Re: JJ Beazley and Dennis McKenna
Posted by Dennis Mckenna on October 30, 2007 at 12:06:07:
In Reply to: JJ Beazley and Dennis McKenna posted by Patricia Stephen on October 30, 2007 at 12:05:39:
message: Mr. Beazley's article in the July issue was eloquent and astute, (he must be at least part Irish!). I'm an Irish-American and have been an organic farmer in Hawaii for the last 25 years. I've seen the same sort of problems outlined by Mr. Beazley with one or two additional problem not mentioned. First, property prices and values.
When I first moved to Hawaii in 1974 property prices in my area were such that a person could buy a "cane shack" for well under $100,000, oftentimes 60-70,000. Now, due to tourism and the desire for vaction homes there, the prices have grown to $300,000+/-. for these same "shacks". This has resulted in a great boon for those who had lived there and owned for many years who sold and made a killing. However, now, the situation is such that unless one is very wealthy, one cannot afford to purchase property there, much less be able to make a living farming it. As I approach retirement age I am looking to come "home" to Ireland to "retire" on a small homestead which I can farm to augment my social security. Recently, I found an old list of properties for sale in Ireland on the internet, (dated 1999-2000). Thinking these prices quite reasonable, I inquired as to the availablility of these properties and was surprised at the current prices (and lack of inventory), compared wi!
th the older list. It appears Ireland is heading toward the same fate that has befallen the Hawaiian islands, with regard to price and availability.
I do not know the answers to this or many other problems which Hawaii shares with Ireland. I know many of us are concerned about these problems but without a major shift in the thinking of the people and government, I see no solution. As I am new to this site and newletter, this problem has probably been outlined in other issues I have not read, (and perhaps solutions as well). I can only hope that Ireland will somehow not meet this same fate, where farmers and the elderly can no longer afford to live and farm.
In the U.S., at least, there is one other major contributor to all the problems, the public corporation.
Publicly-held corporations in America have only one rule or law; to make a financial profit, no matter the means.
For that reason I try to not purchase any product manufactured by such public corp. I own no car, forcing myself to use public transportaion. I eat no foods "made" or grown by these corps. and well, you get the picture.
These companies are simply unscrupulous and as such pose the most dangerous and insidious threat to the well-being of mankind. They will lie in their labeling, ingredients list and advertising and the only thing we can do is "be aware" and try to effect change. This newsletter is obviously on the right track in raising awareness of problems facing the people of Ireland. I commend the authors and editor(s) and look forward to reading future issues. Keep up the great work.
Dennis McKenna