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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] NAIS or making an omlette with rotten eggs

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  • From: Brigette Leach <avalonfarmshomegrown AT earthlink.net>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] NAIS or making an omlette with rotten eggs
  • Date: Thu, 02 Nov 2006 23:15:05 -0500

Know what Leigh, I do read the papers, although I have always questioned what is in print and what is on the Internet even more. Having been interviewed a great deal, misquoted more than once, and involved in events that I didn't recognize after the news media got done with them, I know that what is published can be inaccurate, manipulated, misguided, etc. And I study issues, and I am open minded enough to know that there is always more than one point of view to any issue. And I have worked as a volunteer advocate for agriculture for more than 30 years. I have also made my living from production agriculture for more than 30 years. I know producers of every size, those utilizing every practice, and raising virtually every commodity, except maybe hops. I have spent many hours discussing issues with people of all persuasions and positions. I've spent a great deal of time at our state capitol. But in all the time I've spent in Washington DC I must have missed out on everything that goes on. Do you spend a great deal of time there?

In one of the earlier messages, some one made comment about the "big guys" having time to go to DC. The reality of it is that they don't have the time, rather they make the time. It is clear that many of you on the list feel strongly about the issue. How many of you have actually communicated your position in a credible manner to the "crooks" in DC? Sounding off on the list is one thing, making your case to decision makers is quite a different matter. Doing so requires accepting some level of responsibility for your position. You know that old saying about the world being run by those who show up?

My earlier comments relate to livestock diseases. If you are implying that I'm the one living in an alternative universe.
Brigette
 

Leigh Hauter wrote:
Anyone that thinks NAIS will have anything much to do with public 
health has pretty much been living in an alternative universe for the 
past several decades (at least) and especially for the past several 
years.

This last congress was the laziest congress on record, taking a month 
more vacation time than the previous record setter  (I think the 
congress of 1948).  Of the 11 funding bills that need to be passed 
this year for the government to work only something like 2 or maybe 3 
were completed.  The rest we can expect during the lame duck session 
when no one can do anything about it.

As to what does into the legislation, several studies this year have 
shown a direct quid pro quo between 'donations'  (read bribes) and 
line items on bills.  As it, I want a line in a bill, let's say NAIS 
and I'm a chip manufacturer, there is probably a rising scale for how 
much of the business I get related to how much I give.  This is the 
truth.

Unlike ever before, bills are all being done behind closed doors 
(don't think that stuff you see on C-Span has much relationship to 
anything) mostly by the senior majority party members.

Almost always now,  bills are written by specific industry lobbyist. 
Again, the more donated, the more of the bill a particular industry 
gets to write.  What do you think the Abramoff affair, or the K 
Street project is all about?

So, back to NAIS,  people that watch DC do not think a NAIS bill is 
going to pass this year.  Reason why?  Not enough money has been 
raised out of the specific industry lobbiest yet.  In other words, a 
bill like NAIS should make a number of important congresspeople a lot 
of money.  So far, it hasn't.  Once the bribes, I mean donations, get 
high enough then you will see legislation.  Again, this will be 
legislation written in private, written no doubt by the highest 
donors.

So, again, anyone that thinks this legislation is going to be written 
in the public interest, in the interest of fighting whatever disease, 
wake up and read the papers.
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