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VAXDGUY · 12-10-2006, 07:00 AM

Dairy Industry Crushed Innovator Who Bested Price-Control System
By Dan Morgan, Sarah Cohen and Gilbert M. Gaul
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, December 10, 2006; A01

Quote:

In the summer of 2003, shoppers in Southern California began getting a break on the price of milk.

A maverick dairyman named Hein Hettinga started bottling his own milk and selling it for as much as 20 cents a gallon less than the competition, exercising his right to work outside the rigid system that has controlled U.S. milk production for almost 70 years. Soon the effects were rippling through the state, helping to hold down retail prices at supermarkets and warehouse stores.

That was when a coalition of giant milk companies and dairies, along with their congressional allies, decided to crush Hettinga's initiative. For three years, the milk lobby spent millions of dollars on lobbying and campaign contributions and made deals with lawmakers, including incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.).

Last March, Congress passed a law reshaping the Western milk market and essentially ending Hettinga's experiment -- all without a single congressional hearing.....

Continued at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...900925_pf.html

DoctorDawg · 12-10-2006, 08:44 AM

It is really sad that America's actual commitment to free markets is rather less than skin deep. Price supports, payin' factory farms to not produce, defense contracts with limitless overruns, and corporate welfare are the name of the game. Just read in the Wall Street Journal that GE's tax rate this year was 17%. Sweet; sure wish mine was, too....

**XDAndMe** · 12-10-2006, 08:52 AM

I love the ending line in the article...

Quote:

"I still think this is a great country," Hettinga said. "In Mexico, they would have just shot me."

one-eyed-fatman · 12-10-2006, 07:11 PM

Politicians... bought and sold like pigs going to market.

jdavionic · 12-11-2006, 10:01 AM

Unfortunately it's not a shock at all.

cucamelsmd15 · 12-12-2006, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by one-eyed-fatman

Politicians... bought and sold like pigs going to market.

+1

No big surprise there, its how the big boys in Washington DC operate.

12-10-2006, 08:44 AM	#2
DoctorDawg XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: If you need to ask, you don't need to know... Posts: 638	It is really sad that America's actual commitment to free markets is rather less than skin deep. Price supports, payin' factory farms to not produce, defense contracts with limitless overruns, and corporate welfare are the name of the game. Just read in the Wall Street Journal that GE's tax rate this year was 17%. Sweet; sure wish mine was, too.... __________________ If humans evolved from monkeys, how come there's still monkeys??? Huh? Huh????

12-10-2006, 07:11 PM	#4
one-eyed-fatman XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 9,947	Politicians... bought and sold like pigs going to market. __________________ http://home.houston.rr.com/gunpics/images/one%20eye.wav

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12-11-2006, 10:01 AM	#5
jdavionic XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: GA Posts: 5,105	Unfortunately it's not a shock at all.