Guebert nails it
The article by Alan Guebert in the October 20 edition of the Producer was simply outstanding. Perhaps it was special for me because I could identify with a lot of what he said.
During the last period of inflation, 1980s, many of the same discussions as now were going on. I remember an economist writing that a simple way of lowering inflation would be for governments to abolish proprietary patents. The problem is the benefactors of these programs are also the ones who donate generously to political campaigns.
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In my case I had a problem with a hydraulic pump on a tractor. The price at the dealer was $45. I phoned a dealer for these pumps and was quoted $150, so I asked him to order it for me. He called the next morning and said, “I can’t sell you that pump, you have to buy it from the dealer”.
I would suggest that our problems still today are that too many folks are making too much money and not doing anything to produce the merchandise. Why should the wholesale price be doubled when I buy retail? Thanks to proprietary patents these folks can charge whatever without having designed, produced or researched the making of the merchandise. I also liked the sound of a trickle up economy.
On another matter; one of your editors had an excellent column right at harvest time about the importance of journalists ensuring their sources of news are reliable. This means they must also be knowledgeable with their subjects. Unfortunately, I have had occasion to comment to our local TV station because they had an interview with a “farm organization” about the proposed fertilizer cutbacks. I pointed out to this reporter that his information was incorrect and the point of the interviewee was not to inform but to make the government look bad.
I would suggest that it is necessary to point out mistakes the government makes, but it should be based on fact.
I appreciate the reliable information in the Western Producer.
Horst Schreiber
Ohaton, Alta.
