Yes on Prop 2
Seth called my attention tonight to some interesting farming legislation in California. Proposition 2 "prohibits the confinement of farm animals in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs." Visit ballotpedia.org to follow legislation on the issues that are important to you
posted by 100YearsOfTrash @ 10:12 PM
2 Comments:
Prop 8 is far more "interesting". It strikes fundamentally at liberty for HUMANS. I for one am far more concerned about human liberty, rather than the freedom of livestock.
BLP
As well-intentioned as Prop 2 may be -- I assume most of its supporters believe sincerely in this cause -- it has a not insignificant cost: the price of a large number of food stuffs that the great majority of americans buy will be raised. Eggs, Milk, Cheese, Yogurt, Poulty and Beef, to name a few, will be more costly. This will not impact me greatly. Unfortunately, the impact of any price increase will have the greatest impact on the poor and less well off. (Think back to the effect that rising grocery prices had on Americans -- the cause was then high fuel prices).
Perhaps we should leave people free to choose to spend their food dollars are they see best. Should we force people to subsidize a particular farming method?
P.S. I am more than a little suspicious at what the actual political forces are behind this measure. My guess: Farmers that are in the "free-range" business are pushing for this measure in a way that is not seen by the public. Why? Free range farmers compete against one another as well as "industrial" farmers. The latter have a lower cost structure and compete by offering a product at a lower cost. Many people choose to pay a higher for reasons such as health and morality; other purchase based solely on price. If the free range farmers can raise their competitor's cost -- without raising their own costs -- they stand to make more money. Notably, existing free-range farmers have a huge head start on complying with this measure, were it pass. Meanwhile, people who are sincerely concerned about animal welfare give these special interests the necessary political cover to pass an anti-competitve piece of legislation. It is a bootleggers and baptists problem. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bootleggers_and_Baptists
BLP
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