Main Entry: vol·un·tary
Pronunciation: ‘väl-&n-”ter-E
Function: adjective
1 : proceeding from the will or from one’s own choice or consent
2 : of, relating to, subject to, or regulated by the will—vol·un·tari·ly adverb
-Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary
Voluntary means voluntary, right? You know, you get to choose. But in the Brave New World Order where words are being redefined. A very relevant example for small farmers, homesteaders and pet livestock owners (e.g., horses) is the April 2006 USDA document which talks about the USDA’s proposed National Animal Identification System (NAIS) being voluntary (page 1, paragraph 3). This is a switch from the past strong usage of the word mandatory. The USDA, in this document and its press releases, seems to be trying hard to tone down the language and avoid the term mandatory if possible.
If only life were so good and the government so honest. Please turn to page 3, paragraph 1 where they discuss the “Contingency Plan” which states that if we don’t voluntarily sign up to their satisfaction (no definition given) then they will force it down our throats:
“If participation rates are not adequate, the development of regulations through normal rulemaking procedures will be considered to require participation in certain aspects of the program.“
That isn’t what I call voluntary. More like a Mafia style protection racket - for our own good, of course. Pay up or else…
Here in Vermont our Agency of Agriculture has backed down from their original plans for full implementation of NAIS and is now saying that “The program is still voluntary, and anyone who wishes to unregister can do so.” What they fail to mention is they are working hard to make it mandatory as soon as they can. Fortunately we have a citizen legislature that is listening to concerned Vermonters and digging in their heels so we have some time to think this through.
A big issue with Premises ID is it is discriminating against livestock owners. It is like the yellow star of Hitler’s Germany. (And yes, I get to use this example.) The current excuse for NAIS is Avian Influenza (AI). Livestock aren’t the only animals that get Avian flu - cats and people do too. My kitty cats go out and eat wild birds and bring their infections back to their human families. If the government is so afraid of AI then they should be worried more about wild birds, domestic cats and human travelers than livestock - those are more serious vectors of bird flu. Chickens are merely terminal hosts.
Unlike big factory farms with their masses of crowded birds primed for mutation to High Pathogenic AI (HPAI), small backyard flocks are healthier, more distributed, not sitting on and eating their own manure or crowded into conditions that are perfect for breeding a new super virus. Grandma’s egg hen is not a threat to society. This whole hoopla is simply a case of miss-direction. The Ag Depts are going to spend hundreds millions of dollars on a program that is looking for flu in the wrong places.
We don’t need an expensive new Premises ID for outreach or education either - we already have a 911 system, the media, emergency broadcasting system, the web, gossip at the general store, etc. If someone is so isolated that they won’t get the word through one of these means then they are not a threat to society and the ag dept. shouldn’t be worrying about them. We don’t need a complex new system of Premises ID tacked onto our already hackneyed government programs to duplicate existing forms of communication or identification. Everyone already has a 911 address - assume they have a bird, a cat or a human there…
On the flip side, let me say that I do applaud the Vermont Agency of Agriculture’s new focus on education and testing rather than routine depopulation. This is encouraging. We need more of that. We aren’t idiots who need to be led around by the nose. The USDA would benefit from taking a page from the Vermont approach to educating farmers. I would like to see more of this.
Any program should also be completely market driven. If the buyer wants trace-back, they should pay a premium to the sellers who choose to offer it. Good old capitalism. There is no need to help the Mega-Corps like MacDonald’s keep their costs down by forcing everyone to provide trace-back - that is fascism. We don’t need to be supporting their profits through government programs - let them bid on the open market for their beef. No need for the government to be a middleman in this game. If people really want to know where their food comes from then they could buy local. Isn’t that a Vermont Agency of Agriculture slogan?!?
Preventing disease is a good idea. NAIS is a bad idea. We can achieve the stated goals of disease management without trampling all over our constitutional rights, invading people’s privacy and wasting hundreds of millions of dollars.
Whatever we end up with, it should be kept 100% voluntary by the original meaning of the word. Honest use of the words would be nice. Voluntary means you choose, not the Mafia, er, I mean government.
