In a previous article, Is This The End of Microfarms?, I addressed my concerns on HR bill 875 or The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act . This bill would literally change the procedures and ways of our farms as well as our ideals about the American dream as we know it.
HR bill 875 will:
“protect the public health by preventing food-borne illness, ensuring the safety of food, improving research on contaminants leading to food-borne illness, and improving security of food from international contamination, and for other purposes.”
If passed, this would give government agencies the power to tell the American public what they should eat, how they should care for produce and care for livestock. The facility owners will have no say in these matters. The government has made the decisions for them (as they like to do). They must adhere to guidelines or else there will be hell to pay. According to the website Rogue Government,
” The governement even plans to set up a Food Safety Administration to authorize this agency to integrate state and local agencies as fully as possible into national food safety efforts by forcing them to enforce federal food safety regulations. This section completely ignores the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution.”
At a time when businesses and consumers are already struggling, the price tag for this new agency will be in the billions. The L.A. Times says that the cost of reforms in the House bill is estimated at $3.7 billion over five years, with $1.4 billion of that to come from a $500-per-facility fee on food makers.
Voter support for this bill was at an overwhelming 90% according to a current voting poll from L.A. Times. The article states,
“There’s broad public support. It would be a quick win for both parties,” said Erik Olson, director of chemical and food safety programs in Pew’s Health & Human Services Policy program. “This is a rare situation where the industry is shoulder to shoulder with consumers.”
The bill was slated for hearing in Congress today. It is nice to see that Congress has enough time on their hands to overhaul a health care system and destroy our ways of life as we know it. Although, I should not be surprised, they passed the “Bail Outs” even though the citizens of this country adamantly opposed it. Interestingly, L.A. Times made no mention of the actual name of the bill or the effects and implications this bill would have on small farms and ranches as we know it. That’s the kind of reporting we are used to. It’s just another half hearted attempt at delivering what they think we should know about. As far as the media is concerned, we are on a “need to know” basis.
Do not get me wrong, I agree with finding vulnerabilities in our food sources and combating contaminants to improve the quality of food we eat. However, it is the “fine print” and vagueness of this bill that is concerning. According to Campaign For Liberty,
“It will affect anyone who produces food even if they do not sell but only consume it. It will literally put all independent farmers and food producers out of business due to the huge amounts of money it will take to conform to factory farming methods. If people choose to farm without industry standards such as chemical pesticides and fertilizers they will be subject to a variety of harassment from this completely new agency that has never before existed. That’s right, a whole new government agency is being created just to police food, for our own protection of course.”
I ask you – what is to stop the government from defining a small home garden as a food facility? Because of the vagueness of this bill, it is not only the micro farmers that are affected by this. Anyone who has a garden, or shares their produce with neighbors or even owns a local restaurant that supports local farmers and buys their produce could be affected. We could all be affected and pay the price dearly for not speaking up. . Many say that this bill is unconstitutional in that state rights will be stripped away. If passed, the state cannot go in and take care of the problem. It is a federal issue, thus will have federal repercussions.
“This Is a Vehicle For The Large Corporations Of Industrial Agriculture.”
Who is pushing for this bill to be passed? Some feel this bill is quietly being pushed by big agribusinesses, herbicides and pesticide companies who want to take out the little guy (organic farmers, micro farmers, and ranches) as opponents. Save those too big to fail.
Does this sound familiar?
If this pattern of accomodating corporate interests at the expense of small famers persists, then we could eventually expect something similar to what happened in Russia with Stalin. Our right to choose what type of food we put into our bodies is on the voting block. Our food sources will be controlled by the government. They will tell us how we should grow our food, when we should harvest our food and if we resist we face massive fines, jail time or possibly our land could be confiscated. They know that if they control the food source, they control the people. Welcome to the New America.
For more information:
http://www.ftcldf.org/index.html
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-food-safety22-2009oct22,0,514104.story
This legislation is by design. I am so furious that I’m about to burst. Our capitalistic way of life is being destroyed on purpose. Yes, our gov’t wants total control over all aspects of our lives. Control of the banks, auto manufacturing (one of the very last major mftg. entities in the USA), insurance, health care, and if we don’t watch it, Cap-n-Tax. The ultimate nail in the coffin is indeed, FOOD. They want us to be dependant upon just a few Mega Producers, and not be able to fend for ourselves. Mark my words, we are in the begining of what will amount to the worst depression in mankinds history. Communistic undertones, masquerading as Socialist leanings.
I hope and pray that the Feds do not take this Food Control too far. If they try to shut down a single family’s food garden, I’m afraid it will not end well. Backyard gardens will be popping up soon, just like the Victory Gardens of WWII. The micro-farms will indeed be hit hard. Organic markets will suffer.
In the 70’s the Fed flooded the market with dollars. There was 13% more physical money floating around than there should have been. The result was 20% interest rates for consumer loans. Well, hold onto your hat. The Fed has now increased the money supply by 300%. Now, mind you, the majority of that money is “locked up” in banks, because they are not lending. But they will eventually start, and then BAMM, hyperinflation. Zimbawe will start looking attractive.
Invest in hard assets. Life saving commodities, quality farming equipment, and a conservative amount of gold and silver. Just don’t put all your eggs in one basket though. If all you bought was gold, you would find yourself having a hard time trading for loaves of bread. Not to mention if the Fed decided to pull the “citizens turn in all of your gold” and make it illegal to own it. (just like the good old days)
Great stuff Kevin! We are definately seeing a major shift in this country. Sadly, too many are unwilling to see.
