The "ranchers are good stewards" myth!

[Ithaca 37]

"In truth, ranchers are fighting an impossible battle against the natural limitations of the landscape. The West is not only an arid region but one in which annual precipitation varies widely. The amount of precipitation that falls in a year is directly reflected in the amount of grass production, meaning that forage quantity varies widely from year to year as well. This makes it very difficult for ranchers to maintain a stable business operation while also managing herds so as not to damage the land."

Scroll down to the welfare ranching book with the fatass cowboy on the cover and click on "Selected articles and photographs are available online. You can also click here to buy Welfare Ranching at a discount." You'll find the above quote in the article titled "Myth: Ranchers are good stewards..." Terrific reading!

http://www.publiclandsranching.org/

Click on this for lots of great reading!:

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1">[ 05-03-2003 22:58: Message edited by: Ithaca 37 ]</font>

 

[JoseCuervo]

You mean this book???

That is great, combining Welfare Ranching with Fat-Assed ATV Riding and now we just need a picture of a Big Forked Horn, good eating and we'll have the triple crown.

er

 

[Ithaca 37]

Take a look at this picture with the fence down the middle!

http://www.sw-center.org/swcbd/Programs/grazing/index.html

 

[JoseCuervo]

That is a great picture, but I don't see the problem...

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>The San Francisco river in the Gila National Forest. On the right shows a recovering riparian zone after cattle have been removed for 10 years. On the left, cattle had just been fenced out after Center suit to protect endangered species.

photo by Shane Jimerfield
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

[Ithaca 37]

This might be an easier link to work with. Everyone should read these articles!

http://www.publiclandsranching.org/htmlres/wr_welfareranching.htm

 

[Leanwolf]

Okay, so we get rid of the evil welfare ranchers, welfare farmers, and welfare outfitters -- certainly an admirable and honorable goal! -- but I don't see anyone here clamoring and screaming to get rid of WELFARE, PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Literally TRILLIONS of taxpayers' $$$$$$ have been taken from us, to hand out to every kind of WELFARE cheat and bum and manipulator and system-beater in the country. In addition,literally, thousands of illegal aliens, pour across our borders every month, to suck from that Great Taxpayers' Teat, while millions of WORTHLESS CITIZENS, who are lazy, irresponsible, thieving cheats, malcontents, and Marxist Socialist slackers, laughingly and incessantly swill and feed at the Taxpayers' Never-Empty Trough, sucking dry the very essence of our hard work. Money that should be used for us and our families, money FOR WHICH WE WORKED, goes to these leeches.

So, let's not be raving hypocrites here, boys and girls. Ban "welfare" for the evil ranchers and farmers and outfitters... and, ban welfare for all the others, too!

Ban one: Ban all!

How about it???? Let's be fair and equitable about this, now..... Who's on board on this board????

L.W.

 

[Ithaca 37]

L.W., That's fine with me, but I have my hands full with the welfare ranchers and resource extraction industry, so why don't you work on the rest of them?

I choose to direct my efforts at issues that affect our hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation.

 

[Washington Hunter]

Leanwolf, I would have to agree with you on that one. Get rid of any and all welfare. Good point!

 

[BigHornyRam]

Sink or swim time boys and girls. I'm with you guys on banning all welfare and subsidies. Everything from agriculture to education. Everyone pays fair value starting today!

Paul

 

[ELKCHSR]

Works for me!!!

 

[Lostagain]

And don't forget to get rid of all those WELFARE pieces for those importer/exporters.

 

[Ithaca 37]

Lost, What are some ways importers are subsidized?

 

[JoseCuervo]

Lost,

Are you referring to the 29% tariff that the Bush administration slapped on the importing of Softwoods from BC? That does not seem to be welfare of the importers, but rather a huge contribution to the government for funding welfare for others.

I have honestly never heard of welfare importers. I do think there is much for Welfare Exporters. An example of Welfare Exporters are the grain farmers in Montana and Northern Idaho who get their grain shipped, for export, to Portland via barge from Lewiston. Their transportation costs are hugely subsidized by the US Army Corp of Engineers.

I think this would be a form of welfare exporters, and I agree, let's stop it today. And by doing so, I will have more Steelhead and Salmon in My Own Private Idaho.

 

[1_pointer]

Hey, I'll agree to!

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> The amount of precipitation that falls in a year is directly reflected in the amount of grass production <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Not entirely true. Timing of precipitation is important for grasses, they need it during the growing season to have much benefit.

 

[BigHornyRam]

I am serious. We shouldn't pick and choose which subsidies to get rid of. All or none. Everyone shares the pain, not just the rancher. This means the CRP program. Student loans, public grants, government jobs that don't pay their own way, first time home loans, medical care for geezers, senior passes to National Parks, foreign aid, and on and on.

This will effect everyone here to some degree. Most of you will be net losers. Not me, so let's get on with it.


Paul

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1">[ 05-05-2003 06:49: Message edited by: Paul C ]</font>

 

[JoseCuervo]

Do we include National Defense?

Do we include government research that helps fund "orphan drugs"?

 

[Washington Hunter]

One program that some may view as welfare, is the CRP, and that is one I wouldn't want to see go away. What do you think Paul?

 

[Washington Hunter]

Paul, one more thing...you mentioned education. I agree with that. I don't know if you're serious, or being a little sarcastic there, but I don't think the government needs to be in the education business. Make it all private. Kids would get a better education and parents would be paying for the education their children are getting, rather than everybody else.

 

[MarlandS]

"Sink or swim time boys and girls. I'm with you guys on banning all welfare and subsidies. Everything from agriculture to education. Everyone pays fair value starting today"

But Paul, that would involve personal responsibility, tsk tsk tsk we can't have that now can we?

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1">[ 05-05-2003 00:45: Message edited by: MarlandS ]</font>

 

[ELKCHSR]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> Do we include National Defense? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
This, Firefighters, and police are a needed must in any society. There are some things to keep a country running properly is a must. I don't say this because I am or have been in two of these three catagories. I can find some thing else. These are not handouts.