Did anyone watch the ABC Bird Flu Panic Movie? I saw 5 minutes before switching back to something more interesting. The reviews this moring are just what you’d expect. . .”much needed wake-up call”; “teachable moment”. I wish they’d make a movie like this about what the NAIS will do to America and the aftermath as the NIAA and USDA launch a Farm Police State–that is cause for panic.
I happened to be watching another AI program last night Tivo’d from last week. What a load of Cobblers. Treating chickens as WMD’s is not the way through this thing.
And by the way, has anyone noticed what isn’t happening? Earlier this year the flu was steamrolling across the Middle East, hit Turkey–Europe was next. Deaths and sickness did not and have not been recorded in Europe. Dead birds in France and off the coast of Scotland. Outbreak in Norfolk. Deaths?? Anyone, Anyone?
It seems, so far, that once this disease has hit the “first world” it has slowed down dramatically. No mass poultry culls, no outbreaks in humans. Sure a few cats in Germany, but that was months ago. Surely there either is a press black out, or Nothing More Has Happened. . . .?
And which, by the way, is the right story–that Avian Flu is common in wild fowl, who are hosts, and the chickens get it from them; or that chickens contracted the disease first and infected the wild population? If it’s the first case than how did the disease spread so rapidly along non-migratory routes? How often does infected wildfowl feces get into large scale poultry houses? Why hasn’t this been a worse problem over time. 1997 is the beginning of this latest debacle, but why not before then? And why so bad now?
Surely the second scenario plays out better. Kept in tight confinement and appauling conditions domestic poultry start dropping dead of something wierd. The farmers pitch the dead birds out to rot and some how contaminate drinking water which infects wildfowl. Sure wildfowl have a variation of the flu virus in their system, just like the chickens, just like we and cows are full of e. coli. The reason the AI virus kills chickens and not wild fowl is because it came from chickens. The contaminated hosts now fly around spreading the flu in small, isolated areas. But the unsuspecting and often dishonest and greedy human component enters and infected chickens are transported all over the place spreadin the disease far and wide along migratory routes–human, not duck.
So then conspiracy theorists, isn’t the Pandemic just a way of obfuscating the real issue and covering up the fact that our food system in the world is really screwed up and no NAIS or other system is going to help clean it up until there is some major housecleaning at the top? The rot is from with in and it is up to the rest of us to do whatever we can to see that it doesn’t spread. NAIS, pandemic panic, fear those are the real threats to small farmers, chickens and livestock, not migratory birds.
http://www.podchef.motime.com
Comment Podchef — May 10, 2006 @ 8:26 am
Walter;
You have written a very good article here, and I can agree with almost all of it without reservation.
However, I must object to the comparison between this cause and the holocaust. Your reference to the yellow star of Hitler’s nazi government is offensive to me.
You want to beware of using such an analogy, even if it is your right to do so.
Comparing this program of premise id and animal id to the holocaust is going too far. Such inflammatory language will offend many and could cause some to doubt the credibility of the entire site.
I am certain that you did not mean to compare NAIS to Hitler’s genocide which we have come to label as the holocaust.
Please clarify you reference to the yellow star
(paragraph 5).
Comment Neil W. — May 10, 2006 @ 9:14 am
Neil, The mark of NAIS (Premise ID) is being put on the farmers and rural folk who own livestock like the yellow star was used in Germany. With NAIS the USDA is destroying a segment of society and our independence by incorrectly demonizing us as their source of disease. This is just what Hitler did with Jews and economics, blaming the Jewish people for the economic troubles of Germany, making them scrape goats and killing them off as a distraction from the real problems. NAIS is fascist. I see our government becoming more and more like the Nazis. We must never forget what was done by Hitler or it will be repeated all to easily. -WJ
Comment walterj — May 10, 2006 @ 9:49 am
The American Dairy Goat Association is taking nominations for district directors. Primary ballots must reach the CPA by June 1st. We need anti-NAIS members who want to run and weed out the encumbants to make themselves known to us so we can vote for them. I am a member of District VII. I have written all my “representatives” and the ADGA executives and gotten no response. Please speak up!
