[Renegade 13]

Originally posted by deccan:

quote:

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Originally posted by Renegade 13:

Have you ever met a farmer or a rancher??

Until I saw this part, I thought you might be one of those rich people!!

1)

You obviously mean an AMERICAN farmer or rancher. No I haven't met an AMERICAN farmer or rancher but I have met African and Chinese (as in mainland China) farmers.

And sorry, but to me, this falls under "no sympathy for people who believes that society owes it to them to maintain the lifestyle and neighborhood they've always known."

Small-scale farming in rich countries is simply uneconomic unless supported by trade-distorting subsidies.

2)

I am relatively well off by Malaysian standards, but I wasn't born that way. Whenever I go back to my old neighborhood to visit, I find that the people who haven't grown out of it are those who are too unambitious, too stupid or too stubborn to make a serious go at changing their lives for the better.

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First, I was refering to Canadian farmers or ranchers, although there may be no real difference. And I concede your point that society does not owe it to people to maintain their lifestyle or neighborhood that they've always known. But as for your next point, I think that small-scale farming/ranching can be economical, even without subsidies. (By small-scale I mean in the 1000-2500 acre size range.) I also believe it is a sad day when all manufacturing, farming, and all other business is controlled by massive corporations, getting rid of the small-scale stuff.

Secondly, I agree with you. Those who have the will, ambition, and openness of mind to succeed usually will, although not always. Some disadvantages are simply too large to overcome.