Bonnie at the Ethicurean blog mentions Alice Waters on Obama and food policy. This reminded me that we need to get cooking on letting the candidates know that we oppose NAIS. Ron Paul is already and opponent of NAIS but sadly he has less than a snowflakes chance in Heck. Where do Obama and McCain stand? I left a comment for both:
I hope that Obama and McCain will pay attention not just to farm issues but to how the current administration’s pushing of non-sense regulations like the USDA’s proposed National Animal Identification System (NAIS) ( http://NoNAIS.org ) hurst small farmers, the consumers and our freedoms.
NAIS - “Tagging and tracking all the livestock in America” as the USDA says it wants to do is not going to prevent disease or improve food security because this burden is being placed on small farmers (Big Ag gets a Group ID exemption), is after the fact (post processing + discovery + 48 hours) and virtually all disease outbreaks come from problems after the farm. NAIS is just a waste of taxpayer money and a burden on struggling small farmers.
What we need is an end to subsidies - they go to a very few big ag players producing a very unlevel playing field. No need to subsidies their huge pockets. A diversified food network of many small producers is far more secure from both disease and terrorism than our current system were 85% (and growing) of the food is produced by 6% (and shrinking) of the producers. Centralization breeds disease and weakness.
Go to Obama’s web site and McCain’s web site to leave comments to let them know what you think.
I went to both sites and left comments: my horse will tell me who to vote for, as in who is against NAIS, then also left a voice message at McCain.
Remember, we are in a “partnership” with corporate ag, let’s make sure we are not silent partners!
Comment esbee — July 9, 2008 @ 6:51 am
“Who Killed The Constitution” by Thomas Wood and Kevin Gutzman is hot off the press, available at Amazon for $17.13…A quote from Thomas Wood:”In a sense, our book states the obvious: the U.S. government is restrained not by the Constitution, but simply by a sense of what it can get away with”. From the reviews on this book ,we may all benefit from reading it, as we will understand more about our governments’ aggressive actions on NAIS and other things. Also, look at campaignforliberty.com today as they have info. on two important congressional hearings…one, today, at 10 a.m. on C-span on House Con.Res 362 which is about sanctions on Iran…(check our Charley Reese’s article: lewrockwell.com/reese/reese471.html ) And tomorrow, see Ron Paul in action…when the finance committee meets with Bernanke (Federal Reserve)…and the head of the US Treasury….also at 10 a.m. est…C-span
Comment The Phantom — July 9, 2008 @ 7:18 am
Just as a note, Ron Paul has officially ended his campaign. He now is focusing his “people” on his “Campaign For Liberty”. It will be a way for Old Right Republicans and other Conservatives to get together and support true conservative people and ideas (no NIAS). It’s too bad we won’t be able to vote for him in Nov., even Joel Salatin endorsed him.
Comment Steven — July 9, 2008 @ 1:43 pm
Remember the prez is only 1/3 of the political process in this country. It is not the prez we call when we complain about unfair actions such as NAIS, it is the other elected offal, like the senatoes and congrassmen. So not having Ron Paul as prez may not be a bad thing. More is done on the lobbyist level than sitting down and having a heart to heart with the commie-in-cheif.
Comment esbee — July 11, 2008 @ 8:42 am
Esbee…you’re right sort of.
At least on paper, but you know what they say about G-DAMN pieces of paper…
The President has become “stronger” in this era of ignoring the constitution. Witness the recent bowing of the Senate regards Immunity for Telephone companies /Bush spying etc. Congress no longer declares war, the President has a bad hair day and bombs start dropping. Congress is a cluster f*** and filled with idiots. Most of them don’t bother reading bills and just vote depending on who they owe a favor to.
Ron Paul would not have fixed everything, that’s impossible. His best trait is he realizes that’s not the role of Government, we need more people that understand Government’s role is supposed to be limited, not all powerful, before it’s too late.
I do agree that working at the local and State level politically is the best hope for success, Washington D.C. is a cess pool and beyond hope. It needs to be totally defunded.
Comment Bob Constantine — July 12, 2008 @ 5:25 am