The problem of Waste Management, the accumulation and disposal of waste products worldwide, is the number one problem among the hundred or so other problems, as I view this question from up here on my Back Forty. First of all, let us ask ourselves this question. Why do we have all of this waste?

To start with, I am sure that we make too much stuff, too many useless things. It is in the interest of the business end of our industries to persuade the consuming public to buy too much of what we do not require, as well as too much of what we do require. These things then become landfill or sewage waste. The reason the manufacturer is asked to make this surplus along with shoddy goods has to do with profits and business growth. Many of our appliances, which we are persuaded to buy whether required or not, have a built-in obsolescence. After a period of time these pieces of equipment either start to deteriorate and break down or simply become less attractive than a newer model. It does not matter that the cost to produce a better model in the first place, was only a few dollars more than the one that we now have to replace. It is Good Business to follow this line even if it does lead to the scrap metal and the landfill businesses, with which we now have problems…

Hold on there, just wait, I have not finished yet!

From the Kitchen Sink, to the Bathroom, to the Cow Barn, to the Pig Sty, science and technology have developed to the pilot stages, methods of solving these problems. The Economists, who profess to be realists as well, tell us, the people and the industries involved that, as yet and into the immediate future the costs to implement these measures is too great to consider. So we continue to pollute our water and our soil, our rivers and our lakes, with the cost to our health along with the cost to the environment continually rising. You have no doubt already read my views on the, now obsolete, use of Money in our economy.

Think on these things while I get on with my autumn harvest!

Timothy Haystubble (Grass Roots Philosopher)

We “are drowning in Our Waste”, reads the head line of a thought provoking article in the London Free Press, Aug. 8/01

This article deals with the problem of farm waste (cow and pig manure), produced in certain areas in Ontario by intensive livestock farming. As this article points out, these large projects are the properties of producers of pork and beef (meat products), as well as dairy products to supply our domestic and global markets.

This concerned writer, Lenora Perry, presents her case very convincingly but seems less sure of what can be done to alleviate this crisis.

In my view, from my Back Forty, I suggest that this presents a two-part solution. The first part depends on the democratic will of our citizens. As is being suggested, “A moratorium on intensive livestock farming”, legislated by our Ontario government, with due compensation to the farmers concerned, should go into effect immediately. In the meantime, through the unbiased media, if we have such, the consuming, eating public could be apprised of the merits of vegetarianism to replace our present mixed diet of meat and vegetables.

The second part of my solution is to enlist our science and technology, of which we have the best in the world, to devise and develop ways to safely and efficiently dispose of, or use the waste from these farming operations. What comes to my mind, regardless of the cost in loonies, is a specialized sewage system, located at each of these meat-producing operations.

I realize, using today’s economic methods, this would be a huge financial burden on us taxpayers as well as on each industry concerned. This would also increase the cost to the meat-eater of pork and beef, which he thinks is necessary, not to mention the cow’s milk and milk products for our growing families. So what now?

This brings up another question. We have the scientific knowledge, the technical skills as well as plenty of able-bodied Individuals available to do the work of installing the above-mentioned equipment. That which remains to be thought about, is a substitute for money to “pay” the workers for food, clothing, shelter, transportation, etc.

The answer to this question exists in several of my previous “Views”. See Views 10, 11,12,15,17. This is where you the readers of my Web Page, as well as tax-payers, have an opportunity to show your concern, not only for the health and welfare of you and your neighbours but our environment as well.

Now my Neighbours, I guess it is time to eat more veggies. Pass the salad bowl please!

Timothy Haystubble (Grass Roots Philosopher)

Yesterday was the era of the horse-drawn carriage, the walking plough and the grain binder. Today is the era of power, speed, competition, poverty and affluence, homeless people and mansion dwellers.

Tomorrow has a promise of a new and better day, the day for which we all yearned, but thought would never come; that day when mankind at last would be truly free.

When we draw aside the curtain we will catch a glimpse of this tomorrow, the day we had all voted for in National Referenda.

Here we see individuals in all parts of the world registering and receiving their all-new I.D. card known as their “Share Card”. This durable wallet-size card, not only replaces all other wallet cards, but also has a double purpose. It is first of all the holder’s personal identification card identifying the holder by name as well as a personal bar code as a legitimate World Citizen. As such, each person is entitled to his or her proportional share of the world’s limited resources, whether natural or fabricated, through the co-operative activity and sharing on a daily basis throughout the life of the cardholder.

Those old worn-out institutions associated with the operations of the now defunct Money Price System, such as Insurance Companies, Mortgage and Loan Institutions, as well as all National and world Banks have quietly dissolved. Their office buildings, large and small are being converted to suit the needs and functions of this new society. Those grandiose, massive public buildings formerly occupied by the many National Governments and their employees are taking on a new look to suit the various needs of this new world concept.

