Quote: “Oh, who's this "WE" again? Who do you think you speak for? Other packer victims and import blamers?”
Since these types of terms are thrown around so freely, I think its time some researched the history of their own organizations! Here are a few things from my notes, there are many more examples. I am not taking sides in this issue but am pointing out to some, the fact that their organization has a history of doing what they are accusing others of!
The NCBA has gone through several name changes since its start. Among the listed reasons this cattle organization was started: “restriction of competing imports, continued access to public lands, restrictions on packer monopoly and collusion.”
(note: wow, blamers and protectionists!)
Among their achievements: “Among the great legislative victories for the Association were the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921, the Counter-Cyclical Meat Import Act of 1979“
From their history:
In 1916, the national convention was held in El Paso, Texas. With World War I raging in Europe and the eminence of American involvement, cattlemen were torn between their patriotism for country and their disdain for packers. Some believed the wild fluctuations in the market were intentionally caused by the “Beef Trust.” “Beef Trust” was the name given to the “Big Five” packers, Swift, Armour, Morris, Cudahy, and Wilson, who were making unprecedented profits.
At the urging of the Market Committee of the American National Live Stock Association, the Federal Trade Commission conducted a study that was presented to President Woodrow Wilson in July 1919. It was terribly damaging to the packers and could have resulted in criminal charges.
The packers then proposed what was called “The Consent Decree.” In it, they admitted no guilt but did consent to the following, among other things:
(note: Trust them as they always play fair!)LOL!
To sell all their holdings in public stockyards
To sell all their interests in stockyard railroads and terminals
To sell all their interests in market newspapers
To dispose of all their interests in public cold storage warehouses
To forever disassociate themselves from the retail meat business
To forever disassociate themselves from wholesale groceries
To submit perpetually to the jurisdiction of the U.S. District
Court under an injunction forbidding conspiracy or monopoly.
“While trying to keep the doors open for beef exports, cattlemen pushed for higher tariffs on imported hides and leather goods—another battle which they lost, because urban consumers in the East had more votes in Congress than did western cattlemen.
(darn protectionists!)
Foot and mouth disease was a fear for much of the last century. In 1947, the Association was successful in getting killed the Argentine Sanitary Treaty, which had been pigeonholed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for 12 yr.
That treaty, first proposed in 1935, would have allowed beef imports from areas of Argentina declared free of foot and mouth disease. The Association claimed this was strictly an animal health issue, although proponents claimed it was a non-tariff barrier.
(Oh no! Only R-calf does things like that!)
During the 1950s and 1960s, the term “Trade Not Aid” became popular with editorial writers, but not with cattlemen. Economists estimated that beef imports were depressing the market and costing U.S. cattlemen $0.03/kg on live cattle. It was not until 1964 that the Association was able to get a law limiting beef imports.
(note: Darn protectionists!)
But that law was flawed. It allowed imports up to 7.5% of domestic production. So, in periods such as 1975–1977,when the United States had record production and liquidation,
the law allowed imports to increase and further depress prices. In 1978, inflation began to get out of control and President Jimmy Carter, feeling pressure from consumer activists, opened the gates to imports, which triggered a $0.22/kg drop in fat cattle prices.
(note: geeze, according to some here, it should have added value and raised prices!)
I can provide much more of NCBA history. It is parallel to what R-Calf is doing today. I am not saying that it is right or wrong, I am saying that there is no need for someone to stick their
[email protected] labels on others who share the same history! It is the weakest form of arguement there is. It tells me the person doing the labeling is desperate and has nothing else!