Comment Lory Anderson — May 10, 2006 @ 12:07 pm
Lory,Good idea!!I wrote the ADGA yesterday an expressed my dismay with them and told them I’d never use them again and I’d spread the word to others that still use them I think it would be good for folks in any group to rebel against the group if it supports NAIS.Walt,Websters dictionary says HOL’O-CAUST’a noun,meaning,”a great destruction, I think you are right to use the term in this manner.
Comment LEE — May 10, 2006 @ 12:48 pm
Awesome commintary I dident find it offensive at all ! We have to get the point across .. are freedoms are being disolved right before our eyes.. In the last few years the gap between the goverment and its people is the biggest in the history of the good ole USA! Isnt it suppose to be by the people for the people? or is it for the goverment by the goverment?
Betty Rodgers Colorado
Comment Betty Rodgers — May 10, 2006 @ 12:53 pm
My husband and I have known for a while now that the worldwide petroleum supply has hit peak and will be on the decline. I visited a website today that lays it all out in frightening detail link and as I was mulling over the quotes that the site had from government officials, quotes which I have also seen in other places, that they know exactly how the petro supply is dwindling and how the government is building these huge detention centers that they say are “for immigrants”, the proverbial light bulb turned on over my head. As I thought how petro dependant our food system is (the average meal travels over 1500 miles), and what is going to happen to the food supply when the oil becomes scarce suddenly the phrase “national herd” made sense. Suddenly NAIS made sense in a frightening sort of way. It never did make sense as a method of disease control since the government is in reality totally disinterested in really controlling mad cow, e.coli, etc.
Comment Ricki — May 10, 2006 @ 1:23 pm
I AGREE, comparing this to Hitler’s star. Dopn’t people see what is REALLY going on? This is MUCH bigger than just registering and tracking animals. IT IS THE FIRST STEP IN TRACKING US! we WILL be next, and then we are in much the same situation as those poor people from the holocaust. The bewst thing is TO REMEMBER THAT!!!!!!!!!
Before they started this the goveernment was talking about microchipping people [YES THEY WERE!} But, they got too much opposition, so they came up with doing the animals first. Think about it folks, what good will it do to track the animals if you don’t track the people who have been near them, and who they’vbe been near,and who they’ve been near etc. If we don’t stop this NOW we might as well just say Hail (BUSH] Hitler.
Comment Faith Graichen — May 10, 2006 @ 1:42 pm
Walter youre right to use the comparison of NAIS to NAZIS. The gov is taking way our rights. They are labeling us with a mark. They are threatening us with fees, fines and confiscation of our property. They are makring farmers as a people apart. They are villifying farmers as spreaders of diseases and plagues. That dum Kerr called chickens owners irresponsible on the radio program. He said that backyard chickens a source of pandemics. What he and the restof the gov are really doing is distracting the public from the real problems with hocus pocus and not real issues. NAIS is a slight of hand that is vilifying people who have animals. They are fascist and like the Nazis. You were right to make that comparison. NAIS is like the yellow star that Hitler put on the Jewish people. NAIS is very scary. I dont even have animals yet but I hate NAIS. It is wrong!!!! Stuf like this is destroying our country.
Comment PV — May 10, 2006 @ 2:06 pm
Wondering if their is a cattle owner that can tell me the occurrance of cattle being exposed to “meat products” in feed since it was supposed to be banned?
Comment LuAnn — May 10, 2006 @ 3:24 pm
Do you get this Organic Consumers’ OrganicBytes newsletter? If not I thought you might like it.
Comment Jan Perkins — May 10, 2006 @ 3:53 pm
Holocaust-Premise ID, Look up “Premise” in Wikipedia. Pay particlar attention to the third definition. Zyklon B, ring a bell? To be honest you will find many of the same players from the Holocaust re*emerging* in NAIS.
