—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 8, 1973
10
Worst Shortage of All
The federal price freeze fiasco of 1973,
especially in regard to meat, was a classic
example of how NOT to tamper with the
free enterprise system. The question is, did
we learn our lesson well enough so that the
mistake will not be repeated in the future?
Frustration over inflation seems to have
been the catalyst for a torrent of verbal
sniper fire, price freezes and consumer
boycotts. As a meat industry spokesman
notes, a situation was created “ ... in
which prices inevitably must go up--beyond
the levels that would prevail in a free
market... (Freezes and boycotts)
discouraged production. Both made it
impossible for ranchers, feedlot operators,
processors and distributors to realize a
reasonable profit. In many mstances,
operations had to be suspended or con
ducted at a loss."
Taken in context of the entire economy,
the pointlessness of the price ceilings and
freezes becomes evident. As the
Fighting Heart Disease
Shoes can help stamp out coronary heart
disease and early death or disability! If the
average American adult will follow the
“Watch your SHOES!” health formula
developed by Mr. Andre Rhoads, a food
industry authority, they may add years to
their lives.
His formula represents “risk factors"
which, if carefully controlled, could very
well lower the chances of heart attack
significantly. In the magic word “SHOES,”
the "S” is for smoking; “H” is for hyper
tension; “O” is for obesity; “E” is for
Winter is hard to define. It conjures up
the usual thoughts of snowflakes, Santa
and swarms of little ones romping through
mud puddles. But the spirit of the new
season, which descends upon us December '
21 this year, has changed somewhat. For
many, the lean, rough edge of Winter
suggests a Spartan-like quality which must
be revived and cultivated if we are to
overcome problems such as shortages of
essential energy supplies, inflation and
alarming leaps in federal control over our
lives.
LENNOX, S.D., INDEPENDENT: “We all
cuss inflation and are convinced that our
income will not keep pace with rising
prices, but how would you like to be a farm
worker in Russia? It would require 60
years’ wages to purchase a new car. Well,
that takes care of private transportation
problems for most Soviets. No wonder
their public transportation is used ex
tensively. With rising gasoline prices and
growing traffic problems in this country,
the one man - one car concept may be a
thing of the past in a few years, but if we
are to ‘attain’ the same standard of living
as now exists in the Soviet Union, we are
going to have to work at it. Step number
one, of course, is to inject even more
socialism into our system, tax more
businesses out of business, and put the
bureaucrats in control of everything.”
SIKESTON, MO.. STANDARD: “It’s in
credible. The butchers claim they’re not
making any money. The wholesalers claim
they are not making any money. The meat
packers say they are not making any
Winter
Grassroots Opinion
XXX
spokesman explains, critics do not mention
“ ... that while retail food prices went up
33 percent from 1967 to 1972, per capita
income rose 62 percent. They pass over the
fact that annual beef consumption in the
United States has increased in ten years
from 88 pounds per capita to 116 pounds.
Nor do they pay any attention to the
skyrocketing demand for prime American
red meat in Western Europe and Japan.”
Repercussions from the economic
freezes will be felt for quite awhile. For
example, the restraints on beef prices and
operations may have disrupted the chain of
supply significantly in the long run, making
beef a somewhat scarce item for the next
two or three years. To say, “We told you so”
would serve no useful purpose, but maybe
out of this, the worst shortage of all-public
understanding-will be corrected. The free
market is the best regulator of the nation's
economic life. More people know that now
than ever before.
exercise and “S” is for stress. As the
originator of this formula for self
preservation notes, each factor is
“ ... subject to a good deal of personal
regulation, provided one’s will to live is
strong enough to induce him to modify his
life-style to lower his risks.” Regular
medical checkups will enhance the ef
fectiveness of the SHORES concept. This is
one prescription you can fill yourself, with
better health as the reward-a goal well
worth aiming for.
Modern problems have not dimmed the
squeals of youthful sledders, the colorful
Christmas pageantry or the chocolaty
goodness of a hot cup of cocoa after a brisk
walk outdoors. Such enjoyable Winter
scenes should not, however, divert us from
doing what we can to improve our own
corner of the world. That could mean a
return to ways which exalt efficiency and
scorn wastefulness, or a vigorous plunging
into community affairs. Whatever path is
taken, new dedication to the common good
should benefit us all in the long run.
money. The ranchers also say they are not
making any money. So who’s making the
money? Sometimes we get the uneasy
feeling that somewhere there are cows
buying mutual funds and gold stocks!"
CHICAGO, ILL., SOUTHWEST NEWS
HERALD; "Some people place a lot of
stock in statistics, but we feel that
statistics don’t always tell the truth
because it's so simple to juggle figures. For
example, one could point to today’s longer
life expectancy and offer it as proof that the
automobile is safer than the horse."
BELTON, TEXAS, JOURNAL AND BELL
COUNTY DEMOCRAT: “States-righters, of
which I am one, have always said we should
not rely on Washington to solve all our
problems. At present I’m willing to com
promise with the strong central govern
ment advocates, if they will agree to let
Washington create fewer problems than
they solve, if any.”
