results

[chaffmeister]

Isn't it a pity that you guys (remember, I'm not a farmer) have to vote one way or another on the CWB - WITH NO REAL KNOWLEDGE OF WHETHER THE INSTITUTION WORKS OR NOT! IT COULD BE A TOTAL MESS BUT NO ONE OUT THERE KNOWS!

GUYS ARE OUT THERE VOTING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ON GUT FEEL, PHILOSOPHY, EMOTION, PERSUASION, WHATEVER. BUT NOTHING AS CONCRETE AS FACTS.

IF THIS WAS A TRUE CORPORATION, AND YOU WERE TRUE SHAREHOLDERS THERE WOULD BE FULLER DICLOSURE (ENRON ET AL EXCEPTED). OR HEADS WOULD ROLL. OR YOU'D SELL YOUR STOCK IN FAVOUR OF ANOTHER ENTERPRISE - ONE YOU HAD FAITH IN. (sound like a choice? It should.)

I WONDER HOW MANY GUYS DIDN'T VOTE BECAUSE OF THE "I JUST DON'T KNOW" FACTOR. (Which is different than the "I just don't care" factor.)

HOW CAN YOU VOTE "FOR" OR "AGIN" SOMETHING IF YOU DON'T HAVE A FRIGGIN' CLUE WHETHER ITS OF ANY VALUE? WHO'S RIGHT: AGSTAR AND VADER OR TOM4CWB? WHO KNOWS.

The true irony here is that most farmers voting in support of the single desk are doing so because of the persuasive powers of a very few combined with a weak conviction of their own. Or a strong conviction of their own based on rhetoric and platitudes.

And that, my friends and neighbours, is the true injustice of the CWB.

Freedom of Information - bring it on.

[parsley]

Firstly, a sincere thank you to all those farmers who ran as candidates in this election. It is a lot of work and time away from your families and both your time and work is a committment to agriculture, and to all of us.

Secondly, congratulations to the all the farmers who won in their districts. Each of you were elected by fellow farmers. Now, your work really begins in a divided farm-community.

The farm commutity includes, and I'll use Vader's number, 40% of farmers supporting a minority marketing-choice position, (and that percentage of course, is debatable).

40% of the people who voted want to have the option to market their own grain.

This minority position is not negotiable, any more than the Bloc's view of Canadian Confederation is negotiable.

This Minority Marketing Choice
position continues to advance, while the monopoly marketing argument slowly continues to diminish in support.

As our Western culture continues to provide its' citizens with more and more choice, and freedom, I need to pick the business partners I want to represent me, and what I grow.

Nor do I want to have what I grow represented by, or associated with, farmers who refer to their fellow farmers, as "TIE EM BEHIND MY HORSE AND DRAG THE B--TARDS UP AN DOWN THE STREET AS LONG AS I LIKE" .(Refer to the thread "Harper's Surprise")

Regional CWB marketing remains viable for those who chose to participate, but some farmers do not want the Board as a marketing partner, just as Creston-Wyndell farmers didn't want to deal with the Board.

Creston-Wyndell farmers were advantaged by a minority position, and bypassed all Wheat Board marketing and pooling for years before that region was ever taken out of the Designated Area.

Minority positions are here to stay in our diverse country, our diverse cultures, and our diverse relationships, and we must work towards building a farm community that does not reject numerous factions working on different projects in various ways.

One size no longer fits all.

Parsley

[craig]

As a free market supporter I am disappointed with the election results. While we can put any slant you want on it, the reality is there are still a large number of producers who want to retain the CWB and that side of the argument has manged to convince them that their choice is all or nothing. Going forward I feel it is even more important to continue to point out those areas where the CWB fails. While many will continue to fight for that elusive open market, I would feel much more comfortable operating under a CWB that delivers what it claims or implies it does. The climate for implementing change is still before us. Let's not pass up the opportunity we currently have.

