adm

[Ration-Al]

Tom, you misunderstood me completely. It was a tongue in cheek statement. I was suggesting that we implement some of your ideas. Make the CWB into a grain company. Take away their marketing monopoly and let them compete head to head with ADM and see if they survive.

My prediction is that they wouldn't last one round in the ring with a heavyweight like ADM.

[TOM4CWB]

RationAL;

If a marketer is smart... and covers risk... and works margins without taking on undefined risk... that marketer being the CWB or anyone else... can do business and not loose money.

CWB logic... as used in CWB sales strategies today... would self destruct the CWB just as you indicate.

The OWPMB refused to risk manage... and paid the price... RationAL; are you folks... at the CWB... going to follow step by step in the OWPMB tracks?

Empty words cannot convince me for one second that the CWB isn't already many steps down the OWPMB's path.

Your little PPO exemption is a perfect example!

[Ration-Al]

A young fellow that obtained his commerce degree told me that in business you need a sustainable competitive advantage. I would say that today the competitive advantage that the CWB enjoys is the single desk. That is what the OWPMB gave up and that is why they are struggling to survive.

At some point in the future the CWB may lose the single desk and I would advocate that a focus on the quality of Canadian Grain would be the best place to look for a new "sustainable competitive advantage".

Certainly best business practices must be employed to complement the process and risk management is an important component of that.

There is much room for improvement at the CWB and I see there is a will to move on basic issues such as pooling and government linkages.

A wise man once told me to look at history and observe that in the world major change takes on average about ten years. To some that will seem like an entire lifetime.

[chaffmeister]

That's quite a statement - basically what you're saying is the only "competitive advantage" that the CWB enjoys is no competition.

[Ration-Al]

Chaffmeister,

What other advantage would you expect the CWB to have over the multi-billion dollar transnationals?

Remember the CWB returns all proceeds from sales to the farmers at the end of each crop year. They have no capital base, own no elevators or terminals, and are not engaged in value added processing.

[TOM4CWB]

RationAL;

You have taken all the worst perspectives of CWB Management... and written them on your heart... logic... and soul. This makes me very sad.

1. Business Loyalty

The CWB has major intrinsic value to both us as sellers of grain grown in western Canada... and to consumers world wide who appreciate our grain and the services we provide with this product.

2. Canadian co-operative spirit.

Western Canadian farmers are searching for an honest simple marketer to sell high quality produce world wide. Our farmers have seen the Beef market concentration and the pit falls associated with too much market concentration in too few hands. We know value, and we will support an honest effort by CWB management to produce top services for us.

3. Admission of wrong doing...

Western Canadian farmers are the most forgiving folks on the face of this planet... in my experience.

An honest CWB will be supported without question by a majority of farmers, and a majortiy of the production created in Western Canada;

IF:

A vision and leadership of positive pioneer spirit that built our Country... works to resolve CWB problems.

A PITTY... I feel sorry that you have missed so completly the purposes you were expected to fulfill.

Should we forgive you too?

Will you turn from your pitty party... and work to revive the CWB?

[Ration-Al]

Tom,

You know nothing of what is written on my heart and soul. And your logic escapes me 90% of the time - not entirely sure if that is my fault or yours.

Are you suggesting that 1. Business Loyalty is a Sustainable Competitive advantage? Look at what happened to the domestic grain industry. Now that there are concrete terminals and people are putting their grain on semi trucks grain goes anywhere. There is no loyalty.

Canadian Co-operative Spirit. I thought you were responding to my point on Competitive Advantage. I have no idea how you expect me to believe that the Canadian Co-operative Spirit is either alive or a competitive advantage. See point #1 above. There is no loyalty or the Prairie Pools would still be thriving. The Canadian Co-operative Spirit if it does exist is not looking for a simple marketer. Canadian Farmers are looking for a progressive, knowledgeable, responsive marketer for their grain. The CWB is striving to be these things.

3. Admission of wrong doing. I dare say that virtually every activity the CWB has engaged in over the years has been seen as wrongdoing in the eyes of its detractors. Mistakes have been made and whenever possible corrective action is taken. Accusations of wrong doing are inflamatory and suggest criminality. This is not constructive (see my previous post).

You my friend have a lot to learn about human nature. Or if you do understand human nature then you have a lot to learn about the proper response to human nature.

[ALLFARMER]

I have tired of Ralph Klein (don't call him Ralph unless you would let him watch your kids) but he still has one task to finish...taking it to the CWB... freeing Alberta's Farmers
The one and only reason I will vote for him this round.

[TOM4CWB]

RationAL;

A people without a vision will perish... especially the CWB.

Too bad the very essence of value, escapes CWB managers and most present CWB Directors.

Without a clear mandate to reform, and create value... your above statements prove the CWB is in a tail spin towards destruction.

Denial isn't just a river in Egypt... it is still alive and well at the CWB...

[Ration-Al]

You see Tom, there you go again. Everything about the CWB is wrong. No vision. No plan. There is a vision. There is a five year plan. There is progress. Yet you accept none of it as being noteworthy. You say it is all wrong. You say it is all bad.

Negativity is going to destroy you from the inside out if it hasn't already.