Everyone is experiencing a new sense of security and freedom. Gone forever are those bugaboos of Taxes, Insurances, Mortgages, etc. Those all went when we voted to abandon that idea of Money in any form in favor of a Care and Share method of distribution, using the latest in High Tec communication systems. The Computer Evolution has at last found its rightful niche in society. Industries of all kinds are being organized, operated and controlled by the people– the equipment operators, the technicians, and the professionals– in a true democratic fashion.

The street people, those down trodden Neighbours who had deserved much better, have left the streets and the gutters for those comfortable, warm beds and nutritious meals in adequate housing, created by some of those who used to be classed as the perpetually unemployed workers. Those long neglected human beings each now have his or her own “Share Card”, giving them their rightful place in society along with the rest of their neighborhood.

The abandoned slum areas are flowering with hobby gardens, for those who have longed for the feel of the good earth. Each of the several billions of Good People on this Good Earth is finding his or her own “fig tree”, under whose shade he or she can be comfortable and, yes anxious to share with others the happiness he or she has found.

Violence, Crime and International Conflicts resulting in War, now would have no place in this ‘Tomorrow”!

This vision of “Tomorrow” can become the reality of “Today”! It is up to each one of us, working with each other with this “Unification Idea” as our goal, to bring about the realization of this vision of “tomorrow”!

Timothy Haystubble (Grass Roots Philosopher)

Our country proudly boasts that we own one tenth of the world’s supply of fresh water. Certain mega corporations are now bidding for the purchase of large quantities of this water for resale abroad to some of the less fortunate people of the world who have the necessary cash to pay these water peddlers their asking price. It is presumed that if they cannot pay then they must remain thirsty and perhaps dry up and get lost in the wind of Big Business.

This commodity is one of the essential elements required for the production and sustenance of all Life. Because this essential commodity, water, is a part of life itself, it should not be used by Business whether for buying or selling. Industry alone without any help from Business can process and distribute this Natural Resource. In fact Business should have nothing to do with the use and distribution of any of the earth’s Natural Resources.

I repeat, fresh potable water is not available for purchase or for sale! As with all other resources, natural or processed, water is an essential resource to be shared with those parts of the world, where and when needed, governed by the sanction of the People in a true democratic manner.

For sure, water is not for sale, either wholesale or retail! If and when the needs are made known, then these needs can be met as a commodity to be shared with no strings attached. The only payment necessary is a heartfelt. “Thank you!”

Well, this is my View from the “Back Forty”.

What is your view from where you are?

Timothy Haystubble (Grass Roots Philosopher)

Criminal Justice: What does it mean?

I wonder how many unjust decisions, resulting in wrongful convictions, are passed through our Law Courts every year. How many completely innocent people are paying cruel penalties, perhaps with their very lives, for crimes they never even thought of committing?

Who is the sinner?

How many persons have committed crimes against one or more members of the human family and have escaped punished as prescribed by the law courts, because of monetary influence or by a favorable association with certain officials in a high place?

What is justice, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life?

I am reminded that justice can be bought, if the price is right. Jesus, our “Way Shower”, our living example, was according to the written word, bought for “Thirty pieces of silver”.

What is Justice?

We all know that Steven Truscott, an innocent youth, was wrongly sentenced some forty years ago, for a life-term prison sentence. After serving ten years he was proven innocent by a review board and quietly released without a written apology or any compensation to acknowledge the mistake made by the law courts in falsely sentencing him.

Is this Justice?

Someone had to be found guilty because this is Canada with a Justice System of judges and a twelve-person jury. This time, little Steven lacked the right financial support to avoid the punishing that was meant for someone else. I am told here on my Back Forty, that court records actually show many such cases where justice certainly was not done. I believe that Jesus pointed out the less aggressive way, the way of returning good for evil. Make it convenient for they, who have done evil against you to compensate in both a spiritual and in a material way, rendering physical service or the cash equivalent. After all, I believe that we have all sinned, in that we have not followed the letter or the spirit of the laws prescribed for us by our lawmakers.

Many of these laws are contrived by a ruling minority and therefore do not, necessarily engender benevolent consequences. It must be remembered that we are each responsible, in some way at least, for the lives and actions of our brother. This is one of the laws of Nature

So I ask the question. Am I not my brother’s keeper?

Here on my Back Forty, the answer to this question seems obvious.

There now, I have had my say, which is quite matter of fact and truly down to earth.

Let me know what do you think?