I wholeheartedly agree with what you are saying. In regards to this blog, I would like to quote Catherine Bertini, UN World Food Program Executive Director, 1997,
It’s a scary world we live in. Thanks for commenting.
Tess
We think we know whats up, we dont. They new ppl would wake to whats happening in this country. They r ready to counter us, dont forget they have endless funds to work with. They r very smart ppl doing this. We realy dont have much of a chance to win, but we must not give up the fight. I will fight to my death. I will not live in there world of slavery. So here is what we r fighting. Chem trails, Bees dieing, Fed bank, cbs, nbc, cnn, Flu shots, Co2, Gov, Police state, Veri chip, 9/11, Drug comp, Two wars, No jobs, UN, CFR, Builderburg, Rothchild, Morgans, Rockafelle, TLC, Free Masons, ILLUMINATI, Health care bill, FEAM camps, Mass graves, FEMA coffins,GMO foods, Population reduction, HD Tv brain washing, HAARP, foreclosures. Follow the money, for its the root of all eivil. The NWO is moving to fast to counter them. Ready up your FAMILIES. I will see u on the other side. And in what ever GOD u belive in may he bless u all. Just LOVE : ] each other
kevin bill 875,written by Rosa Delauro,of new Haven Connecticut, and who its on the Ag committee wrote the bill,theere were close to one million negative responses, and it died.
However there is a new house bill,almost as bad, which passed, and yes it allows FDA to attack small farms and put us out of business, as we prevent argibusiness, monsanto, cargill, Du pont, and the rest of the chemical giants from ruling the fossil fuel dominated and controlled turff…..about 12 % of our US fqrmers are farming in other countries, and are well supported and doing well without agribusiness-government harassment.
In 2009, Americans bought in excess of 14 million firearms. I would suggest we triple that number in 2010. I think we are going to need them before this nonsense ends.
We must hold our government to a higher standard. It is important to let our elected officials know where we stand in regards to the limiting of our freedoms. And we must hold them accountable for the choices they make – on our behalf. All we can do is use our voices, eliminate our debts and prepare for any possible disasters that we see in our near future.
Educate and inform the whole mass of people…They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty. – Thomas Jefferson
A reader asked that this be published to make it easy for readers to stop these blatant attempts at limiting our freedoms.
Thanks JS for sending this.
HR bill 875 aka: S.510 or The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act
The Library of Congress: http://thomas.loc.gov/
In Committee: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
• Direct line: 202-224-5375
• General Switchboard Number: 202-224-3121
There are 2 versions of Bill Number S.510 for the 111th Congress
1 . FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (Introduced in Senate)[S.510.IS][PDF]
2 . FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (Reported in Senate)[S.510.RS][PDF]
S.510:
Title: A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the safety of the food supply.
Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] (introduced 3/3/2009) Cosponsors (15)
Related Bills: H.R.1332
Latest Major Action: 12/18/2009 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 247.
Here are the links to all committee members for contact: IT IS IMPERRATIVE THAT YOU TAKE THE TIME TO CLICK THROUGH TO EACH AND EVERY REPRESENTATIVE/SENATOR AND SEND AN EMAIL IN OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL TO KILL IT BEFORE IT GOES TO THE SENATE FLOOR FOR VOTE.
PLEASE copy and paste this statement to make contacting quicker and easier:
I IMPLORE YOU TO OPPOSE HR BILL 875 / S.510: THE “FDA FOOD SAFETY MODERNIZATION ACT” IN BOTH VERSIONS AND IN ALL FORMS! THIS BILL IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND STRIPS INDIVIDUAL AND STATE’S RIGHTS AWAY! WE WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO MAKE ILLEGAL, OUR RIGHT TO FREELY FISH IN NATIONAL WATERS! NOR WILL WE ALLOW YOU TO DESTROY OUR RIGHT TO FREELY PLANT AND GROW FOOD AS WE SO DESIRE TO FEED OUR FAMILIES! NOR WILL WE ALLOW YOU TO HINDER FARMERS FROM GROWING THEIR CROPS! STOP DESTROYING OUR FREEDOMS! STOP ATTACKING OUR LIVES, LIBERTIES AND OUR INDIVIDUAL PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS!
WE MUST PUT SERIOUS PRESSURE ALL SENATORS/REPRESENTATIVES. CALL, EMAIL, WRITE AND DEMAND THAT THEY KILL THIS BILL – WE, AS A PEOPLE, WILL NOT SIT BY AND ALLOW OUR FREEDOMS TO BE DESTROYED ANY LONGER!
US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Go to their website to click through to each member’s website to email them: http://help.senate.gov/
Democrats by Rank
Tom Harkin (IA) – (Head Chair of the Committee)
Christopher Dodd (CT)
Barbara A. Mikulski (MD)
Jeff Bingaman (NM)
Patty Murray (WA)
Jack Reed (RI)
Bernard Sanders (I) (VT)
Sherrod Brown (OH)
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (PA)
Kay Hagan (NC)
Jeff Merkley (OR)
Al Franken (MN)
Michael Bennet (CO)
Republicans by Rank
Michael B. Enzi (WY)
Judd Gregg (NH)
Lamar Alexander (TN)
Richard Burr (NC)
Johnny Isakson (GA)
John McCain (AZ)
Orrin G. Hatch (UT)
Lisa Murkowski (AK)
Tom Coburn, M.D. (OK)
Pat Roberts (KS)
It has been an article that has been described in the best way I have ever read. Thank you admin