Something to think about.

[dmlfarmer]

As we welcome 2020 consider:
-if you got up today in good health you are better off than the 2 million in the world who will die this week
-if you have never personally experienced war, torture, or starvation you are better off than 500 million people in the world that have
-if you have never experienced hunger you are better off than the 1 billion people in the world that have and much better off than the 36 million who will die as a result of starvation this year (which includes the death of of a child under the age of 5 every 5 seconds)
-if you are free to worship the religion of your choice you are better off than 3 billion people in the world who can't.
-if you are able to vote for the leader of your country you are better off than 55% of the people in the world who are not given the opportunity to vote
-if you own the roof over your head and clothes on your back, and have a bed to sleep in at night you are better off than 75% of the people in the world who don't
-if you have money in the bank, and a credit card or cash in your wallet, and spare change you are better off than 92% of the people in the world who don't
-if you earn more than US$32,400. annually you are better off than 99% of earners in the world
-If you have a net worth of US$770,000 you are in the top 1% of wealth holders in the world.

We may not like the current leader of Canada, we may not like the carbon tax, we are likely stressed by the terrible growing and harvest conditions of the last few years, but we are still better off in Canada than in much of the world.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.

[Guest]

Agree with a lot of what you say
But if you just lie down and take it , we will go downhill very fast
Like paying money to terrorists or trying to rehabilitate isis fighters
No canadian should be condoning this horseshit

[foragefarmer]

CASE, come on be serious, this keeps you awake at night. So many on Agriville bitch, whine, piss, moan and groan about how bad they think they have it here in Canada, just because their favorite political party isn't in power at the present. Meanwhile I'd say 99% of the posters on here are included in that 1% that is so privileged.

It's a start of a New Year and decade so stop and think how truly lucky we are just for a few minutes of this New Year.

P.S were you not posting pictures of your beautiful family enjoying a winter get away. From where I'm standing you are one hell of a lucky man, and yes I know you have earned it.

Canada is the Best, second to none!

[Guest]

you're right , can't argue with that forage .

[jazz]

you're right , can't argue with that forage .

Sorry but I can argue with that because that's the very same argument that is used to sell socialism and globalism.

Somebody doesn't have it as good as you, just send them some factories over there or carbon tax or some easier regulations until they get in their feet. Don't worry about that little human rights abuse or religious cult they are running.

You can turn down your thermostat a bit and live with tough crop so they can build coal plants.

F that. I am done with bleeding hearts

[Hamloc]

Dml I have a hard time believing that in a world of 7.5 billion people that there are only 75 million that earn over $32400 usd. And at the same time there is 75 million that own over $770000 in net assets. I believe there must be more than 75 million earning that $32400. And yes to a certain degree we are very lucky to live in Canada, that doesn't mean things can't be improved!!!!

[dmlfarmer]

Sorry but I can argue with that because that's the very same argument that is used to sell socialism and globalism.

Somebody doesn't have it as good as you, just send them some factories over there or carbon tax or some easier regulations until they get in their feet. Don't worry about that little human rights abuse or religious cult they are running.

You can turn down your thermostat a bit and live with tough crop so they can build coal plants.

F that. I am done with bleeding hearts

Oh so globalism is bad. That is rich coming from a Canadian farmer! Canada exports about US56 billion in agricultural and food products world wide each year, and imports about US11 billion, primarily from US, much in fresh fruits and vegetables. And agricultural exports do not even make the top 10 list of the $450 billion worth of exports from Canada. Yeah, lets end globalism and just sell all those exports to our tiny population base. Jazz, may you be the first farmer to be forced to cut back production to only the needs of Canadians. Wont need more pipelines then too if we only worry about supplying our own needs and not trading or selling to those awful people in the rest of the world.

[burnt]

CASE, come on be serious, this keeps you awake at night. So many on Agriville bitch, whine, piss, moan and groan about how bad they think they have it here in Canada, just because their favorite political party isn't in power at the present. Meanwhile I'd say 99% of the posters on here are included in that 1% that is so privileged.

It's a start of a New Year and decade so stop and think how truly lucky we are just for a few minutes of this New Year.

P.S were you not posting pictures of your beautiful family enjoying a winter get away. From where I'm standing you are one hell of a lucky man, and yes I know you have earned it.

Canada is the Best, second to none!

We are not just "truly lucky". Far from it. The only thing that could be considered providential is the fact that we, personally, had no control over where we were born.

What we have here to enjoy as Canadians is the result of a system that grew from respecting and embracing absolute law, the basis of all rule of law, human rights, and recognition of the worth of the individual.

What some of us see is that we are in rapid decline because those foundational tenets are no longer being upheld.

Those who prefer to remain ignorant of these indisputable facts are the real threat to the good things we have as Canadians. Without a foundation, the house will not last.

A happy, prosperous and healthy New Year to all who post here on Agriville and keep it an entertaining and lively place to visit.

[jazz]

Selling excess supply of something to someone who doesn't have that item is trade not globalism.

Globalism is when you siphon off the productive capacity of one country and move to another to sell back into the home market.

I 100% oppose anything like that no matter how well off we appear.

Everybody and their dog knows canadas dirty little secret. That if we weren't run by such corrupt incompetent **** faces we would absolutely be killing it.

[dmlfarmer]

Dml I have a hard time believing that in a world of 7.5 billion people that there are only 75 million that earn over $32400 usd. And at the same time there is 75 million that own over $770000 in net assets. I believe there must be more than 75 million earning that $32400. And yes to a certain degree we are very lucky to live in Canada, that doesn't mean things can't be improved!!!!

