Lord knows I've got better things to do than argue with a rock, but I just drank some coffee at bible study and won't be able to sleep for a while anyway, so I'll address your "unrefuted facts", SH.
SH, "1. "M"COOL, as written, would result in 5% of our total U.S. beef consumption being labeled as imported."
There once was a day when Japanese autos only accounted for 5% of US sales as well. You put your head in the sand and your arse is a huge target. That number will only go up as more imports hit our shores due to this wonderful religion called free trade that our leaders have sold our souls for. Our dear own multi-national packers aren't taking up position in beef exporting areas and lobbying for laxer import laws for no reason.
SH, "2. "M"COOL, as written, is not enforceable because it demands proof of where beef was "BORN", raised and slaughtered which requires a traceback on all cattle, not just foreign cattle. Considering beef fabrication as it is currently run, an individual carcass can become 300 individual packages of beef shipped to various destinations that all need to be tracked just to segregate 5% of our total U.S. beef consumption as imported."
No problem. That has already been explained in my opening statement. Guess SH didn't like what he read so he passed over it.
SH, "3. You packer blamers claim that the large packers are hiding foreign beef behind the USDA grade stamp. Now suddenly you want to trust them to segregate foreign beef without an enforceable traceback system? Talk about hypocrisy!"
I guess you passed over where I mentioned inspectors are already at the plants.
SH, "4. The costs of "M"COOL will not be offset by the minimal benefits."
What costs? All the leg work is already done at the border. The only cost is a few more inspectors to cover the added work load of keeping the packers honest.
SH, "5. If you are going to segregate your product to the benefit of that product YOU HAVE TO SEGREGATE YOUR PRODUCT FROM SOMETHING, not a measly 5% of our total U.S. beef consumption."
Once again, 5% today, what about next year, 5 years from now, 10, 20? Do you wait until the blizzard hits before you get the cows to shelter, or do you do it when you see the clouds coming?
SH, "6. Consumers are not asking for it. If they were, they could purchase source verified branded beef products without another stupid flawed government mandate. "
I have to laugh at this excuse. Why does the checkoff try to come up with new products? Why don't they just wait for the consumers to ask for something? That sure would be easier. Did the consumers ask for CAB? That program seems to be working well and profiting producers. What kind of a businessman waits until consumers ask for something? Did consumers ask Henry Ford to put a motor on a buggy?
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Sandhusker, you will have to ask the CAB people and the Ford people if they brought their "new products" without doing consumer research to determine if there was a demand for them. Does it make sense as a banker that they would be that foolish?
The Beef Checkoff leaders do such research before deciding to bring out a new product, and STILL not all of them are instant hits with the consumer! Why don't you spend some time learning more about what is being done with the Beef Checkoff? There isn't enough money in the program to adequately inform producers who do not want to know so they can self-justify their complaints, and a few volunteers like myself cannot cover all the bases either.
MRJ
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SH, "7. During "M"COOL listening sessions, many retailers and packers of all shapes and sizes testified against "M"COOL due to the cost/benefit concerns. Ironically, it would be the large packers that would be able to comply more easily. "
The packers want the only brand loyalty to be the house label, nothing else. The want to dictate what will be provided. They've invested a lot of time and money in setting up foreign supplies to handle US consumers and US consumers wanting and being able to choose US beef over product from their cheaper foreign suppliers is not to their benefit. Retailers are against it a they are going to sell the beef anyway, and things run smoother with less product lines, choices, etc.... It's easier planning inventory and shelf space.
SH, "8. Consumers place far more emphasis on price than country of origin. "
Of course price is a valid concern. However, billions of dollars are spent on advertising campaigns on multitudes of products because business people know that price is not the only factor. Image, trends, health, patriotism, sex etc.... also sell. Pick about any top selling brand name in most any product at the supermarket and I'll about guarantee you there is a cheaper brand available that does not sell as well.
SH, "9. R-CULT's statement that "M"COOL could be administrated like the school lunch program is a bold faced lie. Qualifications for the school lunch program are totally different. An animal that was born in Canada and fed and processed in the U.S. qualifies for the school lunch program but not "M"COOL. Another R-CULT lie."
R-CALF is not lying. They said the school lunch program could be a model. They did not say the two programs were identical as SH leads one to believe. For someone who's self-proclaimed only bias is the truth, you think he would actually seek it from time to time.
SH, "10. New Zealand lamb, when sold side by side with U.S. lamb, outsold U.S. lamb due to "novelty" status."
You just provided another example that proves your point #8 is just a smoke screen. Thanks for the help, SH. Guess you trapped yourself again.
SH, "11. Canadian beef and Mexican beef, which would dominate that measly 5% of our total beef consumption, would not be a consumer deterrant due to the quality of Canadian beef and the fact that a high percentage of our population is hispanic."
What, helping me debunk #8 again? You just don't know when to stop, do you? Thanks, but it's easy enough for me to shoot holes in your anti-producer packer backing without your help. Maybe a little of that advertising from the checkoff would be good way to combat this? That is unless you don't think advertising works which would make you anti-checkoff.
Man, this was easy. I think I'm going to see if there is any cake left in the kitchen. I need a challenge - maybe the frosting is sticking to the pan.
