Posted on 12/16/2017 2:52:14 PM PST by Kaslin
NORWALK, WIS. — Not long ago, a local farmer here plunged into a depression so intense that he could barely muster the strength to leave his bed.
The 40-something father of eight went dark for weeks, despite the enormous amount of daily work needed to keep his family farm going.
“If you are running a small farm, you still have to get up and milk the cows. You got to go put the crops in. There are demands that nature doesn’t let you forget,” explained Jerry Menn, a farmer and doctor who was familiar with his friend’s crisis. “His massive depression immobilized him. He couldn’t even get out of bed for two or three weeks. Young guy, but he got himself worked into a hole.
“It’s his wife who’s taken over the operation, and she has, let me tell you. She’s a force of nature. This woman, she gets things done. You know, eight kids, mountain of debt, but she’s out there busting her butt to make things happen.”
It could have been worse for his friend, said Menn. “Depression can lead to suicide. He’s recovered from the deeper parts but in terms of the leadership in the family, that’s now been transferred to his wife.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_tnpuaPZhk
You are correct, I receive several thousand government checks every year though the SFMNP and FMNP programs. May through Sep are all paperwork filling out deposit slips for the bank, time that should be spent in the field but I am forced to take these government checks.
I’m as much a “small government” guy as you’ll find but one thing I support is government help to small farmers who suffer as the result of drought,insects and crap products imported from Mexico,China and other 4th World cesspools.
You are NOT as much a small G. guy as you’ll find, because I, and many like me do not believe farmers deserve “government” help. “Government” help is welfare, it is the property of US citizens put into their pockets at the point of a gun.
I became politically aware in 1990 or so, and the very first thing I learned (right along with “rent control” lessons) while reading of economic freedom and liberty, was that, somehow, The American Farmer (cue dramatic, stirring music) had conned all of America for decades upon decades, to look upon The American Farmer!!! as some patriotic hero man, as opposed to a businessman absolutely indistinguishable from a businessman who opens a convenience store.
The American Farmer!!!! was somehow different, a FRICKING HERO, as described by somebody else on this thread, and this patriotic hero deserved my money... Forever.
Farmers “suffer” drought, insects, and international competition? As contrasted to the businessman who opens a barbershop, who worries about nothing, and is assured smooth sailing for the rest of his life?
I’ve been giving welfare begging farmers my money since 1980 or so, and I’m tired of it.
“The moment the idea is admitted into society, that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence. If “Thou shalt not covet,” and “Thou shalt not steal,” were not commandments of Heaven, they must be made inviolable precepts in every society, before it can be civilized or made free.”
John Adams
The difference between the two scenarios is that if the barber shop owner experiences drought,insects and Chinese imports the country's food prices don't rise to the point where groceries take up two-thirds of a family's income.
Free markets bring LOWER prices to foodstuff. Government intervention brings HIGHER prices to foodstuffs. If you do NOT believe this, you are a liberal who believes in a command economy, and the government take over of healthcare, and student loans, etc.
Unless you are prepared to explain how farming is somehow unique and different, and government intervention here is necessary and good.
By the way, it sounds like you believe that g. welfare in haircuts is a good thing, because such welfare would lower prices there, exactly like g. welfare in farming lowers grocery bills. Do I have that right?
The only difference indicated in your post is that people pay more for food than for haircuts (true) and that food is more important than haircuts (true), but your point seems to be that g. interference/welfare/control is a good thing that lowers prices.
Farming smaller spreads usually requires, the man, the wife, or both to also have a factory job of some sort in order to get by. When the factories shut down, 200 acres of soybeans isn’t enough.
Robots taking over the farm? I haven’t heard that yet. Damn Robots
Agriculture and military...Those are the 2 areas that I feel it is worth government subsidizing.
Farming is somewhat unique compared to haircutting to use the example presented.
A farmer cannot control weather conditions...and consumer will pay dearly if there is large scale scarcity of food—for whatever reason.
Like the military, food supply really is a national security issue...A fed population is a safe population...A population able to defend the country. Just look at Norks.
Also, as pretty much every other country is providing government subsidizing to agriculture, it puts our farmers at a distinct disadvantage in global markets.
An interrupted food supply is a national defense issue, so that is how it is unique.
Nope! Food is essential...haircuts aren't.
I already conceded that: I already said food is more important, but you want government intervention in haircuts, because according to you the only difference is that food is more important. In other words, g. intervention in haircuts will lower the cost of haircuts.
The implication is UNDENIABLE: the g. should run the entire economy, because the g. can lower the cost of whatever it chooses to lower.
This makes you Bernie Sanders.
Check my profile and you'll see that I have.
That's helped to shape my basic attitude toward food and farming.
Just sayin'...
Excuse me??? I don't give a rat's hindquarters what happens to barbers.I do care what happens to farmers...American farmers at least.
This makes you Bernie Sanders.
Say what??? OK,we're done.I don't argue with newcomers who won't put down the crack pipe when posting!
Adios!
Agriculture and military...Those are the 2 areas that I feel it is worth government subsidizing.
Farming is somewhat unique compared to haircutting to use the example presented.
A farmer cannot control weather conditions...and consumer will pay dearly if there is large scale scarcity of food—for whatever reason.
Like the military, food supply really is a national security issue...A fed population is a safe population...A population able to defend the country. Just look at Norks.
An interrupted food supply is a national defense issue, so that is how it is unique.
Let us dissect this nonsense....
The g. should “subsidize” the military???? No, the g. should pay for the military, as we in America, and 99% of the globe in 99% of history, have determined that the g. should indeed have a monopoly on military force.