Timothy Haystubble (Grass Roots Philosopher)

Yes indeed, our society is in need of a standardized statement of “affirmation of allegiance”. As a matter of fact, I believe that this sort of thing is long overdue. What better place is there to start than in our school system, from Elementary through Secondary and beyond? However, I believe that we might well ask, to whom and to what do we affirm this allegiance? As I view it from here on my Back Forty, this. “Affirmation of allegiance” should read something like this:

I am a biological member of God’s Creation, an inseparable part of our planet’s Ecosystem. I am imbued with God’s Spirit. I am a member of the Human Race, occupying viable space as a creating, consuming, and biodiverse individual.

I affirm that each individual, whether male or female, white or colored, requires a necessary portion of the natural energy as well as the natural products of our limited biosphere. It is therefore necessary that we each learn to appreciate and share with each other according to his or her present and future needs.

I must study to learn all I can about myself as well as my Natural and Social environment so that I may be able to live a happy, purposeful life in association with other members of my environment.

In school, I must learn the value of the International Concept to complement the National Concept.

I am a member of the Human Race. Although I happen to be living in Canada, I also owe my allegiance to all of Mankind, anywhere on earth. This is a basic law of Nature, which we should learn to understand so that we can work most effectively with the rhythms of Nature as well as with the idiosyncrasies of our fellow human beings in a compassionate and albeit understanding manner.

Timothy Haystubble (Grass Roots Philosopher)

Hi, neighbour!

Yes indeed, I do get delivery of the daily newspaper. Sometimes it is late, due to an occasional bad spell of weather. I read all of the news, the news of the happenings and reader’s comments from right around home and thanks to our modern technology, from the far corners of the world. I read what the reporters have sent in for the reading public to know. Thanks to the marvels of television, I learn that not only some of my deeply concerned neighbours as well as many other concerned folks and other socially active groups are reacting with increasing alarm at the growing depravity of the morals of our society in general.

I see these justifiably concerned men and women as well as groups -organizations- mounting campaigns of reform. I see concerned and well-intentioned religious and motivational speakers with and without credentials, encouraging and pleading their listeners to adjust to the much-sanctified “Status Quo”. This, they claim, is the only way to save the plight of us simple everyday folk, those more privileged ones as well as the environment, our planet. They infer in no uncertain terms that we have erred and gone astray from the “old-time” moral dictates. This ” social environment”, which we have all helped to create, is the place where we must all live and endure for better or for worse.

I really believe that we have forgotten that Mankind and no one else created and developed the basis for our civilization. This basis, which I am referring to, is the “Money Price System” coupled with Party Politics.

This determines and controls who gets what, how much and when, of all of the goods and services generated by our various industries. We are taught to call this arrangement competitive free enterprise, the good.

I gather, from what I read in the newspaper that the chief troublemaker in our society deals with the use of Money, that commodity which the favored minority has too much of. Wars have been continually fought, but never really won, at home and abroad in order to obtain possession of the other fellow’s treasures. We have been carefully taught through many years of scarcity and human ingenuity that it has been necessary to build a stock pile, whether of money, bonds, and securities or of things that can be converted into cash, for our own personal or national security. We have also been taught that we must always struggle and compete in order to get ahead in life.

However, our science, engineering and technology have, at the beginning of this third Millennium, by and large, made our lives potentially more secure and enjoyable. Then along came the modern day, electronic miracle of the Silicone Chip, and the integrated circuit, which gave birth to the computer revolution. This has made life richer for the rich and poorer for the poor, as we embraced another way to make large profits.

However this mysterious little silicone chip, along with fiber optics and the integrated circuit, given a certain prescribed roll in a new scheme of things, can work wonders far beyond our imagination. As I thought along these lines, I imagined this lowly Little Chip replacing the use of all forms of the currency we have today. This could provide a method for distribution of any and all goods and services which we, mankind, enjoy today without any of the detrimental side effects giving us these moral problems. Those problems associated with poverty, street crimes, unemployment, broken homes, hunger, homelessness, quarrelling, as well as individuals broken in body and mind, would I believe, in time fade away, as we become adjusted to a new type of society.

By making full use of our science and technology, in a co-operative “Care and Share” environment, would go a long way to solving this moral dilemma, which is now troubling our society. This is the way I view the situation from the little cabin on my Back Forty. Yes, it is quite all right to keep on giving “aspirins” in order to temporarily relieve the aches and pains. However until we attack the seat of the trouble, we must keep on giving these “sedatives” in the vain faith that a cure may eventually result. However, it is usual that the symptoms will continue to worsen and like an epidemic spread and multiply until corrective measures are taken.

Well, this is my VIEW! Now let me hear yours! Please email me your comments.