Comment Celeste — May 10, 2006 @ 4:46 pm
LuAnn,
Not a major cattle owner, but I have it on good authority that animal blood is still used in calf milk-replacer, so “meat products” may have been banned but not animal products–almost all calves in intensive systems are being fed crap. Also, speaking litterally–pun intended–many cattle are fed chicken litter; basically everything on the hen house floor. . . . The USDA was supposed to ban this a few years back, but err some how hmm forgot to, oh bother, do the right thing.
http://www.podchef.motime.com
Comment Podchef — May 10, 2006 @ 4:46 pm
Walter: I think you hit the nail on the head with your analygy. This is about the scariest thing the government has come up with in my memory. We went through the atomic bomb drills as kids, and looked forward to the future, and now we have to worry about whether our children & grandchildren will even get to know what an animal is . . . you know this is merely a ploy to remove our freedoms.
Comment Donna Arthur — May 10, 2006 @ 4:47 pm
Yes great anology, NAIS even looks alittle like NAZI, and I agree with the above posts, that this is the scariest thing the gov. has done, since 1776! In my wildest dreams(nightmares) did I ever think something like this would even be thought of, much less implemented. I wonder if they’ll want to chip our night”mares” too! I’m sure they would want to know what we all are thinking. Its like a sci fi horror flick. Farenhiet 451 ish, not books but pets and livestock. Picking on the homesteader, small farmer. Has anyone heard what “AG DAY” has to say? There has been small segments on the news, but not much. I’ve missed them all of course! Nina Swain carouswain@yahoo.com
Comment Nina Swain — May 10, 2006 @ 5:59 pm
Walter,
I agree that any form of an animal tracking program should be voluntary, but I strongly believe that no program should be run by any level of government. If we fail to push back these voluntary premises registration programs already in place we will be fighting this forever. Our goal must be to completely stop NAIS. Any industry (beef,pork, poultry etc.) is free to institute any tracking program they wish. As you have said, if there is consumer demand for such a thing then capitalism will take care of the costs in the usual way. The business of government is government and if there is even a trace of NAIS left, the bureaucrats will try to build a bigger system forever. It is simply what they do. It is up to us to stop them.
Comment Paul Horton — May 10, 2006 @ 6:53 pm
Good point, Paul. What the state and federal ag departments are doing is sending up a ‘trial balloon’. If it floats, they can proceed with their program. Obviously, thanks to the likes of Walter, it hasn’t. However, the publication of NAIS has achieved its purpose. An example of this is the ABC Bird Flu special. Now that mandatory registration of farmers and theiir premises has been suggested, some of the public will believe that it has already happened. Propaganda-scare ‘documentaries’ function to advance the idea that only prompt government action will save children from evil-doers spreading disease (unclean backyard types without ’scientific’ farming background).
It is in the propagation of deliberate misinformation that NAIS is similar to nazi-fascist political tactics. This has been going on for some time in this country, however. We routinely allow a multitude of govt officials to collect and study all kinds of information about our lives, and then to take action on laws we may have violated. Some people think of this as security (social security?) We have sold our liberty for security . . . repeatedly.
Excellent commentary and comments. Lots of brilliant people here.
[I don’t have TV and didn’t get to see the ABC Bird Flu drama. If anyone would like to email me comments about it that would be great. -WJ]
Comment Alan LePage — May 10, 2006 @ 8:16 pm
As far as the movie is concerned I did watch it. Its intention is to scare us to except two things, one is to believe what our government tells us and do what they say and the second is to get the flu shot they will be dishing out to us. Its called brain washing. I for one will not get any of the shots. In the movie the flu shots saved the day.
Comment Nancy Wilkins — May 11, 2006 @ 6:44 am
I, of Hebrew extraction, do not take offense at the analogy of with NAIS “they are coming for you” or your animals. This system is the mark of the beast, first for animals and then man and woman. I expect us to have chips too for identification. That is why they are encouraging or accelerating the illegal immigration problem through inaction and allowing it to free fall. Soon, they will declare the problem unmanageable “except” for the implantation of national ID chips in “citizens”.
Molon Labe
Comment Craig — May 11, 2006 @ 7:59 am
Thanks podchef that was helpful and errr forgot stuff sounds all too familiar.
