Carrot vs Stick the Size of a Telephone Pole

What would have happened if either of the two parties, each of which had the world by the reins with great big majorities in recent administrations, had actually taken the pulse of real people, living real lives, with real jobs and real budgets, and (acting within the guidelines set out by the Constitution), actually done what folks wanted and needed? Those of us who keep our eye on Washington have had some pretty scary moments over the past few years as laws that will hurt us are formed. promoted, and passed without regard for reality.

(btw oftentimes I think that what people need most is for their politicians to sit down and shut up...during the so-called crisis in NY when the Senate didn't go to work, no bad legislation was passed. The Farm Labor poison pill they have ready for NY to swallow fell by the wayside during that period and they haven't managed to prop it up yet..not for lack of desperate effort...It is back on the table now and NY legislators need to hear from folks who oppose it...today would be a good time to call.)


Having been followed around for the past couple of decades by legislation-wielding politicians with regulatory clubs the size of redwoods I don't know the answer, but it's an interesting concept. Or maybe it isn't and I am just not awake yet. Liz made it safely to Iowa after numerous flight delays, which had us all huddled by the phone fretting.... we are all pretty sleepy this morning.....

I dunno, it's morning and I have to go to work. I'll think about this later. I am graining the cows now with a list Liz made me so I need to get myself in gear.

Here is a story on the NY Farm Labor Bill
Here is a petition State Senator Darrell Aubertine has up opposing the so-called compromise bill.

American Farm Bureau

Resolution on Cap and tax Trade.

"The delegates approved a special resolution stating that cap-and-trade legislation would raise farmers’ and ranchers’ production costs, and the potential benefits of agricultural offsets are far outweighed by the costs to producers. Due to these and other concerns, the delegates strongly opposed “cap and trade proposals before Congress” and supported “any legislative action that would suspend EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.”

“As Congress returns to the issue of cap-and-trade this year, the message of Farm Bureau will continue to be: ‘Don’t Cap Our Future’ agricultural productivity and food security,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “We will now send that message even more strongly.”

“Congress should focus on renewable energy that is better for the environment and our domestic energy security,” he added, “but it should not tie the hands of U.S. producers, whose productivity, historically, has provided the world’s food safety net. We should not shrink U.S. agriculture at the very time when many are concerned about how to feed a growing global population.”

Dave Barry

Year in Review

HT to Jeffro, whom I thank with much gratefulness.

It's better not to hike the Appalachian trail....just sayin'....

Congressman Rogers on the Healthcare Debacle

Sent to me by a good friend who suggested I forward it..... Take a couple minutes to watch it if you can. There is a lot packed into a short four minutes.

Paterson's New Plates=GREAT BIG FAIL

Channel 9 is saying that this plan may be scrapped. Something about millions of ticked off drivers, a lot of very unhappy DMV workers, facing the prospect of taking care of those millions of ticked off drivers in addition to their regular work....Alas, you know and I know (and Cumptico-Calico) that our good gov and his cronies in Albany will just stick their hands in our other pocket so they can go on spending like fools. Still this plan had egregious written all over it. I hope they do dump it.

Laura

We have a George too.
HT to Jeff at Alphecca.

Somebody please explain

The difference between this scenario and this one.

Two people whose job, (or potential job,) description includes rules governing dress.
Two people who feel that they have the right to express their religious beliefs with articles of dress.

One is fired.
And everyone is fine with that.

One gets an apology for the outrageous offense against them.
And that's okay too.

I just don't get it. I'm moving to France.

Thomas Sowell on Dismantling America

This is a great column and I thank Jeff at Alphecca for pointing it out.

"

No New Plates

In an act that seems outrageously anti-upstate NY, (we don't have subways!), our illustrious governor has decided to soak us all for new license plates (at $25 a pop) next April, whether we need them or not. Seems a lot of folks think not, as the petition linked to below already has over 5000 signatures.

New Yorkers, go HERE to sign the petition against this action. St. Lawrence County Clerk Patricia Ritchie began it and says, "It’s an outrage to ask families and businesses to pay more for new license plates they don’t need or want when they are being battered by the ongoing recession."

Windmills

Saw these and dozens more near the restaurant where last Saturday's NFO cooperative meeting was held. (Quack's btw, one of the best meals I have ever eaten that wasn't cooked by a relative.)

If I could, I would have a half a dozen or so on the back forty. I find them lovely. I find the idea of renewable energy for the public and renewable income for the farmer truly encouraging. Desirable even.

We could use a little renewable income just now. The tax man loometh and all.
(And if I could find some renewable personal energy and get my fanny out to the barn right now; that would be a good thing too.)

Nice Language There Guy

You won't see words like this on Northview.

Farmers Squeezed by Big Milk

Here is an article, on National Public Radio of all the unlikely spots, that details some of what has been going on in the dairy industry over the past couple of decades. A good read!

HT Cousin Scott


Here is another interesting article on anti-trust efforts that may be undertaken.

Cash for Clunkers

Dairy farming has its own version of this program. It is called Cooperatives Working Together, or CWT.

The Expert Has Spoken

Thanks to everyone for an interesting dialog on the Glen Beck Cash for Clunkers story yesterday.

Kim Komando, the digital goddess, addressed it on her blog yesterday and you can read about it here.

