The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.


The Wisdom Of Barnyard Bruke: I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout

Greetings to all in Western Illinois. I’m a hopin’ all enjoyed Heritage Days in Henderson County. 

A lot of people put hard work into the event to assure it’s success. Hats off to you, everyone and thank you for your dedication to Henderson County. Even the weatherman contributed to make the weekend an enjoyable experience.

Harvest continues to roll ahead with both corn and soybeans. Early corn yields continue to hold well over 200 bushels per acre and soybean yields are being reported at over 60 bushels per acre.

Much air is being expended on talk about the economy and how to improve it. At this writing a proposed solution has not been found. 

Three “players” are at loggerheads seeking a solution to the crisis. They are 1) the Administration 2) the Democrats and 3) the Republicans. Neither player seems to want to put partisan politics aside. The question is directed as to the net affect on the average citizen from this political gamesmanship.

Some feel U. S. agriculture is relatively insulated from the current problems. However, Farmer Mac is a loan backing agency similar to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. But, Farmer Mac held $60 million of Lehman Brothers debt and will likely to have to write down $48 million of that total.

The blame game is very active in Washington and real leaders are lacking. These are precarious times and neither political party is guiltless. At times those Washington insides seems to “know as much about the economy as a dog does about Sunday”. It almost seems as though “the blind are leading the blind” in this situation.

I read a good definition about the “Entrepreneur” by Thomas Paine. He wrote the following in 1776 for the writing common sense. It goes as follows:

Entrepreneur

I do not choose to be a common person; it is my right to be uncommon...If I can, I seek opportunity... not security. I do not wish to be kept a citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fall and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole”, I prefer the challenge of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a hand out. I will never come before any master nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect; proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, to enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say: This, with God’s help, I have done. All this is what it means to be an Entrepreneur. - Common Sense written in 1776 by Thomas Paine

These writings are sure enough thought provoking to me. Especially in these trouble financial times when it seems those who should be making sound decisions “don’t seem to have their porch light on”.

Catch ya later
Barnyard Bruke