[JohnKenneth]

great perspective craig. i frequently find myself in the tough position of having to point out where the cwb fails, yet in a tone/using words that doesn't offend those who support continuation of the monopoly. i have a lot of direct experience using the ppo contracts, and trying to stickhandle around the sticky delivery policy, so i'm always getting asked what to do, and how. the why is so-right-there, but where people quit listening. it's really too bad farmers care so much about cwb policy, because it gets in the way of productive discussion about maximizing profitability, and causes many to make poor marketing decisions.

where do we go from here? i agree we're still on the path to better opportunities, but i'm so sick of all the rhetoric that this vote and any/all to come will generate. why debate? why not just move forward? why can't we all look to the pulse canadas and canola councils of our world to see just how much more can be done without a monopoly, the federal transfers and top-heavy administration? why not just work harder to get a better price using the tools we have - which are many, the majority of which are simply poorly utilized or not well understood.

elections and votes are not only useless in this environment, they are divisive, distracting and the fuel of the same emotions that continually cause us to make poor marketing decisions.

shame on the manitoba government for perpetuating this waste of time, money and energy.

[liberty]

I concur with Craig.

Like it or not, demographics have an influence in this debate. Many farmers today are of the older generation and they grew up in the era of big government socialism and the CWB. It's all they have ever known and they seem set to stymie change every step of the way.

I doubt that anyone is going to convince these closet socialists (and I know many of them) that substantive change is necessary and beneficial. The CWB voting system is set up to give these leftist, parochial interests a dominant position.

In the short term, all we can hope for is that Chuck Strahl keeps up the pressure on these regressive forces. If the CWB continues to insist on waging war on the man who is legally their boss, then this organization seems doomed to tear itself apart with infighting. At this juncture, I really couldn't care less if it does. This is the kind of thing that happens when the state takes control of the economy.

[parsley]

You sound like a little old lady in 1929 who was informed she could not vote because she was not legally designated as a person.

So, she decided to try harder to sway the way her husband voted, because that was a much more comfortable way to work within the existing political system.

She gave up trying to get a vote, feeling "it is even more important to continue to point out those areas where 'male-voting-only' fails".

She instead resorted to having a good bawl every four or so years when only all-men were elected as MP's.

feel it is even more important to continue to point out those areas where the CWB fails

Uh huh.

Parsley

[parsley]

You sound like a little old lady in 1929 who was informed she could not vote because she was not legally designated as a person.

So, she decided to try harder to sway the way her husband voted, because that was a much more comfortable way to work within the existing political system.

She gave up trying to get a vote, feeling "it is even more important to continue to point out those areas where 'male-voting-only' fails".

She instead resorted to having a good bawl every four or so years when only all-men were elected as MP's.

feel it is even more important to continue to point out those areas where the CWB fails

Uh huh.

Parsley

[SASKFARMER3]

Dwayne Anderson Looses No surprise the guy did a Flaman run on changing the system then once you get your first check you just do the same as before.
In our area it was clear early on that people were pissed at the man not what he stands for. Farmers are sick and tired of empty promises and Dwayne was a casualty of that.
I also agree that a large number of people are voting on gut response to some of the things the conservatives are doing on this matter. But also lots didn't vote because the CWB needs to show us how it works for us not just tell us it works.

[northfarmer]

Henry Vos is a successful farmer snd businessman.....he is also open to change.....his on farm epxerience, his direct involvement in leadership roles in the industry(WCE, ACPC, seed industry)will serve us well...

... our farming operation voted for him and it is gratifying that Macklin no longer speaks for the farmers of my region.....

There is no question where Macklin stood on the issues of the day at the CWB and his defeat should send a clear message that change and freedom for farmer to chhose how thay market their grain are what is needed.....

[wedino]

Vader >>60 per cent of the popular vote went to the single desk side - pretty strong endorsement<<

Quebec requires a 67% majority to impose a compulsory marketing board.