Dave, Excellent analysis and data. Would you be comfortable with me
fowarding your note to Senator Hillory? She has asked me for farmer-based
data to contrast with her processor input. And then, Dave, your my choice
for President of the United Farmers of America! Are you ready?
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gneisers" <bonniedave@dotnet.com>
To: <graze-l@witt.ac.nz>
Sent: Sunday, December 26, 2004 4:10 PM
Subject: Re: [Graze-l] Dairy farmers to slaughter cows
> >And Jim, 90% of those AG imports to the US are subsidized by the
exporting
> >government to keep their Farmers and AG industries alive and well,
clearly
> >aware that our greedy, monopolistic food processors here have 'purchased'
> >enough of our congressional Reps to eliminate both quality standards and
any
> >concern for the health of their own country's agricultural life. Jim, how
> >would you get us 'independent' folks to organize, and fight this economic
> >obscenity? Dick Conklin
>
>
> For an insider's look at how the Congress and Senate (Democrat and
> Republicans alike) operate under the influences of assorted lobby groups,
> read "A National Party No More" by Sen. Zell Miller.
>
> Not only did outgoing Health Secretary Tommy Thompson raise serious
> concerns over terrorist threats to the US food supply, Sen. Miller
details
> similar terrorist opportunities on pages 153-155.
>
> 95% of all products imported to the US arrive through our 361 sea ports.
> There are well over 6 million inbound shipping containers. Less than 2%
of
> these shipping containers are inspected. And less than 1% of all food
> product imports are inspected.
>
> Even with the passage of the Maritime Transportation Act in Nov. 2002,
> inspection will not cover many more than the 2% inspected now. The US
> Coast Guard has estimated it will take over $1 billion per year just to
> meet the MTA baseline mandates.
>
> What this amounts to is a big whopping taxpayer subsidy for companies
> profiting by imports. When your Congressman holds his town meetings,
> bring this to his attention. The US consumer would be far better served
> with locally raised, safe food, which would create more marketshare for
US
> grazed beef, hogs, dairy products, lamb and chickens.
>
> At the very least, the import companies should be paying 100% for port
> inspections instead of a taxpayer subsidy.
>
> Dave G.
>
>
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