Dairy gets squeezed by the feds

The Seattle Times ^ | 1 June, 2005 | Danny Westneat

[afnamvet]

I too was raised on a ranch/dairy. The dairy was grade "B" as we had chillers only for the milk cans. The creamery co-op truck would come twice a day to pick up our cans. It was a great life back then...and the smells were OK.

[Red Badger]

I remember the guy who used to pick up the milk cans and put them on the truck had the biggest arms I've ever seen. No steroids in that bod..........

[Feiny]

I hate corporate welfare & protectionism. The feds have no business doing this....but somehow that never stops them.

[afnamvet]

Yep, ours too....huge arms. He would pull 'em up with one hand, swing the can and place it. Amazing strength.

[Feiny]

I don't care who you are...thats funny.

[eastforker]

Please read some of my post down thread.

[Feiny]

The problem is not lack of oil drilling, but the lack of refineries. The enviro-nuts have not allowed a new refinery to built in over 25 years.

[Red Badger]

He was also a mail truck driver (long haul, at night) I used to wonder if this guy ever slept!.............

[eastforker]

True but that has no reflection on oil prices, supply and demand dictate that. we do not import gasoline.

[Feiny]

I did & still don't think the feds should be involved. It is that silly little lack of constitutional power thing.

[Feiny]

Yes, but if we had more refineries to process the oil to gas, the supply would increase thereby lowering the prices.

[eastforker]

Our food supply must be secure, a free market with free trade on imports does not do that.

[eastforker]

No, oil prices are a world market, has no influence on the ability to refine.

[Feiny]

What kind of milk comes from a forgetful cow?
Milk of Amnesia

[Feiny]

Then, why did the gas prices spike after the big refinery explosion/fire a few months back?

[Feiny]

I wrote gas prices...not oil prices.

[eastforker]

Ok thats cute, but, our food supply must never be dependent on conglomorations or imports, the small farmer must be able to survive to ensure our existence.

[eastforker]

Well gas prices are influenced by oil prices right?

[TChris]

Farmers and ranchers are typically very conservative... until you talk about their farm/ranch. Then, the quasi-socialist tradition of government price controls and handouts are -- pardon the pun -- sacred cows. I'm personally all for good ol' capitalist competition at that level just like every where else.

[Feiny]

The small farmer in this story IS the one getting screwed.