Trouble on the Farm
Hi Neighbour!
Have you got your (Spring Planting) done?
This morning I am reminded of the dire plight of the Farmer. I can very well appreciate his situation because, at heart, I have always been one of them. At the same time, I have always been a member of the Human Race. I suppose this makes me doubly interested and concerned. In our system of social operation, money acting as a necessary medium of exchange is a vital part of life. As members of Humanity we seem to have a built-in feeling of a need for security. I believe that it is this need that urges us to accumulate what we deem is a sufficient amount of money as a commodity to draw on for a “rainy day” situation, such as retirement, unemployment, forced or otherwise, or the lack of a market for our business. These are all “rainy days” for us farmers as well as all others. Struggling to meet this requirement produces fear, anxiety and eventually ill health. Hence it is increasingly necessary, for a tranquil healthy, wholesome existence that we try to maintain this stockpile either in our chartered bank or some secure investment. This is the basis of the present dilemma not only of farmers but also of most folks who belong to the human race.
Building this stockpile presents a problem, especially for the farmer, in that, although a bushel of wheat, by international agreement will always be a bushel by volume. On the other hand a dollar does not always retain its value of one hundred cents. These facts, by observation, make the future welfare of each of us very uncertain. This, of course, adds to the stress and complexity of our lives.
Oh for some modern miracle, for an idea to facilitate the exchange of goods and services between producer and consumer that would render our idea of “money”, peacefully obsolete! Why do we need to have this trouble causing “idea”, always running and ruining our lives with anxiety and chaos?
Think on this: Money, as a medium of exchange, is essentially an accounting device to keep track of an inventory of manufactured as well as natural goods and services. “Money” decides who and how much of these things each of us can have for what price. Unfortunately money has another quality, which allows it to grow and expand just like a seed.
A kernel of corn, planted in the proper physical environment, will grow and multiply. In much the same way, “Money” too, has this property of multiplying when placed in a suitable environment for a suitable growth. However it is a fact that we are not all gifted with the knack of knowing when and where to plant our cash (seed) so that it will grow and multiply.
However, economics, represented by money tokens or promises to pay, is more of a philosophical concept than a mathematical science. In the cultivation and harvest of our money seed, we are in very strong competition with many individuals and corporations whose one aim in life and in business is to make as much money as fast as or faster than our competitor. Well this is our problem as farmers. It is also the problem of most every one else
What we are asking our government to do is to move those figures around on the ledger books so that everyone gets a more equitable share of the Nation’s wealth.
The farmers linked with the food processors, in reality, form a very essential team to maintain the nurturing of the world’s population. This team could logically be one of many coordinated industries serving humanity in a caring, sharing sort of way.
Here on my modest “Back Forty”, as I set out to begin my Spring Work, I wonder! “Why would it not be possible for me and everyone else to obtain those things, which we find necessary for our complete livelihood just by asking in the proper manner? I wonder!”
I must think about this as I get on with my spring plowing —- “Come on, Maude and Nancy, mosey on there!
What do you think?
Let me have your personal comments.
Timothy Haystubble (Grass Roots Philosopher)