Friends, I have to tell you I am one of the 70%+ of folks who are utterly disgusted by the goings on in DC. This whole debate debacle has been nothing short of an embarrassment to the country, a source of fear to many, and has made more than a few of our leaders look very, very bad.
I don't pretend to have a solution and I don't have a "side"... well... strike that.. I do have a side. I'm on the side of the American people who've had just about enough. And who watched with outrage when Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed some of our troops in Afghanistan. Any body else get a sick feeling when the soldiers were most concerned about whether or not they were gonna get paid? "Here son, take your gun and go and storm that target - maybe you'll have the rent money for your wife and kids, maybe not." Just shameful.
So the legislation ingloriously passed. And we're....saved? Until, of course, it comes up again and the hostages in all of this will be older people and our soldiers. I don't see any of them boys in Washington volunteering their wages - or their staff's pay - to be the first to be cut if the new "super Congress" doesn't reach an agreement.
The only good thing that I can come up with about all of this is that some of the ridiculous legislation that's been coming up won't have any way to be funded. I'm talking about the milk police, the new DOT proposition to require farmers to have CDL's to operate vehicles, and one particularly disturbing Executive Order that got passed when everyone was more concerned about former Congressman's Weiner's tweeted wanker.
Our pal and fellow blogger, Veggie PAK, has written a couple posts about this summarizing what some of this means, starting here. Now don't get out your tin foil hat, folks, this really is something everyone should do your research on and decide for yourself what it all means. Search for yourself on "EO13575" and "Agenda 21" in your home state. I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist, but I sure can't come up with any reason why the DOD is all that concerned about rural America.
Maybe "they" really do just want to put in a health care clinic and get some decent cell phone coverage and high speed out here. But based on what I've been seeing lately? The amount of controlling legislation and the heavy handed ways it being enforced? I dunno.
Don't think any of this affects you? What happens when all our food production is forced out of the country - to, say, somewhere like China. And they decide they are tired of feeding us...and they want their money back that they loaned us. Then what? Or what if you are one of the millions of people currently struggling financially and you find out food prices are going up AGAIN because your local farmer has to pay over $100 per employee (and family member) so they can legally drive a farm vehicle - a couple of times a year. We should not be making it harder to grow food, friends, we should be making it easier. For all our sakes.
Between this rainy, cloudy morning and this heavy topic I'm feeling a little low. So here's some good news - we had two... wait! Make that THREE more chicks have hatched in the incubator! When all is said and done I'll do a post on how NOT to have a hatch.
Let's all buoy each other up today, folks, take a deep breath, and think about adorable little chicks... while keeping a eye on all these goings on.
Happy Wednesday everyone!
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20 comments:
I wish I were as optomistic as you are, namely with the funding of the Milk Police & the like. There will ALWAYS be a "reason" in their minds to fund crap like that. Just get a bill going with the words "Children" or "Safety" and it will pass with all the moronic citizens giving a heartfelt "huzzah".
It doesn't matter, because as we've all just witnessed, the debt ceiling means ABSOLUTELY nothing to the elite $%&&$*! in Congress & the WH. Just raise it again.
Sorry for the rant.....just so very, very dissapointed in our citizens.
I am so so disgusted with our goverment as I'm sure most of the citizens of this country are! It's absolutely shameful!!!!! "Our" "elected" officials have absolutely no concern for the citizens of this country, only for whatever their hidden agenda is!! You knew darn well that they would pass a bill at the final hour! But...they just can't resist sticking it to each other until the end! And the food, healthcare and drug situation is this country...boy talk about agendas!!!!!!!!!
Here is where you can see what local governments are doing to support local sustainability (or agenda 21) http://www.iclei.org/ Some local governments are finally catching on and opting out but they are few and far between at this point.
This is actually the page that shows the local participation in US: http://www.icleiusa.org/main-page/about-iclei/members/member-list
I concur with your perspective. I, too, am tired of hearing Congress throw the hard working citizens under the bus for their personal gain. In addition to not cutting their pay, there is no indication they will trim their budgets or spending allowances. I heard a wise man say this morning "Expect nothing from Congress until it begins to affect their pocketbook."
I enjoy your site. I want to be you with a hint of Maxine.
Wonder what Thomas Jefferson would think if he could see us now?
"We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude. If we run into such debt, as that we must be taxed in our meat and in our drink, in our necessaries and our comforts, in our labors and our amusements, for our calling and our creeds...we will have no time to think, no means of calling our miss-managers to account but be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains on the necks of our fellow-sufferers... And this is the tendency of all human governments. A departure from principle in one instance becomes a precedent for another... till the bulk of society is reduced to be mere automatons of misery... And the fore-horse of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follows that, and in its train wretchedness and oppression." - Thomas Jefferson
I've been following your blog since you started (I think). I'm so glad you mentioned this topic. There are darker storm clouds ahead, no question about it. I'm stocking up, learning to grow edibles, learning animal husbandry, alternative energy source and more. I'm doing it all on a tight budget, but I've made good progress. This summer I have over 50 baby chicks in a pen that were born right here at my homestead without using electricity. They were hatched the old fashion way, broody hens. In any case I digress, I'm with you in your outrage. Let us continue to be vigilant citizens and beat back this monster that is attempting to devour our liberties!! We can overcome, if we stick together.