And here is her conclusion:

"Personally, I think this is an example of what happens when lawyers aren’t properly supervised. This language is just so over the top."

Have You Seen This?

If this is true, the government appears to be permitted to completely take over your computer if you log onto Car.Gov for the Cash for Clunkers program and accept the privacy statement. There seems to be a great deal of discussion on various sites as to whether the privacy statement exists at all and as to whether it says what Beck says it does. Some people think that it is only the dealer log in page that requires that you give up all your information to big brother...but even so...should Uncle BO be allowed to look into everything on a business computer like that?

Anyhow, I am not logging in there to find out.

I hope you will share your thoughts on whether this is actually in the privacy statement and if so, what it actually will mean to folks who opt into it. Meanwhile, I would avoid that site like a patch of radioactive poison ivy. Good grief!!

Discussing Dairy Subsidies

On Coyote Blog there is a discussion taking place on dairy subsidies. I am not a big fan of subsidies, but few people have even a tiny understanding of the inner workings of the dairy industry. However, people can sure preach about things they have no clue about. When it comes to reading the thoughts of folks who say that farmers get a "really good subsidized price" for milk, I won't say that my blood boiled, but it did get a little warmish.

I left a comment myself...tried to not to sound too rabid or get too complicated. However, I know there are some real smart farmers and farm women who read Northview. I know some of you could do a better job of discussing our industry than I can...so I hope you click on over and add your thoughts to the dialog.

For the most part I like Coyote Blog, which is why I link to it and read it regularly. But I am just a tad irritated just now.

Patrick Hooker Meets Tom Vilsack

Press release from Ag and Markets
July 6, 2009

COMMISSIONER MEETS WITH USDA SECRETARY VILSACK

Emphasizes the Need for Assistance for Dairy Farmers at Concord, NH Meeting

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today met with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack at a town hall meeting in Concord, New Hampshire, where he joined other Northeast agriculture commissioners, emphasizing the serious need for assistance for dairy farmers in New York State and across the nation.

At his first face-to-face meeting with the Obama administration official, the Commissioner thanked Secretary Vilsack for the leadership he has already provided the dairy industry and asked for more direct assistance, explaining the dire need for help on behalf of the State’s 6,200 dairy farmers.

Commissioner Hooker specifically requested Secretary Vilsack to support an immediate and retroactive increase to the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) safety net program, as well as a minimum six-month interest-free extension or debt forgiveness on USDA loans. Both of these actions would bring immediate relief to dairy farmers, as they experience the perfect storm of high input costs and protracted low milk prices.

A surprise announcement by Secretary Vilsack in New Hampshire today was his pledge to form an advisory group to recommend changes to the federal milk pricing system for fairness for farmers and to help promote profitability and stability in the dairy industry. This is a concept that Commissioner Hooker and his counterparts in Vermont and Pennsylvania, as part of the Northeast Dairy Leadership Team, suggested to the Secretary in a letter sent earlier this year.

Climate Change Bill Bad for America

Typical New York Congressman at work

Seems a lot of people outside the beltway who pay for their own cars and groceries don't think this bill, for the most part unread by the people who are voting for it, is much of a birthday present to our great nation.

Here is a letter to the editor written by a local lady who has always "gotten it". Despite serious illness she recently took the time to instigate some back and forth dialog with the editor of the paper to get this piece printed. I admire her for it. We all should be talking to our newspapers and legislators right now. Even if we agree with this kind of expensive and unproven legislation, seems to me we should ask that it be read before the voting.....Of course I admire this particular lady for most everything, from her fantastic paintings to her spaghetti sauce...and you probably would too if you knew her, but she is so right about this issue.

Anyway this fine lady is comparing the new Climate Bill to the old Cardiff Giant. I'll bet there isn't a one of you local folks of a certain age that didn't get hauled to the Farmer's Museum in Cooperstown to have a look at that famous hoax. You can just figure that Cap and Tax is going to be a money maker of a similar style, but on a staggeringly grander scale. And it will be coming out of your pocket for every single item you buy.

I don't agree with the New York Times that even a seriously flawed climate bill is better than no bill at all....and neither does my wonderful mom. Hope you have a minute to read her letter....thanks....

And, by the way, I write this on a typical April day here at Northview....or maybe even late March. It is 63 degrees, the wind is howling and it has been raining overnight and is going to rain again. We have had such a non summer that the boss does not have a suntan. Can you imagine a farmer in July with no suntan? We still have calf coats on some of the babies. I have washed and put away the winter polar fleece jackets, sweaters, pull overs and hunting coats....in fact, I have washed them and put them at least five times.... by the time it gets summery enough to keep them in the drawer for a while it will be time to get them out again for winter. I am persistent in the wearing of shorts department, because wearing shorts is what I do in the summer...but some days it takes a lot more courage than it ought to...

Anyhow, have a great Fourth of July, each and every one of you. Fireworks tonight...don't forget to crate the doggies.

Possible Last Minute Action on FMD Lab Relocation

Back on topic here....A good story from the Cattle Site
about questions being posed to Obama's appointee for the Science and Technology Directorate, physician Tara O’Toole as the Homeland Security Department’s Under Secretary.


It is about time somebody at least noticed that the powers that be are planning on plopping an infectious cattle disease research lab down right in the middle of one of the nation's biggest cattle regions. Duh.

CAP and Trade