The Rural Voice, 1989-12, Page 57NEWS
GALBRAITH VISITS
FARM COMMUNITY
by Cord Wainman
It was a coming home of sorts for
native son and world-renowned econo-
mist John Kenneth Galbraith, who was
born on a farm near Iona Station.
The small Legion Hall in Glencoe,
Ontario was pretty well packed that
Friday in late October, a fact that Gal-
braith, with his characteristic dry hu-
mour, explained away by saying that
most of the people were relatives.
But the invitation -only meeting
which he insisted would be a learning
exercise for himself was also a learning
exercise for those farmers there to dis-
cuss the plight of agriculture at home
and abroad.
The Harvard University economist,
lecturer, and author listened more than
he talked. But when he spoke, he spoke
directly and to the point.
On society's general attitude to-
wards agriculture, Galbraith said: "I
very much think that in Canada and
equally in the United States we have a
cultural identity which identifies itself
in the family farm."
However, he added, North America
lags far behind Europe when it comes to
recognizing this sentiment in govern-
ment policies that will protect the family
farm and the broader rural way of life.
The obstacle, he said, is the "free -
enterprise ideology" that dominates
North American political thinking these
days.
Ironically, European countries have
been able to separate the free-market
philosophy from social policies to pro-
+ tect rural living, Galbraith said, citing
the case of Switzerland, where he lives
much of the year.
"I venture to think you can look
around the world and not find a more
carefully guided and subsidized agricul-
ture ... All of this is not for the benefit
of farmers, but the benefit of the culture
and society and ... the land they want to
preserve."
The following are some of Gal-
braith's comments on specific issues:
Supply Management: "I have
always felt as a broad rule that agricul-
ture must be under the constraints of
production control or marketing boards.
UALITY
RVICE
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SEASON'S
GREETINGS
From
VARNA GRAIN
AND
HILL AND HILL FARMS LTD.
Gordon, Ruby, Bev, Shirley and staff
wish you and your family
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HILL & HILL LTD. & VARNA GRAIN
233-3218 233-7908
DECEMBER 1989 55