For Example.. from Social Media..

I try to stay out of politics as much as I possibly can. But this issue frustrates me beyond belief. I teach Ag Economics at a Community College as well as farm and feed livestock. In economics you have positive and normative statements. Positive Economic statements are backed by actual facts and data. You can say beef is too high, but that is a normative economic statement. A positive economic statement would say that Choice Boxed Beef Cutouts for the noon report on Friday were $366.77/hundred weight. The talk across all of Agriculture and the media is focused on NORMATIVE ECONOMIC STATEMENTS! 

Beef is not too high, in my opinion. The stuff that makes a difference is input costs in Agriculture and the CORPORATE GREED in our country. 

Look at the Stock Market vs. Beef. Compared to 1990, the STOCK MARKET is SEVENTEEN (17) times the value today as it was in 1990! FAT CATTLE contracts are THREE (3) times the value of 1990!

Let that sink in..... what about our other inputs? A pickup, a car, a house, seed, chemicals, equipment, check the values! In 1980, a brand new 4 wheel drive pickup was approximately $10k and now if you buy one that has all the technology, you are paying $80-90k.  

Are we the problem in food production?

I think not, but maybe I am wrong as I have been wrong before and will be again. 

If we need to lower our prices, maybe the Stock Market, the paper "Blue Sky" money needs to shrink back out of the economy 

If you have a physical product or do something that is tangible, you should be compensated fairly in a CAPITALIST society.

This economy is not working. For an economy to work, you must first have freedom of entry and exit to a market and industry. Second, information that is free and accessible to all. Third, willing sellers and buyers.

We have a problem. It has nothing to do with politics. I have friends in the Ag Industry that are REPUBLICANS and DEMOCRATS! 

The problem is that we have CORPOTATIONS, that take YOUR 401K or other investments and just want to return money to gain more POWER. In our society $ mean POWER. That is not the America I learned about in school or the America I have taught and continue to teach students about 

We have the safest, most secure food supply in the WORLD.

We are efficient and produce more than we need. Trade is vital, but the major problem we have is CORPORATE GREED!

Don't let our GOVERNMENT get away with gaining control for their cronies that send them PAC dollars and lobby them. 

(See Argentina..)

If we don't have the demand from the LIVESTOCK SECTOR of Agriculture, we will never EAT through the GLUT OF CORN, SOYBEANS, AND MILO WE HAVE PRODUCED. 

YOU WANT TO SEE THE 1980's AG CRISIS WITH MORE $ ON THE LINE? 

I don't, so call your Senators; Representatives; LIVESTOCK ASSOCIATIONS (all species, poultry, bovine, porcine, caprine, and ovine); as well as other COMMODITY GROUPS! 

RURAL AMERICA IS ON THE EDGE OF COLLAPSE! 

Do something, say something, and talk to your family, neighbors, friends to make sure they are ok. 

If you are faithful, pray. 

We feed the world and there are less and less of us everyday! 

Goodnight and keep an open mind and heart!"

I don't agree with everything this guy says.. but his frustrations are real.. as is the fix we find ourselves in..