March 3, 2009
These are troubled times. Cities all across the nation are competing for the dubious distinction of "foreclosure capital of the U.S." - a designation sure to cause sleepless nights for the mayor. Over a year ago, Stockton, California was cast in this role, featured on a 60 Minutes episode describing the nightmare. Stockton has stayed at or near the top of this sad list ever since.
And now for the bad news. Stockton is in Stanislaus County - a region with an economy largely supported by egg farmers. Along with the housing market, they are about to be wiped out.
An astonishing thing happened last November. After a month of repeated warnings from the Treasury Secretary and Federal Reserve Chairman that our nation was teetering on the brink of the next Great Depression, California voted to shackle it's food supply. This could only happen in a society that has never know hunger, has never known rampant disease.
This could only happen in a society that needs to see a lot more pictures of the "death camps" of tens of thousands of dead chickens in China after an Avian Bird Flu outbreak.
This could only happen in an election where voters were lied to and manipulated over and over again.
We live in a world where far too many people go hungry - truly hungry - starve-to-death hungry. Even here in the United States of America, we live in a nation we have suddenly realized is vulnerable to the desperation, hunger and poverty of the Great Depression.
In this world, American egg farmers deserve a lot more respect than they've been getting. Eggs are a protein powerhouse packed in a little white shell. California eggs are one of the most nutritious, affordable food sources available to man, produced under the strictest safety guidelines practiced anywhere. The California egg industry is the poster child for self-policing in their adherence to safety standards. All of this was nice while it lasted. And when I say "while it lasted," I'm talking about family egg farms passed on for 7 straight generations - American farming at it's best. This tradition is now facing extinction because vegan activists and terrorists are determined to abolish animal agriculture in our country.
Terrorists, you say? Yes, terrorists. The "animal rights" movement, led by the rich and powerful Washington D.C. lobbying group, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), has close ties to the Animal Liberation Front (ALF). ALF also has close ties to the Earth Liberation Front (ELF).
ALF and ELF may have impish-sounding acronyms, but there's nothing cute or playful about them. These two organizations top the FBI Domestic Terrorist Watch List.
Increasingly, the deceptively-named "Humane" Society of the United States controls the food that Americans eat. Last November, they did irrevocable damage to California, and now they are preparing for their attack on other states nationwide. Whenever you hear that HSUS is backing a bill or ballot initiative, and pleading for your support, please remember the following.
The President of HSUS - vegan Wayne Pacelle is on record with the following statement: "One generation and out. We have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals."
HSUS spokesman J.P. Goodwin is a former ALF member who advocates arson and violence in advancing the AR agenda. J.P.'s mission in life, along with domestic terrorism, arson and destruction? "My goal is the abolition of all animal agriculture."
California's Proposition 2, sponsored by HSUS, mandated abolishing the caged housing systems which account for the vast majority of eggs produced in California. These systems were designed by subject matter experts to keep chickens safe, healthy and happy. They ensured eggs that were safe from salmonella. They kept chickens safe from harsh weather, predators, and Avian Bird Flu. They ensured eggs that even cash-strapped Americans could afford. Good for chickens, good for consumers, good for our economy. Nice while it lasted.
HSUS President Wayne Pacelle and the Yes on Prop 2 campaign repeatedly assured voters that all they wanted was a little more freedom for the chickens. In the chicken world, sometimes freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose (subject of a separate post.)
In HSUS's campaign to get Prop 2 passed, they issued the statement, "New UC Davis study claims Prop 2 is good for consumers."
THE TRUTH? Here's what the UC Davis study on Proposition 2 reported:
"To comply with the new (Prop 2) regulations, California producers would need to invest about $500 million in new or retrofitted housing systems."
"The most likely outcome therefore, is the elimination of almost all of the California egg industry over a very few years. About 3,000 people work in egg production, mostly in Southern California, the Central Valley and Sonoma County. The elimination of those jobs would have a significant impact on the California economy, especially in rural areas such as in Merced County, which has much higher poverty and unemployment rates than the state average."
Good for consumers? HSUS needed a nuclear-powered spin machine to come up with that interpretation.
So, HSUS knew all along that Prop 2 passage wouldn't eliminate hens living in caged housing systems. They knew it would eliminate nearly the entire California egg industry - which is exactly what they wanted. And it isn't just California farmers they are out to destroy. Wherever you live in the nation, HSUS is coming to your state, and they're gunning for your farmers. Think you're entitled to safe, affordable, high-quality food produced by a farmer nearby? HSUS thinks different.
Before HSUS deceived California voters into passing Prop 2, California produced about 6% of the nation's table eggs, and consumed about 12%.
Consumers already had the option of buying eggs from "cage-free" hens. All of the major grocery store chains in California have stacks and stacks of cartons of "cage-free" hens sitting right there, waiting to be picked up and purchased by any consumer who is willing to pay (much) more for them. It's been that way for years. And that's as it should be: FREEDOM OF CHOICE. It's the American way.
Please remember that when HSUS tries to shove their agenda down your throat in a bill or ballot initiative coming soon to your state.