XXX
XXX
NOW IS
THE TIME . . .
Max Smith
County Agr. Agent
Telephone 394-6851
TO LEAVE FIREWOOD
OUTSIDE
' Fireplaces may be getting
more use this winter due to the
fuel conditions; however, insects
are likely to hitch a ride into the
house when it is brought in
several days in advance. Insects
may hibernate in the wood pile
when cold weather arrives. When
these pests are brought into the
warm house on wood that is not
burned immediately,' they
become active and the house may
need an insect eradication
treatment. Fortunately these
insects and beetles will not
reinfest wood or lumer in the
house but they are a nuisance.
Don’t store firewood in the house
or in any other heated room.
TO ELIMINATE RODENTS
During our visits on a number
of farms in recent weeks, we
notice evidence of considerable
rat infestation. As the weather
gets colder these rodents will
come to the buildings and cause
more trouble. Every property
owner should try to kill every rat
and prevent their reproduction. A
clean-up program is the place to
start and then repair concrete
floors, walks, walls, and foun
dations. Rats are filthy, destroy
large amounts of feed and food,
and should not be allowed to stay
under any conditions. Poison bait
stations can be set up to help keep
down the population.
ON TELLING
AND SHOWING
Lesson for December 9,1973
■ackfround Scripture: John 1 29-51.
-10 22-39
“H you are the Christ,” said
the crowd to Jesus, “tell us plain
ly” (John 10.24). Has it ever oc
curred to you in reading the gos
pels how frequently Jesus seemed
to resist all attempts to make him
define himself by the use of the
popular title of
Messiah (Christ)’
Although he
didn’t absolutely
reject the titles
that men gave
him, neither did
he seem apxious
to claim them. In
fact, there were
;e numerous occa-
* sions when he.
steadfastly refused to discuss the
matter. He seemed to have a defi
nite aversion to telling people
“plainly” who or what he was
The problem with names
One reason for his reticence
was that certain religious factions
had different expectations con
cerning these titles. For many
the designation Messiah meant a
political or military leader sent
by God to restore the Hebrew
nation. Although Jesus seemed to
see himself as the fulfillment of
the messianic expectation, he ob
viously had no intention of assum
ing either policical or military
leadership. He believed he was
annointed (what Messiah means)
by God, but his understanding of
ms role and purpose was consid
erably different than what many
people expected He was there
fore hesitant to use a title that
to people thC W ° ng expectat '°ns
Another reason for his avoid-
TO EVALUATE FARM
RECORDS
The year is drawing to a close
and figures will reveal the suc
cess or failure of various farm
enterprises. In addition to giving
the cash values the records
should be used to plan for the
future. During the winter months
good farm managers will spend
time studying their records and
planning what should be done m
the future. “Pencil-pushing” is
needed to utilize farm records as
a tool to guide expansion or
reduction activities.
TO PROVIDE OUTSIDE
. EXERCISE
Nearly all species of farm
animals prefer daily outside
exercise, if given the chance. In
most cases this is advisable for
-the health of the animals. Dairy
cows, beef cows and steers,
sheep, breeding swine, and
horses all should be given outside
exercise. In the case of young
stock an open-sided building with
an exercise lot is strongly
suggested. Sheep need the
exercise in order to produce a
good lamb crop. Most animals
prefer the outdoors to con
finement when given the chance.
Editor’s Quote Book
“A thing is not necessarily
true because a man dies for
it."
—Oscar Wilde
ance of titles was that he did not
want to be bogged down in theo
logical dispute. A good-example
of how this could happen is found
in John 10 where we find him re
ferring to God as “My Father
...” (10:29). Immediately, his
critics pounce on his words, say
ing; “We stone you ... for blas
phemy; because you, being a man,
make yourself God” (10:33). It is
the word “Father” and the impli
cation that Jesus is bis “son” that
is at the heart of their contention
with him. Jesus attempts to show
them in the scriptures that his
use of the term is not blasphemy,
but they are too immersed in
their theology and doctrine to see
his point.
Let me show you
Usually we find that Jesus re
fused to “tell" people who he
was Instead, he preferred to
“show” them. For example, in re
sponse to their challenge to “tell
us plainly,” he says: “The works
that I do in my Father’s name,
they bear witness to me” (10:25).
Later, when they attack him, he
says: “I have shown you many
good works from the Father; for
which of these do you stone me?”
(10.32).
Jesus preferred not to get in
volved in theological and doctrin
al dispute, but instead wished to
let his works speak for them
selves. So, once again, Jesus is
emphasizing the fruits of his
ministry instead of doctrinal
words: “If I am ndt doing the
works of my Father, then do
not believe me, believe the works,
that you may know and under
stand that the Father is in me
and 1 am in the “Father” (10.38).
Like Jesus, we would probably
be more effective in our disciple
ship if we did less telling and
more showing.
(lo»d an •utlinas ceayrilhfad lay lHa
Oivititn if Christian Educatien,
Cavncil af the Church** ef Christ in the U.S A
Released by Community Press Service)