Comment LuAnn — May 11, 2006 @ 3:21 pm
This just in–an May 11th NY Times article claims the Bird Flu hasn’t been carried by Migratory Birds like feared. Europe has been spared for the moment. Its spread has all been down to Human interaction and transportation of infected poultry.
For more read: link
Comment Podchef — May 11, 2006 @ 7:16 pm
Sometimes the truth is not sweet! I have to agree, this is a blatent step toward government control of the people. I am glad to see people speaking out! Another great way to control masses is put them in poverty. People who can barely afford to live don’t make waves…they are too busy trying to survive and hang on to the little they have. In my opinion, this is just wrong on the part of the Governemnt. I pay my income taxes, property taxes, sales tax, fuel tax, etc. etc. My animals are mine…the Feds need to keep out of my personal business!
Comment Leslie — May 11, 2006 @ 7:28 pm
Great article- you are so right about educating the public. As with any subject, education is the key to allowing individuals to be successful and accountable for their own lives. We need to put efforts into allowing our citizens to use what they know to make good buying decisions for themselves. NAIS is NOT the way to solve the pending problems of Avian flu. I raise and sell backyard chickens and eggs, goats and sheep, and NAIS will mean the end of my small but pleasurable operation. If only the media would spend as much time educating and telling people to buy locally as they do scaring people we would be a lot better off.
Comment Lee Ann — May 12, 2006 @ 5:58 am
Yah. Voluntary as in you WILL volunteer or we ah gonna draft your sorry ass!!!!! Gotta love our gov
Comment PV — May 13, 2006 @ 10:06 am
From the PA dog law
Section 21.42. Bills of sale.
The Department added subsection (b) to this section. Subsection (b) addresses the in-State and out-of-State licensure provisions of the act. Subsection (b) notifies licensed kennel owners that it is a
“violation of the act to purchase, accept, sell on behalf of or transport a dog from a kennel required to be, but not licensed under the provisions of the act.”
It provides an exception where the Department provides the kennel owner with written permission to accept dogs from an unlicensed kennel.
How long before this little jot and tittle of a dog law gets into the “voluntary” part of NAIS? Those who have fallen into the NAIS snare would be outlawed from doing business with those of us who have not.
Comment SUSAN — February 3, 2007 @ 9:31 pm
Susan,in Pa the dumber it is the more likely it is to succeed,it is quite likely that such a provision will eventually make its way in the NAIS laws,it will be divide and conquer,us against them so to speak,make sure who your friends are.
Comment LEE — February 4, 2007 @ 11:52 am
Found a Virginia student essay about the Real ID Act, that explains, in the most simple terms, the government’s use of “voluntary”. In the middle of page 5 he writes, “Congress avoids the constitutional problem by simply calling the act a voluntary program…”. I have talked this NAIS thing to death, but have never used that exact phrase as an explanation. NAIS, Real ID, IRS. Brilliant!
link
Comment Texas Goat Gal — February 18, 2007 @ 12:27 pm
I happened across this on Chevon Talk (Yahoo Group for meat goats farmers)and was glad to see an organized demonstration against NAIS. The T-T corridor is pat of the SPP (Security & Prosperity Partnership) trhat ranks right there w/ NAIS. Opens the borders with the USA, Mexico & Canada. You can buy a “EZ Tag” and not have to stop at the border, customs, etc. The best thing of all, since it’s a “partnership”, Confress was by passed and Condi is a BIG pusher of it. This is alink from “Judicial Watch” http://www.judicialwatch.org/SPP.shtml
Big Brother never sleeps.
Rich
Don’t Tag Texas
Join us and other organizations in Austin on
Friday, March 2, for a rally to protest both the
National Animal Identification System and the
Trans-Texas Corridor. Our elected officials need
to hear from the people! A parade of tractors,
animals, and people will drive, ride, and walk up
Congress Avenue to the Capitol. There will be
speakers and a musical performance on the steps
of the Capitol. See below for more information
about the speakers and logistics, or go to
http://farmandranchfreed\
om.org/content/dont-tag-texas.
We need everyone to help make this event a success!!
