"Rob Overfield" wrote in message
...

rant mode on

Yes, I guess they will by selling their farms etc... Sorry but as a country
boy whose family have been involved in farming since the year ???? this
attitude of some puzzles me. It seems that they believe "you'll never see a
poor farmer", in fact the majority of farmers cannot make a living. They
live on the breadline and put in more than they get out. Economics theory
says you cannot do this, so if you like your food to be imported (driving
the price up) or you won't pay for things like proper bread or proper bacon
(not the processed trash you see in your supermarkets) then keep on. More
farms being taken over by big organisations and more unemployment, and in
extreme cases, suicides of the poor farmers. All because we want cheap
food... eh?

rant mode off

I agree, most farmers aren't rich, but this is in spite of getting the
subsidies/compensation! There's something wrong here.
ISTM there are too many farmers chasing too little market. And in
a properly competitive market that means some farmers should
go to the wall. Unpleasant, but that's harsh economics for you.
I do not see why imported food should drive the price up. In a
truly competitive market the cheapest/best product should prevail,
whether that comes from here or abroad.

I work in manufacturing industry, remember that? It's that quaint old
thing that made this country great. I'm sick to bloody death about
hearing how farmers are treated as a 'special case' and given
handouts whilst nobody gives a flying **** about manufacturing
industry. Foot & Mouth disease? Tough ****, that's one of the risks
of the trade they are in. They should have taken out insurance.
If a factory burns down you are expected to be insured against it.
I don't see why the government should come and bail you out!

You know, since 1999 I have been through 4 periods of redundancy
at the company I work for. Who cares about that, where's the
compensation to help us through difficult trading conditions?

I would quite happily see most of the British countryside returned
to it's natural wilderness state of forest if farming was no longer
viable here. it would be great for wildlife if nothing else, given that
intensive farming since the war has done so much to destroy
natural habitats.

Col
--
Bolton, Lancashire.
160m asl.
http://www.reddwarfer.btinternet.co.uk