BrooksUncensoredDairyIndustrySoundPhilosophy

          I respond to an often made counter challenge to outline some
detailed concrete suggestions for an alternative policy or market design for the dairy industry.
   This is a reasonable request when I am strongly critical of the current marketing and pricing
system and structures but my primary focus is to clarify what the ethical and moral determinate
are behind our present policy path. , Is this path well supported and understood by dairy farmers,
or, are we being mislead about the true design and purpose of a “free market economy’. Have we
been sold a lemon?
    I believe that the technical and systemic shape of our human activity as dairy farmers and as
members of our broader community must be rooted in a sound philosophical base.
    Historically and contemporarily, we know, this is non negotiable if we are to be successful as a
society in attaining happiness, security and prosperity.    The conflict between my view, along with
many not so vocal who struggle to find a voice, and the dominant ideology which now governs
dairy industry policy, is in the philosophical and political sphere.
   Once an agreed broad philosophy {belief in what is real, belief in purpose, belief in common
aims, belief in relative priorities, belief in values and ethical standards}
is in place the technical {mostly in the realm of science} and the systemic {infinite
potential only limited by human imagination} becomes self evident.
   Comparatively speaking, the philosophical principles dwarf the latter in relative importance as
we strive to achieve the results we desire from individual and collective activity.
    Incredibly, commentators, analysts and policy makers often ignore or devalue the ethical and
moral while engaging in endless, almost futile, discourse on the merits and effects of “subsidies”,
“trade agreements”, “tariff levels”, etc.
    This shallow approach fails to identify and confront the clear reality that the policies of
“Internationalisation”, “Rationalisation” and “Globalisation” are in direct confrontation with the
philosophical and constitutional foundation of our society. If Australia is to continue down the path
of gradually unravelling the moral threads that weave us together in just, fair and ethical
relationships we must recognize that this is the road leading back to a mentality of survival of the
ruthless, strong and powerful. It is not the path to a secure, stable, prosperous and content
society.

      The policy of monopoly, morally measured,   is a regressive ideology, designed over the long
term,   to concentrate power for the benefit of a callous minority who seek to legitimize exploitation
and serfdom.

     Constitutionalism, totally incompatible with monopoly, seeks to set a legal and regulated
framework to defend and protect the individual from the cruel but understood realities of greed
and power. Governing systems are in the service of the individual’s freedom and just dividends
from our productive efforts, always taking account of relative contribution and moral inheritance.

   I don’t believe that the vast majority of Australians understand this distinction and the
magnitude of the philosophical and social restructure that has been wheeled into their midst like a
Trojan horse, only to be revealed as a conquering force when the opportunity for any defensive
strategy is past.
  Consequently,   I focus my efforts for change towards stimulating discussion on the critical
choices we face in regard to where we wish to find ourselves in the future.

  Why should we be surprised to find ourselves confronting rising stress and chaos in our lives
when we have climbed aboard the train to a future not of our design or liking?
   I always maintain that the technical and systemic impediments to prosperity and freedom were
overcome many decades ago, perhaps even centuries.
  The chains that separate us from inheriting the abundant material world are wrapped around
our minds and our spirit which have become shackled to the myth and nonsense of false and
perverted ideology and equally destructive policies that such give birth too.
We have every reason to be confident and optimistic about our future if we can only break these
chains and release the abundance of material reality.