This is an old expression that we have all used. When the kids start bickering over who should clean the snow off the step, or they bring up little things such as the other sibling didn’t help with the dishes or cut the lawn last and mom says, “Quit stirring the pot!” At the end of . . .
the day, they still love each other and will defend each other against anyone who might attack the other.
In the first week of November, a very controversial sports commentator made a remark about some people not wearing a poppy to help remember soldiers who fought and died for our freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom to vote for whoever and whatever political party that they choose. People need to be reminded to remember and no matter where you are, it is respectful to at least take two minutes of silence on 11/11 to remember those who fought and died so we have these freedoms. Some who watched his rant took his words to be pointing out certain immigrants, religions, or languages. He effectively stirred the pot and divided most of those who watched or even thought about it after.
Recent decisions by politicians in other countries and even at home has restricted or eliminated some religions or groups from legally entering the country. In some schools or other government institutions, it is not the length of a girl’s skirt or the colour of her hair that gets her kicked out, or refused entry into a country, but her religion and how she wears her hair or any religious symbol.
In some provinces, the school that a kid’s parents attended can restrict which school the child can attend.
In some countries like Ireland, people have fought and died over religion for hundreds of years. During a recent visit to Ireland, I spent time talking to and being warmly entertained by folks from both religions and everyone felt sorry and was concerned about the others livelihood and wellbeing regardless of religion.
While I was there, there was a by-election and the candidates from both sides tried to stir up old forgotten disputes over religion. Recent talks and proposed plans over Brexit vs the EU trading group has again stirred up old differences between northern and southern Ireland.
During the 2019 federal election, the inevitable decrease in demand for oil with the also inevitable arrival of electric powered car, truck, tractor, bus, go train, etc., and some provinces dependence on a successful petroleum industry, frustration and lack of forward vision and planning has pitted some provinces against others who are very concerned about the future of our environment.
Closer to home, when the first mad cow was found in Canada and the price of beef at the farm level decreased to almost zero, (a friend of mine still has a cheque that he received from selling a nice fat cow for $1.63 framed, hanging on his wall to remind him of how bad things can get), the price to the consumer at the store never dropped anywhere near that much. Some of our dedicated farm organizations lobbied for months before any compensation was given to the farmers.
Some farm commodities are subsidized when selling prices fall below cost of production, while others in the supply management marketing system like dairy recover money lost from low calf and cull cow prices by increasing the price of dairy products. This is where the waters get muddied because some of our trading partners like the USA keep commodity prices below the cost of production by the use of the “$100,000,000,000 +” US farm bill money that is distributed throughout the agricultural industry.
When the Canadian government finally distributed a little compensation for catastrophic beef prices, some farmers were vocally upset because some neighbours received more than the other. At the end of the day, the consumer had to pay, either at the checkout in the grocery store or with an increase in income tax. At the same time though, in-fighting between farm groups because of how compensation was paid, had pitted one farm group against another and weakened the strength of farm groups in general while at the same time diverting attention away from those who really benefited from the disastrously low farm gate prices of beef.
In every case above, stirring the pot and the age old strategy divide and conquer has been used to weaken the opponent, stay in power, keep your job, increase your TV ratings and the biggest evil of all, grab more money, land, or stuff. It seems like “me, me, me” has replaced treating you neighbour as yourself.
Chris Judd is a farmer in Clarendon on land that has been in his family for generations. gladcrest@gmail.com
