Letters - Financially elite farmers

Coffeewithlena B.
02/16/2010 8:52 PM

One of the only elite "Farmers" that I know of is Ted Turner. He rakes in tons of money with his tax write off farms. Its a sure bet for losing money and getting his tax breaks.

Report a Violation

Kay P.
02/15/2010 9:42 AM

Perhaps Alan needs to aqquaint himself with those "elite" farmer's BOTTOMLINE. He doesn't seem to want to realize that they may have existing debtload, fueled by inconsistant commoditiy prices, HIGH production expenses and poor weather/crop years. While it may appear to the naked eye, that they are "well off", the proof is in their accounting books. I suspect that many of them are not as well off, as Alan perceives.

Report a Violation

Roger D.
02/13/2010 10:32 PM

Come on Alan R. Address it correctly. FOOD Security Program. Not-- Farm Program. Your redundance is getting old. Find a new agenda.

Report a Violation

Coffeewithlena B.
02/13/2010 8:06 PM

I think there needs to be a full article written on the reality of farming for non-farming citizens can learn to understand more. Not all farmers get subsidies. We milk cows and are barely existing right now. We are making about what farmers made back in the early 80's. Financially elite?

Report a Violation

Patricia W.
02/13/2010 11:44 AM

It was a beautiful farm, Lee, with a welcoming table and wonderful folks. Fond memories. You chose a different path and were very successful. Your dad is proud of you. They were special people who raised independent thinkers who were not afraid to take a different path. I wish I had spent more time with your mom..visited her like I always intended to do. I think about her every time I drive by the farm. It's still beautiful.

Report a Violation

LL L.
Alexandria, MN     02/13/2010 8:03 AM

"It's no secret that I left the farm running!" And you did that, Lee P, so that you wouldn't be crushed by the mountain of money to be made while farming! Right?

Report a Violation

Lee P.
02/11/2010 1:42 PM

It's no secret that I left the farm running! A decision I've never regretted more than 40 years later, but I remain thankful for the discipline that was instilled and sense of obligation fostered by that 100 acres of stones, sand and some fertile soil. It fed and housed 5 kids. Not always well, but we never went hungry or cold nor did my folks draw upon public assistance. Though my contact with non wild game meats is now limited to removing it from under the cellophane wrapper I remember where it came from. The kid can leave the farm but the farm never leaves the kid.

Report a Violation

Al G.
Garfield, MN     02/11/2010 1:41 PM

Kay, you hit the nail on the head when you said after the child got the prize he threw it on the floor anyway. It appears that the mentality of the progressives is that It matters not what you have its the fact you have it and they don't. There was a story written about a country dividing the wealth...each citizen was given the same amount of money, property etc. However after a few short years those who were given the wealth squandered it away and those whose wealth was taken away regained it. The moral was; there is no prides in having something you’ve not earned.

Report a Violation

Kay P.
02/11/2010 12:35 PM

Al G -- a preschool observation...this mentality if left alone to the public school system to instill, it births a new generation everytime it reproduces. -- I witnessed a paid preschool/headstart educator, lecture (in front of the whole group) my 4 year old child for not sharing when another child cried because he was not successful at ripping the object from my child's hands. She spent more time telling him and everyone else, they MUST share. She did NOT tell the other child that it was wrong for taking things that he did not ask for, that would be stealing. In fact, he was rewarded with the receipt of the "prized" object my son had, and within a minute he threw it on the floor anyway. This much I have learned... RULE #1 -- Everyone must SHARE. RULE #2 -- If ruel #1 fails to secure object of desire, get a higher authority to enforce rule #1, they will get it for you. RULE #3 -- If Item "stolen" from first source is now being attempted to be "stole" by another, Scream. Pure Victim mode. Blame it on poor teaching of Rule #1. RULE #4 -- IF above rules do not provide individual desires, steal it by any means it and blame society because rule #1 was not enforced. "Nobody wants to share with me" works. RULE #5 -- If all the rules still didn't provide the item desired...lie about something to get the target into trouble. The target will be punished, item will be confiscated and can be picked up at the desk. RULE #6 -- Remind everyone about rule #1. -- Anyone got any questions? -- I suspect an early divide begins at 3 or so. about the time that a child enters the realm of public education via headstart. Though I taught SHARING was a good action, I didn't make it absolute. I let my kids decide if they wanted to share or not. I taught them that sharing makes one feel good. I redirected any dissenting members to other public toys available. I taught my kids to ASK before taking ANYTHING that was not theirs, and if they asked and didn't get what they wanted, I reminded them that sharing is not absolute. Items "stolen" from their rightful owners were returned to their rightful owners. Items abandoned were fair game for a new claim and once that object was in possession, it was the temporary property of the holder. However, to eliminate a multiude of claims of absolute ownership...most objects remain the property of the "state(me)" for public use. Limited private ownership of their most prized possessions is allowable and suggested to alleviate that dreaded guilt for RULE #1 that we are constantly being reminded of. Having something that we can call ours is important...we've earned it. Good stewardship of public property often results in the aquisition of more private property. It appears to me that ENVY and all it's ugly emotional trips, is the driving force behind the liberal mind. I don't think they like envy, whether it's basis is real or perceived. They want what someone else has...LITERALLY. While it's entirely possible for them to pursue the path to obtaining their own item by earning it, there isn't any instant gratification of appeasement of that envy factor. It also appears that guilt isn't a factor either, since it can be dismissed with the SHARE rule..completely. What's sad is that once the redistribution occurs under the guise of "rights", it's even less likely to be respected. Ill-gotten goods are rarely prized. They can be discarded at will and more can be secured, using RULE #1.

Report a Violation

Al G.
Garfield, MN     02/11/2010 10:51 AM

Kay then why are so many on the left anger at the business entreprenure, who risk everything to establish a business without government subsidies, but when or if they become successful they are chastised for being rich?

Report a Violation