Timothy Haystubble (Grass Roots Philosopher)

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)

Well, Here I am, back to show you another View. The current National, political debate, which should be of concern to each of us, concerns “Law and Order”. The question on the table is in effect, should we allow any foreign or domestic free enterprise interest to get control of our Prison system and at the same time organize our Police forces? To me, here at the grass roots of our civilization, this sort of thing is quite contrary to common sense, not to say our Christian Principles, which we believe, in theory, form the basis of our society.

To me, as well as many other concerned folks, this sort of thing would possibly present a wide open door to the forming of a Police State, with all of its subversive practices. Prisons should be reformed to become Correctional, Healing Institutions, rather than places for punishment, which they now are. The prevailing social thought, today, seems to be to punish anyone who is caught misinterpreting or misunderstanding some law of the land, whether just and reasonable or not. A person’s guilt or innocence is usually decided by learned arguments between two “qualified people” qualification in special schools of learning. These academies teach one how to read and interpret the complexity of the laws formulated by the political party who happened to be in power to run the country. These laws are sometimes biased against certain groups of people, who might be assumed to be in interference with the vested interests and the ideology of that party in power.

My view from here on my Back Forty shows me the necessity for law and order. The question, in my mind, is whose law or laws are we supposed to follow in order to maintain order? Did the folks like you and me have a say in the formation of these laws or rules that have been designed to run our country?

Laws are rules formulated to govern the Game of Life at which we are all engaged. This game requires the wholehearted cooperation of all of the players, each player playing his or her own particular roll. When we fail to do our part, then we should be kindly told about it and given a chance to find out what we did that was not in the script.

I am reminded of the words of Kahlil Gibran in his book “The Prophet”. In meaning he seems to say the criminal is not alone to blame for his apparent crime. His public, his environment must also share the blame. For example, we allow the manufacture of intoxicating beverages and prosecute the individual who drinks too much, becomes intoxicated and commits a crime against the law and or against another person. We allow our fertile soil to be used for the growing of tobacco. We allow Businesses to process this weed plant for consumption by people of any age to destroy their health and usefulness to family and society.

Here is another “View” to consider. The philosophy of our system seems to be based on superlatives, fastest, best, greatest and most. This creates the need in our psyche to get there first, to beat that other guy, to try to get the most in order to insure that we will have enough. Are we still living in the Jungle Age of Competition, even when our Sciences and our Technologies, working together are showing us that we no longer need to live this way? Indeed, I suggest that the answer to this question is that with the combination of these sciences and the associated technologies, we do not and perhaps should not need to compete for the necessities for a complete, secure and fulfilled life.

It is the opinion of my Grass Root friends that Industry of any kind, whether designed to produce Goods for people to use and consume, or to produce Services like Health, Education, Transportation, Communication, etc. can very well carry on producing and distributing without the supposed need for what we call Business as well as the Monetary system of Exchange.

This is my view from here.

I will be pleased to have your friendly reaction and comments.

Timothy Haystubble (Grass Roots Philosopher)

Hello! – Here I am again:

I am persuaded to share a few thoughts about Health.

This wide-ranging subject of Health Care is pretty much on people’s minds these days, here in Ontario as well as, all across Canada. The U.S. indeed has its own contentious health problems.

We in Canada, Ontario, in particular have a government funded health insurance scheme, which is guaranteed to take care of some of our health care problems. However as you know, at the present time the Federal Government claims to be lacking the necessary funds to honor its share of the bargain. The result is a large number of health care centers along with their doctors, nurses, technicians and staffs have had to close. This of course shortchanges the general public who are suffering various stages of ill health.

There is a lot of debate about privatizing certain sections to try to take care of the shortfall caused by the closing of facilities. Right now, I want to say that we need less and less instead of more privatizing of businesses as well as institutions. While we are on this of subject, I feel that I should point out that much of our health care related industries are now already privately owned and controlled through shareholders. For one example, consider the mega corporations controlling the Pharmaceutical Industries. These are the mega corporations who produce the vital drugs and other chemical and medical products for hospitals, clinics and home care use. Then we must remember the various industries, large or small who produce the numerous items used in the entire field of human health. Companies privately owned and operated for profit fabricate those special beds, stretchers, ambulances, and X-ray equipment, etc. As a well-known comedian is fond of saying on TV, “We are all in this together”. This “Hayseed Philosopher” goes on record endorsing the evolution from Privatization to Public ownership of all Industries free from Business and Profit. Along with this shift of operation must come a new concept of “trade”, the distribution of all the goods and services from these industries, which would now become under the control and management of the People!

The health of the individual, of whatever ethnic background, sex or age, whether a citizen or a visitor, is the greatest asset in the world. On the health of these individuals rests the security and sustainability of the rest of Nature and the World.

Health is the inherent right of every human being. Let us take the necessary steps to claim it!

Timothy Haystubble (Grass Roots Philosopher)