December 29, 2001

8:46 AM

EU to independent farmers: Drop dead.
posted by darukaru (8 comments total)

"The communists tried to force us off of our land in the 1950s and they failed," Mrs. Wojcik says, her face breaking into a crinkly smile. "We are staying. This is the only life we know and it suits us fine. Who are those politicians to say our farm is too poor?"

So would that make these new leaders, communists?
posted by insomnyuk at 9:51 AM on December 29, 2001

Actually insomnyuk it does. "We're forcing you off your land for your own good" sounds really communist, especially when you add "and for the good of the country."

If the land was really profitable for larger farms then wouldn't capitalism kick in and some big farming corporation buy them all up?
posted by geoff. at 10:02 AM on December 29, 2001

The European Commission maintains that Polish farmers will not be eligible for the same EU subsidies as old members ...


See! They're not screwing over *all* independant farmers, just the Polish ones.
posted by electro at 11:13 AM on December 29, 2001

So the EU is adopting the US agribusiness model using the Soviet model of persuasion? We better increase our agricultural output because these folks are going to need it.
posted by Mack Twain at 11:15 AM on December 29, 2001

It's amazing how the western part of Europe never bothered to learn from the mistakes of Eastern Europe. Oh well, it should be interesting to see how full blown socialism works in 1st world countries.
posted by insomnyuk at 12:14 PM on December 29, 2001

The article ends on a potentially positive note. Discussing how small farms are organizing into coops and getting certified as organically grown. Profits for the farmers are up and they can maintain their existing lifestyle. Agriculture employing 25% of the people in Poland compared to 4% in the EU is a pretty amazing statistic. It would seem foolish for Poland to change their existing system of farming too rapidly.
posted by obedo at 1:01 PM on December 29, 2001

The EU is a dangerous beast, I just hope it gets put down before the US has to rescue Europe once again.
posted by Mick at 8:32 PM on December 29, 2001

Actually insomnyuk it does.

Actually, Geoff., it doesn't:

Totalitarianism

Communism

Note the difference.
posted by vbfg at 3:14 AM on December 30, 2001