1) Come to Austin! Join us for the march, or at
the steps of the Capitol to hear the speakers and
performance. Go into the Capitol and talk to
your legislators about why you are against NAIS!
2) Spread the word. Tell your friends and
neighbors, download the
flyer
and put it out in local feed stores and co-cops,
take the
press
release in to your local newspaper or radio
station and ask them to do a story on it.
3) Volunteer to help. We need people to help
both before and the day of the rally. Please
contact us at
info@…
or 866-687-6452 if you can help.
4) Donate. We need donations to help cover the
costs of parking, buses, printing signs,
etc. You can
donate
online, and earmark the donation for the rally.
More Information
Date: Friday, March 2, 2007
Time: The march will begin at 1:45 pm, and the
rally on the steps of the capitol will run from 2:30-5:00
Musical Performance: Jimmie Vaughan, one of the
greatest guitarists in the world of popular
music, will be performing a song about
RFIDs.
www.jimmievaughan.com
Speakers (partial list):
Hank Gilbert (MC): 2006 Candidate for Agriculture Commissioner
Penny Langford-Freeman: District Director for Congressman Ron Paul
Liz McIntyre: Co-author of Spychips: How Major
Corporations and Government Plan to Track Your
Every Purchase and Watch Your Every Move
Michael Badnarik: Libertarian candidate for President in 2004
John Dromgoole: The Natural Gardener
Judith McGeary: Executive Director, Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance
Linda Curtis: Executive Director of Independent Texans
David Stall: Co-Founder of Corridor Watch
Terri Hall: Regional Director, San Antonio Toll Party
Gina Parker: National Issues Chairman, Eagle Forum
And more …
Tractors, horses, cattle, etc: All animals need
to be under full control at all times - please do
not bring any animals that are not used to
traffic, crowds, and lots of noise. After the
march, tractors and livestock will be escorted
back to the staging area where they will stay
during the speaker portion of the rally because
we cannot have them on the Capitol grounds. City
crews will deal with any manure on the streets,
but please be prepared to clean up manure at the parking lot.
We need volunteers to watch the animals back at
the staging area from 2:30-5:30. Please let us
know if you are willing to help.
Staging Area for the March: We have reserved a
parking lot at the northeast corner of Cesar
Chavez (1st) and Red River. If you plan to be
part of the march up Congress, please be at the
staging area around 1 pm and NO LATER THAN 1:30
pm.
Click
here for a map of the area — the lot is marked with a star.
Route for the March: Everyone will march together
down Cesar Chavez (1st) Street to Congress, and
then up Congress Avenue. When we reach the
Capitol, the people on foot will remain
there. Tractors and livestock will turn right on
11th Street and go to Red River, and then go down
Red River back to the staging area. People will
then be bused and shuttled back to the Capitol steps.
Other Parking: Tractors and trailers will have
first rights on the reserved parking. So if
you’re driving in your car, be prepared to look
for nearby parking. Texas Capitol, Capitol
Extension and Capitol Visitors Center Parking is
available in the Capitol Visitors Parking Garage
at 1201 San Jacinto located between Trinity and
San Jacinto Streets at 12th and 13th
streets. Metered spaces are available throughout
the complex. There are several parking lots
around the Capitol that charge daily rates. In
addition, there are several parking garages off
of Congress:
http://www.down\
townaustin.com/transportation/parking/lots/
Lobbying: While you’re in Austin, go talk to
your legislator in person. We’ll have talking
points and information packets to help people
effectively lobby their legislators. Don’t be
discouraged if your legislator is gone, because
talking to their staff is very important
too!!! Remember, be polite at all times.
Signs: We will have some signs available at the
rally. Feel free to bring your own sign, as long
as it has no profanity. All signs should have
slogans focused only on the topics of the rally: NAIS and the TTC.
Email Alerts: We will be emailing information
about the rally to our Texas listserv. You can
also sign up for email alerts on the blog that
was created just for this rally:
http://www.dont-tagtexas.com/
See you in Austin on March 2!
Judith McGeary
Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance
Comment Rich Timm — February 21, 2007 @ 1:44 pm