I once got a letter, through the Southland Times, from a disgruntled farmer who felt that I was too critical of dairying practices.
I wish he'd read this first! He'd have changed his tune about my gentle missive.
Cactus Kate blasts farmers from the point of view of a businesswoman and she's not withdrawn her claws first!
9 comments:
Wow!!
I have a new hero, she's green and spiky!
I am aware some farmers have their faults, and some do moan at little to nothing in regards their problems. BUT some don't and don't deserve Cactus holier than thou snipping.
Yes farming lobby etc is way too powerfull BUT who gives them the power arnt they the ones who really should be answerable re National Govt to pandering to thier needs.
Some farmers do not deserve the snipping writers like cactus gives them.
I do think the banks do need take more responsibility for the farming debt problems. They openly and vigorously encouraged them to get into debt away above what under normal let alone abnormal ( drought) conditions)to manage such debt. These worms of our society (bank employees and other power brookers) openingly encourged and pushed the prices of land away above realistic values as did successive govts do so by encouraging overseas speculators etc to come in and purchase productive NZ land.
I think Cactus Kate is being holier than thou in her snipping When farmers get into severe economic trouble ( often through not any fault of the farmer )and yes as do some small and large business in our community. It doesn't just effect the farmer in the loss it will effect his family and possible his community.
If banks ( thanks to overpaid smart ass employees) are quick enough to push people into debt which they should have shown more scrutiny with. Banks then should take some of the losses on board by helping and finding ways for the the debtor to try and manage their way out of the debt incurred to all involved satisfaction.
Ha!
And she knows the importance of water!
Pauline - Cactus Kate is not famous for using tact. Here she shows why.
The points you make are good.
I wondered if Kate's post might provoke some response.
"Federated Fuckwits". Love it!
Toad!
A gleeful amphibian!
Unique!
"I think Cactus Kate is being holier than thou in her snipping When farmers get into severe economic trouble ( often through not any fault of the farmer )and yes as do some small and large business in our community. It doesn't just effect the farmer in the loss it will effect his family and possible his community".
And the point being that farmers are no different than any other business that goes out of business in a community. If they are bad businesspeople they won't survive. Just because they own land doesn't make a difference. A better businessperson will come along and buy it.
I wasn't referring to all farmers. Some farmers are very successful and are making a shedload of cash. No stories about them though are there? Fongterra and FF's don't want New Zealanders thinking they are all too rich.
You're a bit prickly Cactus Kate, but you've got the juice on farming right there.
Drought, deluge and snow-proofing would seem to me to be basic requirements for farming, especially where livestock are concerned. I empathise with those farmers who simply can't. Not so much for those who could.
When you have farmers on the West Coast purchasing centre pivot irrigaters for the occasional 3 week dry spell (very occasional), and you consider that these things cost something like 10 grand a metre, you suddenly realise that some of these guys have a lot more money than sense.
(Or very small penises)
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