Factory
farms and other big corporations are trying to create pockets of lawlessness
across the United States.
farms and other big corporations are trying to create pockets of lawlessness
across the United States.
Corporate
front groups American Legislative Exchange Council—the group behind voter identification, stand your ground, and ag-gag laws—and Compact for America recently
revealed their latest strategy to shield factory farms and other big businesses
from even the most basic public oversight, and it sounds more like the premise
for a dystopian sci-fi novel than actual legislation.
front groups American Legislative Exchange Council—the group behind voter identification, stand your ground, and ag-gag laws—and Compact for America recently
revealed their latest strategy to shield factory farms and other big businesses
from even the most basic public oversight, and it sounds more like the premise
for a dystopian sci-fi novel than actual legislation.
Known
collectively as the “Prosperity States Initiative, these bills would let
corporations band together to create special areas called “prosperity
districts where they would be exempt from most basic laws and regulations.
collectively as the “Prosperity States Initiative, these bills would let
corporations band together to create special areas called “prosperity
districts where they would be exempt from most basic laws and regulations.
Under
these bills, corporations could form territories around the state where essential
environmental, labor, anti-discrimination, food safety, zoning, and other
local, state, and federal laws couldn’t be enforced. In their place, a new government
in each territory would be created, made up of seven people cherry-picked by
the very companies they’re meant to regulate.
these bills, corporations could form territories around the state where essential
environmental, labor, anti-discrimination, food safety, zoning, and other
local, state, and federal laws couldn’t be enforced. In their place, a new government
in each territory would be created, made up of seven people cherry-picked by
the very companies they’re meant to regulate.
In
short, these bills would dismantle the delicate interplay of checks and
balances set up by our local, state, and federal systems of government, and
replace it with oases of virtually unchecked corporate power. That may please
factory farmers, who would prefer that there be no rules governing their
abusive and polluting industry, but it’s an affront to the will of the people.
short, these bills would dismantle the delicate interplay of checks and
balances set up by our local, state, and federal systems of government, and
replace it with oases of virtually unchecked corporate power. That may please
factory farmers, who would prefer that there be no rules governing their
abusive and polluting industry, but it’s an affront to the will of the people.
It
only shows how desperate factory farmers are for special legislative
privileges. Oklahoma voters overwhelmingly voted against a similar but less drastic
proposal last November, the “right to farm amendment, known as State Question
777. Even so, the state house of representatives was pressured into passing House Bill 2132, an 88-page prosperity district bill that former Oklahoma attorney general
Drew Edmondson described as “State Question 777 on steroids.
only shows how desperate factory farmers are for special legislative
privileges. Oklahoma voters overwhelmingly voted against a similar but less drastic
proposal last November, the “right to farm amendment, known as State Question
777. Even so, the state house of representatives was pressured into passing House Bill 2132, an 88-page prosperity district bill that former Oklahoma attorney general
Drew Edmondson described as “State Question 777 on steroids.
Fortunately, the bill died in the senate last week after it was met with broad opposition from animal protection groups,
environmentalists, women’s advocates, Oklahoma communities and public
representatives, and leading local newspapers—all determined to defend our fragile
democracy from factory farms and other big businesses.
environmentalists, women’s advocates, Oklahoma communities and public
representatives, and leading local newspapers—all determined to defend our fragile
democracy from factory farms and other big businesses.
Similar legislation has failed in
North Dakota and Mississippi, and appears to have stalled in Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia,
and Missouri. Mercy For Animals will vigilantly monitor and speak out about this dangerous
plan, which will almost certainly resurface next year.
North Dakota and Mississippi, and appears to have stalled in Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia,
and Missouri. Mercy For Animals will vigilantly monitor and speak out about this dangerous
plan, which will almost certainly resurface next year.
The
failure of the prosperity district agenda so far shows that lawmakers should be
listening to their constituents by demanding more oversight of factory farms,
not less. You can send an important message by taking factory farm cruelty off your
plate. Visit ChooseVeg.com to learn how.
failure of the prosperity district agenda so far shows that lawmakers should be
listening to their constituents by demanding more oversight of factory farms,
not less. You can send an important message by taking factory farm cruelty off your
plate. Visit ChooseVeg.com to learn how.