Hamlock, that is not my calculation. It comes from a September 25, 2019 Investopedia article by Daniel Kurt. I suspect it is based on a median calculation of earnings, not of actual earnings for every person on earth. https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/050615/are-you-top-one-percent-world.asp https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/050615/are-you-top-one-percent-world.asp

And no question, things can always be better. But if things could be better, that does not mean they are terrible now.

So the question I have for you would be: What do you think should be improved to make CANADA better? And don't just say a change in government. What actual changes are you calling for, what is the cost of those improvements, and who do you think should pay for what you want to see - and if you say government, then that means more debt or higher taxes.

[burnt]

Hamlock, that is not my calculation. It comes from a September 25, 2019 Investopedia article by Daniel Kurt. I suspect it is based on a median calculation of earnings, not of actual earnings for every person on earth. https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/050615/are-you-top-one-percent-world.asp https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/050615/are-you-top-one-percent-world.asp

And no question, things can always be better. But if things could be better, that does not mean they are terrible now.

So the question I have for you would be: What do you think should be improved to make CANADA better? And don't just say a change in government. What actual changes are you calling for, what is the cost of those improvements, and who do you think should pay for what you want to see - and if you say government, then that means more debt or higher taxes.

That's an excellent question and springboard for discussion.

I think that some of the simple things would have not net cost - for instance enforcing immigration laws.

Oh, how about that - we are back to rule of law!

As for other simple things - taking personal responsibility for our contribution to society, like this country was built on.

The nicest part of that - absolutely no cost to others.

There's a start.

[dmlfarmer]

That's an excellent question and springboard for discussion.

I think that some of the simple things would have not net cost - for instance enforcing immigration laws.

Oh, how about that - we are back to rule of law!

As for other simple things - taking personal responsibility for our contribution to society, like this country was built on.

The nicest part of that - absolutely no cost to others.

There's a start.

When I posed the question to Hamlock, I was hoping for something more substantive than just the motherhood and apple pie statements like you just gave and that we get from politicians every election. And to say that your ideas have no cost, then why are they not happening already if they are good ideas? IMHO I think the ideas you shared have a huge costs. Our immigration court systems are hugely backed up therefore need more judges/courts. More immigration officers. More detention facitlities. Same goes for rule of law. Are you calling for more police, more judges, more jails, longer sentences - all carry a cost? And how much freedom are you willing to give up to enforce stricter rule of law? Should police have more powers?
AS for taking personal responsibility - I am not even sure what you mean? Less public support for individuals ie health care/ education funding/ welfare/ social security / old age pension UI payments. Are you also advocating less industry support like subsides, or tax breaks for companies, including getting rid of government support for ag including agrivest, crop insurance, public plant breeding, even trade
missions to sell Canadian grain overseas?

Unless we are willing to define exactly what we want and what we are willing to pay for, we will continue to get vague policy from government./

[dmlfarmer]

Selling excess supply of something to someone who doesn't have that item is trade not globalism.

Globalism is when you siphon off the productive capacity of one country and move to another to sell back into the home market.

I 100% oppose anything like that no matter how well off we appear.

Everybody and their dog knows canadas dirty little secret. That if we weren't run by such corrupt incompetent **** faces we would absolutely be killing it.

NO, what you are talking about is in fact globalization. Globalism is simply expanding the area in the world you trade with (when talking economic globalism) and has been happening for centuries, right back to the silk road from China to the middle east.;

And excess supply is only one factor in trade. A bigger one is price. IMHO Capitalism has played a bigger role in globalism than governments. If company A can get their product made cheaper in China than it can be produced domestically, then globalism happens and production is moved off shore. To blame government for a capitalistic corporate move is missing the real problem. Domestic production is no longer competitive globally. Solve that problem and companies will not move. Or you do as Trump is trying by taxing imports which is simply a consumption tax on consumers as competitive goods are still being produced cheaper off shore.

[jazz]

Dml you and Trudeau should get together and talk economics.

I Am glad you explained globalization to me. Now I know why a country with the largest softwood forest on the planet doesn't make furniture anymore. Or a country that border 3 great oceans has to get its fish packaged in china. Or why a country with some of the largest metals reserves on the planet gets LNG skids made with Chinese steel and labour.

Your logic is flawless.

[Hamloc]

NO, what you are talking about is in fact globalization. Globalism is simply expanding the area in the world you trade with (when talking economic globalism) and has been happening for centuries, right back to the silk road from China to the middle east.;

And excess supply is only one factor in trade. A bigger one is price. IMHO Capitalism has played a bigger role in globalism than governments. If company A can get their product made cheaper in China than it can be produced domestically, then globalism happens and production is moved off shore. To blame government for a capitalistic corporate move is missing the real problem. Domestic production is no longer competitive globally. Solve that problem and companies will not move. Or you do as Trump is trying by taxing imports which is simply a consumption tax on consumers as competitive goods are still being produced cheaper off shore.

I certainly don't consider myself left of center but one thing I would like to see change is corporate culture. I think that corporations absolutely need to make money but I think it would be beneficial if it became a goal of corporations to think about their workers and their communities as much as they do their profits. There is no doubt in my mind that at present maximizing profits always comes first. If capitalism is going to survive the onslaught of the climate alarmists this corporate culture must change!!!