CWB Rally at the legislature

[craig]

While at farm tech we were made aware of a rally planned in Edmonton supporting the CWB. On getting home last night I watched both the Global and CTV coverage. While I don't like to stereo type people there was a sharp contrast between those farmers I saw at farm tech and those I saw at the rally. Whether it was intended or not the farmers at the rally portrayed the often perceived urban perception of farmers in bib overalls and hat's with ear flaps. Granted it was cold and windy. At farm tech there is a very business like attitude with many producers choosing to wear suits. While this not intended to imply that a farmer in a suit is more important than one in overalls it does tend to reinforce the concern that many small producers with limited economic investments in the grain sector currently have a strong leverage over larger producers.It also reinforces the wide divergence in views between the negative attitudes at the rally and the positive moving forward attitude at the conference. While I understand the purpose of the rally, I guess I would really question whether they got out the right message.

[cottonpicken]

I've read some pretty stupid things on this site but the past few days have been unbelievable.

Craig,jw,adam you guys need to pull your egos back down to earth.

[parsley]

Hopefully,for Board Supporters, there will be a spectacle, because the media can focus on the spectacle instead of the issue.

One Canadian got 15Million yesterday because he IS a Canadian.

I just want to sell what I grow.

Hard to argue that's un-Canadian to the average viewer!

A spectacle indeed ....we need some moaning, and crying, hand-wringing victims, with children, singing a round,

Row row rows the Board,
Right into my bin,
Merrily, merrily, sells my grain
Self-selling is a sin!

Parsley

[TOM4CWB]

CP

You do yourself a BIG disfavour.

Craig was simply pointing out that a positive building spirit... is the base of innovation and prosperity.

Rolling with what ever is thrown at us down here on the farm... is the key to sanity and building a family further a community.

Impossible is not a word with meaning... other than others who don't try hard enough for long enough...leave room for us to find prosperity and create value from that situation!

1. TRUST and RESPECT are the key to building prosperity.

2. Cooperation and building consensus through inteligent debate and positive solutions... creates value.

The CWB has found a way to disrupt every one of these needed processes... and instead rely on fear and intimidation to be its assets.

Making lemonade out of lemons is where we must be at as grain growers

... Not out with guns and hand cuffs confiscating other's property... whether they be other grain growers... or Canadian Tax Payers.

GIVE YOUR HEAD a SHAKE CP!

[cottonpicken]

Funny you use the word RESPECT tom.
That word is in my mind to.
I see very little of it here.

[silverback]

Respect is earned.

[BennyHin]

Craig:

When i go to an outdoor event in January I wear a parka and toque. When I attend an indoor event, I where appropriate clothing. (so to make you happy, I will wear a suit and tie at the next outdoor event)

Craig, you remind me of one of those minor league Western Canadian hockey players that shows up after the "big game" in a suite and tie to discuss his performance in the game.

I guess if you wear a suite and tie, you are a genius (according to craig).

The last time I went to the mall, all the 18-20 year old kids who were working the shops were wearing suites and ties. Craig, based on your conclusion, these kids must be SMART (although they only make $20,000 per year in retail.)

[BennyHin]

I've been to farmTech before at the Mayfield Inns. I didn't see Tom4CWB wearing Giorgio Armani suite. Why is that Craig? Perhaps you are stereo typing people?

[charliep]

I will leave the important discussion around appropriate farmer dress to others.

I will note that page A6 of the Edmonton Journal (top) has an article on the protest at the legislative grounds.

I am going to keep track of the number of times barley is mentioned in articles. In this article, it occurs 4 times - 3 in the first column with regards to the plebescite question and once in the last column. There was no information relevant to the decision on the barley marketing. Most was about the politics of CWB single desk selling.

[parsley]

Me too, charliep. BTW, those farmers really hung up on garb might well be the cross-dressers, so be a little tolerant.

I hope farmers get lots of information about the framing of the questions, and how does voting for one option impact upon another option.

The media must back off and cover the story instead of being the story.

I read Wendy Holms' evidence at the Standing Comm and wondered why she was even there.

Farmers are capable of speaking for themselves.

Parsley

[wilagro]

Why must the media back off? Afraid of the truth that a handful of "special interest" farmers have the ear of our federal Ag. Minister and are trying to kill the CWB? Afraid that the public might find out that the small producer will have a tough time competing against the big boys if and when the CWB is killed or weakened by the loss of barley marketing?

Some of the smaller producers are finally getting their backs up and are starting to protest. I say, 'good for them', about time.

[SASKFARMER3]

Funny thing about this cutting down the guys in front of the cameras. If I am out side in January I will wear a parka and toque. If Iam with a dignitary Ill ware a suit etc. One word of advise some of those guys have more money than you. way more. They believe in something as strong as we do just theirs is to keep what made them money in the past ours is to defeat it and let us make money now.

[catchmeifyoucan]

criag I'm with you i was also at farm tech and was impressed by the upbeat professonal manner in which farmers and trade show particpants prsented themselves.Earlier in january i also attended the cwb combine to customer alumini in edmonton which had a very depressing tone. I would guess about 1/2 where poorly dressed socialists.

[parsley]

wilagrow,

Producers should say. Media should report.

The media should not decide, and then write about what they have decided.

I have often found 'farming' and 'farmers' being represented by those who are not farmers, but with a self-serving interest.

The media have lost their way,and they are, for the most part, without declaring it, merely lobbyists.

Parsley

[craig]

Guilty as charged. While what I was trying to get across did not come out that way on re reading my post I understand how was perceived by others. I should be the last one to question dress as it is seldom that I wear a suit and if I was dressed in my normal outdoor clothes I would have fit right in at the rally. My question or comments related more to who the cameras panned on and whether that was deliberate. I am proud to be a farmer and a business man and I do not like it when and if we are portrayed as something else. I did make an attempt to try and talk to someone whom I respect who is on the other side of the issue but because of time issues it didn't happen. I had no illusions that I would sway his opinion or him of mine but I felt it was important to at least make an attempt to communicate and understand where he is coming from. One side of this argument has accused of the other as smaller ,older and unwilling to change. The other side can be accused of labelling the other as smart ass ,young guns who have little respect for anyone else and thing they know it all.Neither side should be proud of the stereo typing going on.