Its time to Nationalise Ireland's land

[Cael Dubh]

At the present time, EU handouts, previously known as Farmer's Dole, makes up two thirds of the average farmer's income. These handouts can be as high as half a million euro a year in the 26, through the Single Payment scheme. Not a bad dole cheque. So its clear that farming in Ireland seems to be unviable without massive assistance from the urban taxpayer. Is it not time to go the whole hog and just nationalise the land? This would massively cut down on the price of houses and on the cost of road building. It seems to me that if the urban taxpayer is putting money into these farms, they should be getting equity in the land in return. Why should landowners be compensated for owning wealth?

[revolt32]

At the present time, EU handouts, previously known as Farmer's Dole, makes up two thirds of the average farmer's income. These handouts can be as high as half a million euro a year in the 26, through the Single Payment scheme. Not a bad dole cheque. So its clear that farming in Ireland seems to be unviable without massive assistance from the urban taxpayer. Is it not time to go the whole hog and just nationalise the land? This would massively cut down on the price of houses and on the cost of road building. It seems to me that if the urban taxpayer is putting money into these farms, they should be getting equity in the land in return. Why should landowners be compensated for owning wealth?

A means tested monthly income from the state to maintain the farms and a weekly welfare wage to the farm owners depending on how many dependants they have to live on would be a fair package.
All the capital created from to sale of produce from the farm industry could then be put back into the system paying for health care roads education etc.

[Cael Dubh]

A means tested monthly income from the state to maintain the farms and a weekly welfare wage to the farm owners depending on how many dependants they have to live on would be a fair package.
All the capital created from to sale of produce from the farm industry could then be put back into the system paying for health care roads education etc.

Why should there be farm owners, is that not a contradiction in terms?

[revolt32]

Why should there be farm owners, is that not a contradiction in terms?

Workers or tenants whatever you want to call them you what I mean chara.

[Cael Dubh]

Workers or tenants whatever you want to call them you what I mean chara.

Ok, I understand, well, I would think that those who work the farms should have exactly the same status as industrial workers and get an industrial wage.

[revolt32]

Ok, I understand, well, I would think that those who work the farms should have exactly the same status as industrial workers and get an industrial wage.

Would it be fair to say that Farm labour is more time consuming than industrial work as it is a 7 day week.
A state wage would have to reflect that chara.

[Cael Dubh]

Would it be fair to say that Farm labour is more time consuming than industrial work as it is a 7 day week.
A state wage would have to reflect that chara.

I dont really think its a good idea to leave the structure of farming as it is in Ireland today. We see that farmers now get two thirds of their income from hand outs paid for by the urban worker. So its clear that the current structure of farming is uneconomical and can only be sustained by putting a massive burden on urban workers. Farm collectivisation has a bad name, but, in reality, this is what the EU has being trying to do for a long time, i.e. to push out the small and middle sized farmer in favour of the large ranch. The only trouble with this system is that it puts incredible and unmerited wealth in the private hands of the rancher. Larry Goodman, for example, collects a single hand out every year of half a million euro - just for owning so much land. It makes much more sense to run these large farms/ranches as state farms, with workers doing a 40 hour shift, like any other worker. As I say, all Irish farms are massively subsidised already by the taxpayer. Even if the state farms were no more profitable, or even a good bit less profitable, it would still mean a massive saving for the population in general, as land for roads, schools, homes, hospitals, etc. would already be in state hands, so no addition fee would have to be paid. This would make an enormous change to the very structure of Irish society, as increases in productivity in the workforce would no longer be converted into higher land prices - as happened over the last ten years, and during all times of prosperity over the last several hundred years. Instead of increased productivity being swallowed up by land price inflation, it could instead be put into building up a native Irish industry that would lessen our junky like dependence on the multi-nationals. Its this retardation of Irish industry that is the real cost of leaving the land in the hands of about 2% of the population.

[revolt32]

I dont really think its a good idea to leave the structure of farming as it is in Ireland today. We see that farmers now get two thirds of their income from hand outs paid for by the urban worker. So its clear that the current structure of farming is uneconomical and can only be sustained by putting a massive burden on urban workers. Farm collectivisation has a bad name, but, in reality, this is what the EU has being trying to do for a long time, i.e. to push out the small and middle sized farmer in favour of the large ranch. The only trouble with this system is that it puts incredible and unmerited wealth in the private hands of the rancher. Larry Goodman, for example, collects a single hand out every year of half a million euro - just for owning so much land. It makes much more sense to run these large farms/ranches as state farms, with workers doing a 40 hour shift, like any other worker. As I say, all Irish farms are massively subsidised already by the taxpayer. Even if the state farms were no more profitable, or even a good bit less profitable, it would still mean a massive saving for the population in general, as land for roads, schools, homes, hospitals, etc. would already be in state hands, so no addition fee would have to be paid. This would make an enormous change to the very structure of Irish society, as increases in productivity in the workforce would no longer be converted into higher land prices - as happened over the last ten years, and during all times of prosperity over the last several hundred years. Instead of increased productivity being swallowed up by land price inflation, it could instead be put into building up a native Irish industry that would lessen our junky like dependence on the multi-nationals. Its this retardation of Irish industry that is the real cost of leaving the land in the hands of about 2% of the population.

Great post.

[Cael Dubh]

Go raibh maith agat, a chara. Its clear to any reasonable person that there is no logical argument for leaving the land in a few private hands. The only possible arguments are ones based on religion and precedent, and can easily be demolished.

[slartibuckfast]

At the present time, EU handouts, previously known as Farmer's Dole, makes up two thirds of the average farmer's income. These handouts can be as high as half a million euro a year in the 26, through the Single Payment scheme. Not a bad dole cheque. So its clear that farming in Ireland seems to be unviable without massive assistance from the urban taxpayer. Is it not time to go the whole hog and just nationalise the land? This would massively cut down on the price of houses and on the cost of road building. It seems to me that if the urban taxpayer is putting money into these farms, they should be getting equity in the land in return. Why should landowners be compensated for owning wealth?

Of course this nationalisation will be done under the True Government of the Republic, and not under the usurpers in the Dáil?