From: gil@Gilsys.DIALix.oz.au (Gil Hardwick)
Newsgroups: sci.environment
Subject: Topsoil as a commodity
Distribution: world
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 92 04:01:07 GMT
Organization: STAFF STRATEGIES - Anthropologists & Training Agents


In article <JMC.92Nov21112054@SAIL.Stanford.EDU> jmc@cs.Stanford.EDU writes:

 > I am properly humbled.  Gil Hardwick has properly thrown out all this
 > irrelevant stuff about land prices, amount of topsoil per acre and
 > trucking costs.  He has properly ignored J. L. Hurst's observation about
 > deep loess in close proximity to land good only for pasture.

Rightfully. Topsoil and therefore farm land is not valued against the
costs of trucking it elsewhere, but on what crops it will produce in
situ. Haven't we got that through to you yet?

 > He has gotten to the essence of a discussion appropriate to an
 > "International forum" - who is a good guy and who is a bad guy.

I do confess to being slow to tune into Truth, Justice, and The
American Way, but now that I have finally learned I can relax and
proceed apace with the realisation that you are all satisfied that
I know the rules.

 > He calls me a computer programmer.  Programmers laugh when they hear
 > that.  I'm a professor of ... .

I do not give two hoots what you are a professor of; as I have stated
previously I have no respect for whatever it is you represent here on
the Internet. As you choose to use your position to promote your own
eccentric political ideology, and to promote such economic absurdity
as you do in all seriousness, you are no more than a buffoon.

 > Ah, but this is also not the way to proceed in an "International forum".
 > Defense is irrelevant!  Attack is what counts!

Ah, but in this respect I still learn, yes? I apologise that I am yet
awkward and fumbling, but have no doubt I shall sharpen my wits further
under your tutorage.

 > What is an "independent consulting ethnologist"?  What does one do?  I
 > can see Gil Hardwick shouting through his megaphone, "Ah, what I could
 > tell you blokes about those abos over there if there weren't children
 > on the bus."

This particular independent consultant does indeed find himself having
to shout through a megaphone, imported from the US especially for the
occasion. If there are children on the bus, John, please do feel free
to stand in front.

 > Not only a tour guide but a statist tour guide.  When I say topsoil
 > should be considered a commodity and give computations about the
 > profitability of buying and selling it, he thinks I'm talking about a
 > Government program.  He just wants a different Government program.

I am sorry that I have missed whatever point you are trying to make
here. My arguments against your plan have been plainly stated on the
basis of your false assumptions about the value of topsoil. Where I
advocate growing crops on it as a source of private income, you are
advocating trucking it around the countryside as a source of private
income.

It is simply not relevant that your back-of-the-envelope arithmetic
adds up, when its assumptions are patently ridiculous in any event.
The question arises while you are working to implement your ridiculous
strategy for improving agriculture, how other people are to be fed, to
prosper, and make an income of their own? The same question indeed was
asked of the Societ "leadership" from Stalin right though the post-
Krushchev era. Whatever stupidity is exercised by Government or by
private enterprise is never any less stupid.

If you want to truck anything onto farms with poor soil, how about a
little compost? And as mentioned previously some good farm management
practice? While you do that the good rich topsoil further downhill you
want to dig up and load onto trucks, might just as well have good rich
crops grown on it instead, yes?

--
Gil Hardwick                                      gil@Gilsys.DIALix.oz.au
Independent Consulting Ethnologist                            3:690/660.6
PERTH, Western Australia                                 (+61 9) 399 2401
   * * Sustainable Community Development & Environmental Education * *
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