Love your site and I read your blog everyday. You feel like a friend.
Shaolin
It's hard for me to be too concerned about our inept government getting involved in rural communities. I mean, if they can't run the country (and they can't), I'd like to see 'em corral some pigs or chickens, you know?
Besides, the aliens from Roswell are what we really should be worried about! ;-)
Carolyn, Rant away baby... we need to get it all out so we can all be thinking clearly. Rant, baby rant!
You know it Robin. I think the worst was the oh-so-orchestrated return of Gabby Giffords. I thought they used her in the worst way to try and put a positive spin on the whole thing.
Thanks Tracey, I really appreciate all the links you've sent. Excellent work by staying on top of this.
Thanks Cindy! I'm so glad you read along - feel free to pitch in anytime. We're all in this together.
:-)
Mr. H, I think TJ would think we are all a bunch of big dumb dopes. It reminds me of the parable of the rich man who gave treasure to his servants - and one of them did nothing with it. We are that bad servant indeed. We've wasted what this country was founded on.
Great work on all your efforts, Shaolin - and thanks for following along. We have a lot to learn from each other. Its a joy when you realize you CAN do it yourself, isnt it?
Villager, you have no idea how much I'd love to see Speaker Boehner and Harry Reid chasing around some chickens about now.
;-)
Plant a garden, go to jail.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/07/michigan_woman_faces_jail_planting_veggie_garden.php
Gov now in everything.
More bad news, one of the Farmageddon ladies got arrested. http://www.infowars.com/raw-food-raid-armed-agents-bust-raw-milk-cheese-sellers/
Well, you are sure bringing us all out of the woodwork with this subject! I am another silent secret admirer of your blog. My name is Anna and I'm in the same general area as your Mr. & Mrs. H. - map-wise that is.
Not going to get on my soapbox, but I agree with the exasperation with our "leaders" that has already been expressed by you and others.
Suffice it to say that for the past couple of weeks, I have had the uneasy feeling that Congress was pulling a "switcheroo" of some sort on us all. I'm not smart enough to figure out just what they were up to, but I'm sure we will all know soon enough.
It really is good to know that there are like-minds all over this great country of ours.
Just an aside; the first time I read your blog, you were whaling an axe at a fox in the woods. You gained my utmost respect and undying readership at that point.
Be ever brave and vigilant, young woman!
Anna
Well stated!
update on the food raid yesterday in Los Angeles: http://www.infowars.com/photos-from-rawesome-foods-raid-prove-government-agents-illegally-stole-entire-inventory-of-buyers-club/
Here, Here. We just want to be left alone to do what we do. It is now illegal in my state to sell my extra eggs without an $82 per year permit and an inspection from the Dept of Health. I'd have to sell 41 dozen eggs just to cover the annual fee from my 12 hens. Nutz, I tell ya. Just nutz.
Chai Chai - isnt that horrible? I just heard on the news that 21 million families are on food stamps. And this gal cant even plant a cabbage in her front yard?
Tracey - great work.. I've been watching this also on:
http://www.cheeseslave.com/2011/08/04/rawesome-raided-again-raw-milk-protest-today-in-la/
Anna - switcheroo is just right. The whole thing sounds pretty hinky. But. I love that you chimed in - feel free to join in anytime. And aw shucks... thanks!
:-)
Thanks Ian.. its just nuts here.
Hi Jo and Len, that's just nusts for sure! Folks ask me why we dont sell eggs - there is no way with that kinda "red tape." Not to mention your insurance company might just dump you. With unemployment so high - how are you SUPPOSED to start a cottage industry? I'd love to be a micro-dairy-cheesemaker...but the start up costs would be about $10,000. Its just insane.
And despite all the red tape, somehow the bad stuff still seems to get sold - from those tainted veggies in Germany to the ground turkey recall. Think maybe they should pay some more attention to the big players?
Coco - thats just right. And I'll keep saying it - we haven't gotten sick from our food...but I almost always get sick from drive thru. Seems like all "their" rules and regulations still have some flaws. Makes you wonder who's running their own agenda, doesn't it?
Ohiofarmgirl, When you said $100 in your post, I hope you didn't mean for the CDL (Commercial Driver's License). A friend of mine got his and he had to take a course at the local Community College and it cost him $1,500 for his CDL to drive a two axle recycling truck! It's a big deal apparently.
Yep, VPAK - thats JUST the fee. Does not include the class... not to mention you need a truck you can practice on. If you dont have one, or know someone.. yikes. Its pretty hard to get the requirements fulfilled. And I keep wondering what the heck the CDL has to do with driving a tractor, cultivator, sprayer, etc.
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