Government Owned & Managed Farms

[emkay64]

"This is one of the reasons I laugh at people who live in cities, lol. Every person who lives in a big city is dependent on the Government for their survival from one degree to another. This is why people who live in cities tend to be very liberal/socialist while people who live in the country are conservative. Conservative people tend to be very self-reliant, while liberals/socialists want the Government to do everything for them."

I don't think I deserved that...but whatever. I've lived on or around farms my whole life. I have family that produces beef, pork, buffalo and chicken, and I know how to garden..but I love how you felt the need to attack. Of course we're capable of farming our own...I'm just saying that with a shortage..this may become difficult, with farming dying as Anna mentioned. Why do you immediately make assumptions about my political views or what I'm capable of doing?

 

[Times]

Government employees don't pay taxes?

No they do not pay even one cent in taxes.

Tax revinue "gains" are when the Government collects a "new" dollar. A Government employee is paid from taxes already collected so when they give back some of the tax funds, there is no "gain" to the Government because the Government supplied 100% of the funds in the paycheck in the fist place.

Consider it this way, if you give me 2 dollars, then I give you back 1 dollar out of the two, did you make money or lose money?

And complain about the post office if you like. I've never missed a water bill or electric bill in the mail yet. So what happens if the post office goes under? Do we like, not get mail anymore?

And they do such a great job delivering your electric bill and lose money at the same time, lol.

I honestly have not paid any bills through the mail for a very, very long time. If the postal service were to end tomorrow, I would not see a single negative result in my life.

 

[RaE]

No they do not pay even one cent in taxes.

Tax revinue "gains" are when the Government collects a "new" dollar. A Government employee is paid from taxes already collected so when they give back some of the tax funds, there is no "gain" to the Government because the Government supplied 100% of the funds in the paycheck in the fist place.

Consider it this way, if you give me 2 dollars, then I give you back 1 dollar out of the two, did you make money or lose money?

And they do such a great job delivering your electric bill and lose money at the same time, lol.

I honestly have not paid any bills through the mail for a very, very long time. If the postal service were to end tomorrow, I would not see a single negative result in my life.

Snaf, or teachers, or anybody that works in a federal penitentiary or for the post office... can you confirm or deny tj's claim? Do you or don't you pay taxes?

 

[IWS]

Snaf, or teachers, or anybody that works in a federal penitentiary or for the post office... can you confirm or deny tj's claim? Do you or don't you pay taxes?

It seems I don't pay taxes, either.

I had this debate with TJ a long time ago. There's no convincing him of any other thinking.

I understand what he's saying from a basic, simplistic, elementary thought process, but in the bigger picture it doesn't hold water.

 

[hugo]

It seems I don't pay taxes, either.

I had this debate with TJ a long time ago. There's no convincing him of any other thinking.

I understand what he's saying from a basic, simplistic, elementary thought process, but in the bigger picture it doesn't hold water.

It is a ridiculously stupid claim. You provide a valuable service and your income is taxed just like the rest of us.

 

[hugo]

Thanks Hugo. Let me clarify:

Australia is actually one of the world’s largest exporters of dairy, barley, wheat, beef, wine, sugar and lamb.

I'll also clarify my former 'etc etc etc etc' : + rising demand (driven by economic growth in developing countries) + the increased production of biofuels (reducing the availability of crops for food and feed) + a string of poor seasons for a number of major agricultural producers = a local (and global) food shortage = a reason to increase Australian farmers and farmland.

Australian farms also get a raw deal in the current free trade agreement. Oz and the Farmers Federation are working to reduce unfair distortions in global trade tariffs and quotas, but they've been working on it since 2005 and the Industry saw a sharp decline in 2008. So, I'm not hopeful.

There are few problems with hunger in nations with stable governments which gaurantee civil and property rights. I have always looked at property rights as a basic civil right.

Also, Agricultural technology (like most technology) is changing and improving rapidly, but most farmers can't (or won't) keep up. There are some innovators and adapters out there, but they are fewer than the traditional old school farmers who don't want to change their life-long practices. The government, on the other hand, has the resources to implement green and innovative technologies & practices.

To finish, I do see food and healthcare as a basic human right - because they could very easily be readily available to everyone on the planet, if the 'system' worked properly.

I guess I am a bit skeptical that government run agriculture would improve efficiency.I also believe improving technology may allow further reduction in land needed for agriculture, particularly in the developed nations. I also believe farmland allowed to return to its natural state would be beneficial to the environment. Not real familiar with Australia's trade agreements but I have a growing certainty that the US is a patsy in international trade and I can easily believe other Western nations are in the same boat. Here the best solution is to renegotiate trade agreements.