Record profits for food and grain companies

In these days of sky-high grain prices, which in turn, have led to major increases in the cost of food, it is only natural that big public companies dealing in these commodities, would report record profits.

Duh--that shouldn't even be news, it's so expected and par for the course.

Except that you have leftist news reporters who hate the free enterprise system, crying out for Robin Hood (take from the haves and give it to the have nots) measures to level the playing field. The truth is, these firms earned these profits the old-fashioned way: they worked hard, risked capital and investment dollars, made smart, exerienced decisions and reaped what they sowed.

That's the American way, isn't it?

Yes, but it's also the American way to gripe and complain, our judgement clouded by the old saw "the grass if always greener on the other side of the fence."

There are farmers, many of them small time family farmers, reaping record profits raising wheat and corn. It's not just big corporate America who benefits. The thousands of employees at the big companies earning the profits are also getting record profit sharing, thanks to high commodity prices. The stockholders of these companies are also seeing a run-up in share prices and dividend payments. Many of them are ordinary folks, who own mutual funds in their 401Ks.

That truly is the American way.

Boom and bust is the story of free enterprise, and it all evens out over time.