaps in sumo wrestling or mid-east wars, but grain marketing...nyet.

[padron]

My view is not based on "might" but on impact. Who is affected most by a decision on barley? Barley growers. If you don't grow barley or grow a small quantity then you are not as impacted by someone who grows large acreage for the feed and malt markets. If barley is in a rotation then by all means you should participate. I know this approach will never get traction because there are too many variables - including rotation, non permit book holders, etc.

But, using Chaffmeister's plumber analogy, if I own a chain of stores and my rates are determined by a collection of independents working out of their trucks with cell phones, I'm going to be a pretty unhappy guy. My success has been built on reputation, service and quality of work - not on the collective results of all plumbers. If all plumbers got together and set rates we would go to jail for price fixing. (That was the state of things when prairie co-ops used the old Street Price system).

The beauty of a free market is that every "plumber" gets to set his own rates - high or low - and compete for business based on their own individual merits. Multiple buyers and multiple sellers in a commercial environment. Success based on value - not just because you are part of the club.

[parsley]

What kind of a vote it is shouldn't even be mentioned. Or what season it is to be held in. Or age. Or area.


THE POINT IS THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY KIND OF A VOTE ON MY PROPERTY.

PERIOD.

Parsley

[Fransisco]

Padron is correct, if we are going to vote the only fair way to do it is by acres or tonnage.

But Parsley is right on the money, in a civilized society you don't get a vote on what I do with my property.