Thursday, March 12, 2009

My Little Arsenal and H.R. 875



Have you heard about H.R. 875: Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009?
Already known as the bill to criminalize organic farming. The bill has already been introduced and referred to committee... which only leaves 4 steps for it to become law. But with the appropriate action from THE PEOPLE.... not our savior Obama..... we still have a chance to defeat this authoritarian legislation!
I haven't personally read the bill in it's entirety YET... but will CONTINUE to pick through it in the following weeks, and familiarize myself with it's sections. For the time being though.... here are a couple red flags that others have already discovered.
THIS ISN'T EVEN THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG!

Pay special attention to

* Section 3 which is the definitions portion of the bill-read in it's entirety.
* section 103, 206 and 207- read in it's entirety.

* Legally binds state agriculture depts to enforcing federal guidelines effectively taking away the states power to do anything other than being food police for the federal dept.
* Effectively criminalizes organic farming but doesn't actually use the word organic.
* Effects anyone growing food even if they are not selling it but consuming it.
* Effects anyone producing meat of any kind including wild game.
* Legislation is so broad based that every aspect of growing or producing food can be made illegal. There are no specifics which is bizarre considering how long the legislation is.
* Section 103 is almost entirely about the administrative aspect of the legislation. It will allow the appointing of officials from the factory farming corporations and lobbyists and classify them as experts and allow them to determine and interpret the legislation. Who do you think they are going to side with?
* Section 206 defines what will be considered a food production facility and what will be enforced up all food production facilities. The wording is so broad based that a backyard gardener could be fined and more.
* Section 207 requires that the state's agriculture dept act as the food police and enforce the federal requirements. This takes away the states power and is in violation of the 10th amendment.


Link here


Actual Bill Here

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