Greg said
" Ark/OVM,
The thing is, and being blunt, there is a big need to care about the corporate farms, they are the ones who actually are controlling the situation within the their industry and it affects the average small farmer more than you would think. The elected officials don't care as much for the little guy in farming as much as they do for the big guys because any way you cut it, the small farmers are still scattered and still don't pose a threat to incumbents in office, which is the same for the average trucker.
I have yet seen any legislation that actually helps small farmers, like property tax relief, inheritance tax relief or even a move to true tax reform - all without a doubt would help the small farmer. There is even still a great amount of problems within the USDA in which programs are not being run right and assistance for farmer still seems to be going to large farms, not to mention the inequity of some programs in the matters of race.
I still stand by my comments that the best thing for everyone is get government out of the way of the market and let the market run itself. We pay either way and I would rather pay the farmer direct than to have only .30 of each dollar of my tax money reach the farmer.
On the other hand the truckers are digging their own grave. Many still believe that the OOIDA is the 'voice' for them and that simply is not true. The OOIDA is good for a lot of things but a political voice without involvement is nothing. I came to the conclusion that the main stream O/O is lazy and does not want to get involved. They are ignorant to the process and the power they hold. It sounds like I am an idiot but look around, look at what is happening and how it is happening and where are the truckers? No where.
The one thing I realized is that many don't view this a profession but a job, nothing more then a job. Even with a capital investment, to many of them when the time comes, they leave to go to other things. This ties into the high turnover rate and the misplaced expectations of what this work is really about. I see the problems and can't help but think what is wrong with people, what is so hard about writing, calling or visiting or worst yet registering to vote and actually voting.
My God when you really think about it, the average trucker regardless if they are an O/O or company man falls far below in political involvement than the average auto worker.
And as for the Indian thing, there is a lot worst that goes on than government backed loans, like having many people of a certain ethic group being put on welfare in this state before they even arrive or allowing a foreign nationals to work in this country then allowing them to take SS benefits back to their country. Both of these things are very wrong and should not be practiced.
Ken said:
Canada has nothing but Marketing boards that control the price of every commodity. They tell the farmer/rancher how much to grow or not grow to control the price and of course take a piece of the pie. And they MUST only deal thru them...theres no open market. And you know who controls these boards? It sure ain't the farmer/rancher.
We are abit off topic...maybe a separate response if we keep up this dialogue.
" Ark/OVM,
The thing is, and being blunt, there is a big need to care about the corporate farms, they are the ones who actually are controlling the situation within the their industry and it affects the average small farmer more than you would think. The elected officials don't care as much for the little guy in farming as much as they do for the big guys because any way you cut it, the small farmers are still scattered and still don't pose a threat to incumbents in office, which is the same for the average trucker.
I have yet seen any legislation that actually helps small farmers, like property tax relief, inheritance tax relief or even a move to true tax reform - all without a doubt would help the small farmer. There is even still a great amount of problems within the USDA in which programs are not being run right and assistance for farmer still seems to be going to large farms, not to mention the inequity of some programs in the matters of race.
I still stand by my comments that the best thing for everyone is get government out of the way of the market and let the market run itself. We pay either way and I would rather pay the farmer direct than to have only .30 of each dollar of my tax money reach the farmer.
On the other hand the truckers are digging their own grave. Many still believe that the OOIDA is the 'voice' for them and that simply is not true. The OOIDA is good for a lot of things but a political voice without involvement is nothing. I came to the conclusion that the main stream O/O is lazy and does not want to get involved. They are ignorant to the process and the power they hold. It sounds like I am an idiot but look around, look at what is happening and how it is happening and where are the truckers? No where.
The one thing I realized is that many don't view this a profession but a job, nothing more then a job. Even with a capital investment, to many of them when the time comes, they leave to go to other things. This ties into the high turnover rate and the misplaced expectations of what this work is really about. I see the problems and can't help but think what is wrong with people, what is so hard about writing, calling or visiting or worst yet registering to vote and actually voting.
My God when you really think about it, the average trucker regardless if they are an O/O or company man falls far below in political involvement than the average auto worker.
And as for the Indian thing, there is a lot worst that goes on than government backed loans, like having many people of a certain ethic group being put on welfare in this state before they even arrive or allowing a foreign nationals to work in this country then allowing them to take SS benefits back to their country. Both of these things are very wrong and should not be practiced.
Ken said:
Canada has nothing but Marketing boards that control the price of every commodity. They tell the farmer/rancher how much to grow or not grow to control the price and of course take a piece of the pie. And they MUST only deal thru them...theres no open market. And you know who controls these boards? It sure ain't the farmer/rancher.
We are abit off topic...maybe a separate response if we keep up this dialogue.