A farmer cannot control weather conditions?????? No kidding. And a barber can control HIS market? Can control consumer preference? Can control his competitors? A farmer’s control over his market conditions is ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENT, WHATSOEVER, from anybody else’s control over his or her market conditions. PERIOD.
“consumer will pay dearly if there is large scale scarcity of food—for whatever reason.”
Again, you implication is CRYSTAL CLEAR—g. intervention will make this market run more smoothly, will ensure that there is no scarcity. THIS MAKES YOU BERNIE SANDERS. Tell me, does g. interference in the housing market in NY city ensure that there is no scarcity of housing? Trust me, before you research yourself, it does NOT. You condone the g. takeover of healthcare, too, right? Certainly a nation without healthcare is a doomed nation. This is important, unlike haircuts, and the g. must intervene to ensure that all is well, right? This makes you Obama, Hillary, AND Bernie Sanders.
“Just look at NORKS”
GOOD GOD IN HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CAN YOU BE SERIOUS?????? ARE YOU MAD??????
The NORKS are starving: you believe this is because they have a free market in food????????????? They have g. control of food, and THEY ARE STARVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the 21st century, where I can go to Taco Bell and buy 10 billion calories for .35 cents, THE NORKS ARE STARVING!!!!! Just like the Cubans and the Venezuelans. What do all these starving people have in common?
Also, as pretty much every other country is providing government subsidizing to agriculture, it puts our farmers at a distinct disadvantage in global markets.
Yes, other countries inflate the price of their food by providing subsidies. We should do the same? Increase the cost of food by providing g. subsidies.
Were you ever in the military? If you were, do you remember the blocks of cheese labeled “Provided by the US Government”? I remember them, and I learned a lesson from them.
Agriculture and military...Those are the 2 areas that I feel it is worth government subsidizing.
Farming is somewhat unique compared to haircutting to use the example presented.
A farmer cannot control weather conditions...and consumer will pay dearly if there is large scale scarcity of food—for whatever reason.
Like the military, food supply really is a national security issue...A fed population is a safe population...A population able to defend the country. Just look at Norks.
An interrupted food supply is a national defense issue, so that is how it is unique.
Let us dissect this nonsense....
The g. should “subsidize” the military???? No, the g. should pay for the military, as we in America, and 99% of the globe in 99% of history, have determined that the g. should indeed have a monopoly on military force.
A farmer cannot control weather conditions?????? No kidding. And a barber can control HIS market? Can control consumer preference? Can control his competitors? A farmer’s control over his market conditions is ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENT, WHATSOEVER, from anybody else’s control over his or her market conditions. PERIOD.
“consumer will pay dearly if there is large scale scarcity of food—for whatever reason.”
Again, you implication is CRYSTAL CLEAR—g. intervention will make this market run more smoothly, will ensure that there is no scarcity. THIS MAKES YOU BERNIE SANDERS. Tell me, does g. interference in the housing market in NY city ensure that there is no scarcity of housing? Trust me, before you research yourself, it does NOT. You condone the g. takeover of healthcare, too, right? Certainly a nation without healthcare is a doomed nation. This is important, unlike haircuts, and the g. must intervene to ensure that all is well, right? This makes you Obama, Hillary, AND Bernie Sanders.
“Just look at NORKS”
GOOD GOD IN HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CAN YOU BE SERIOUS?????? ARE YOU MAD??????
The NORKS are starving: you believe this is because they have a free market in food????????????? They have g. control of food, and THEY ARE STARVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the 21st century, where I can go to Taco Bell and buy 10 billion calories for .35 cents, THE NORKS ARE STARVING!!!!! Just like the Cubans and the Venezuelans. What do all these starving people have in common?
Also, as pretty much every other country is providing government subsidizing to agriculture, it puts our farmers at a distinct disadvantage in global markets.
Yes, other countries inflate the price of their food by providing subsidies. We should do the same? Increase the cost of food by providing g. subsidies.
Were you ever in the military? If you were, do you remember the blocks of cheese labeled “Provided by the US Government”? I remember them, and I learned a lesson from them.
You lose! I win. Bye, bye....
The 80 saw huge farm foreclosures. There was Farm Aid and many concerts and musical items centered around the silent plight of farming. Yhe small farm is gone. Farmers have to have thousands of acres in crops in order to just pay the machinery costs. There is SW that uses satellite imagery to optimize planting, that programs thetractors now. It’s very high tech. Insurance, seed stock, EPA, dept of agriculture, self reightous suburbanites move in next to farm land and bitch ......
It’s a hard life. Dawn to dusk plus some. In order to survive they have to grow. Have you priced a harvester and the other equipment? Grain storage fees .....
I don’t farm btw but it’s turned into corporate farming mostly.
I am surprised that the article does not mention religion or spirituality at all.
I work with over 600 farmers on a regular basis as the firm I retired from specialized in doing the tax returns and financial advising for farmers. Virtually all of them turn to their faith in hard times.
While I currently have a farm, I am retired from it. I’ve had very severe depression in the past and it was a blessing as it forced me to make changes in my life and find God.
One thing that psychologists do not understand. Depression is an important part of spiritual growth. The drugs merely delay the process.
I was a tax law professor at Penn State in the Ag Economics Department and traveled around Pennsylvania doing Farm Tax seminars promoted through the County Extension offices.
Jimmy Carter destroyed a lot of farms with his ag loans. I handled a lot of farm disposals as a result of Carter’s programs...
Milk prices are way down and it is a tough go right now, especially if the farm is carrying debt.
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