"If things were really that bad for farmers they would form farmers combines to strengthen their price negotiations". ...... "thats what happens in a democratic free market economy not enterprise wrecking with socialistic price controls."
thats a funny twist ken. farmers co-operatives formed early last century in local communities or regions in order to build processing facilities and wholesale networks. then capitalism came and destroyed these co-operatives. as a consequence few now remain. capitalism, the free market economy, has destroyed the farmers' ability to negotiate with businesses, courtesy of John Howard.
so to the irony of you suggestion, it seems you need to learn what "socialist" economics actually is: the community control of their produce to negotiate with off-take parents.
"price controls" were removed by Howard which resulted in farmers being gouged and manipulated by the companies, Coles and Woolies in particular. the removal of co-operatives enabled this. So now you're suggesting a return to socialist (run by the society or community) negotiations.
