Posted on 09/15/2005 4:25:55 PM PDT by SJackson
Jim Massey Editor
CASHTON - Amish leaders from across Wisconsin gathered Sept. 12 to oppose state and federal plans for a comprehensive animal-identification system.
The meeting at the Perry Miller farm near Cashton drew 250 to 300 Amish men. Though the religious sect is adverse to publicity, Amish leaders invited news media to the meeting to make their opposition known.
They said they don't necessarily oppose Wisconsin's soon-to-be enforced premises registration program but are afraid it could lead to requirements that animals be eartagged or implanted with radio frequency ID tags.
The Amish leaders - who asked not to be photographed or identified by their last names - said they believe the current animal-tracking system meets the country's needs.
"We are highly opposed to any computer chips or anything like that being used on our animals," Clarence said. "What we are interested in is getting this identification system stopped before it is law. We have a system that works, why not let it work?"
Clarence said he and other farmers are concerned that computer chips eventually will be used in humans too. Some Amish and people of other religions believe that all people will be coerced into accepting an ID mark on their hand or forehead known as the "Mark of the Beast" or the "Mark of Satan."
"We know the Mark of the Beast is going to come, the Bible tells us that," Clarence said. "We're not willing to participate in that voluntarily. I think I can speak for everybody here that we don't want to take that chip into our bodies for tracking. We've got to stop somewhere to take our stand against that."
Amish leaders asked Dave Matthes, state chairman of the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America, to lead the meeting. He outlined the provisions of Wisconsin's premises registration program, which calls for all locations housing livestock to be registered with state officials by Nov. 1.
He said premises registration is phase one of a three-phase program, with phase two being individual animal ID and phase three tracking those animals.
He said R-CALF officials oppose a new animal ID system, saying the current system "works and is effective."
Amish leaders say they are afraid the animal ID system would require technology they are unwilling to use.
"How is the information input on the computer chip? We can't have anything like that," one Amish man at the meeting said.
Mr. Matthes said Amish and others without computers may have to hire someone to input information about their animals into a computer for use on radio frequency ID tags.
"I don't think as a whole we're as concerned about what the cost of that will be as the consequences following that," Clarence said. "We're not rich, but money should not be our first concern. The Bible should be our first concern. If we stand together and do it the right way, with the help of God, we can do something."
Robert Fourdraine, chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium, the agency contracted by state officials to oversee the premises registration program, said in a telephone interview he is aware of the concerns of Amish farmers regarding radio frequency identification tags. However, he said officials are working only on the registration of livestock premises at this time, not individual animal ID.
"We're willing to meet with (the Amish) and go over it," Mr. Fourdraine said. "If there's a way we can facilitate premises registration that does not interfere with their religious rights, we will certainly try to do that. As far as individual animal identification, they need to take that up nationally."
Mr. Fourdraine disagreed with the Amish argument that the current animal ID and tracking system is sufficient to handle a major disease outbreak.
"The industry as a whole says, 'No it's not,' " he said. "That's why there's a national effort to improve the system we have in place."
He said there would be "no exceptions" for farmers who do not want to register their premises.
Mr. Fourdraine said the national animal ID proposal would require individual tags on animals only when they are moved in commerce. If they are kept on farms and not commingled with animals from other premises, individual animal ID would not be required.
Mr. Matthes said the premises registration program is scheduled to take effect Nov. 1, but officials have told him they will not begin taking enforcement action against unregistered premises until January 2006.
Brad Pfaff, an aide for U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., told the group to make their opinions known to those who will be making decisions about the next steps of animal ID.
"If you do speak, speak loud to your state and federal elected officials," Mr. Pfaff said.
Mr. Matthes said letters and phone calls to state and federal representatives can make a difference.
"You can't count on Perry or Clarence or any of the other elders or bishops to do this for you," Mr. Matthes said. "Nationally, if everybody gets together, the numbers are mind-boggling as to how many folks could write. You can make a difference by doing it. You won't get anything done by walking out of here and kicking dirt."
Amish leaders at the meeting said about 860 of Wisconsin's 1,500 Amish families are directly involved in farming. Many of the others own one or more horses, they said.
Well, why not? Why try to postpone biblical prophecy, if that's what you believe?
You think this sinful world with death and sorrow is preferable to what has been prophesized to replace it?
Good grief. There's another group that needs to come up out of the dark ages.
Social control through crisis management if you do not have a crisis one will be issued to you.
No, their lifestyle harms no one, and is centuries removed from the dark ages.
"Social control through crisis management if you do not have a crisis one will be issued to you."
Excellently put.
One buttholecan make the country take Under God out of the schools, but a whole religion of people cant stop the government from marking their animals in contravention to their religion.
"Good grief. There's another group that needs to come up out of the dark ages."
If that is so, it is up to them, not the government, which should be protecting the Amish folks' right to remain in the "Dark Ages" if they so prefer.
It's called "religious freedom". Are you against it?
What? No ping to Moi? *SNIF*
"We have a system that works, why not let it work?"
I know Amish families in both Wisconsin and Iowa. They, for lack of a better term, have their sh*t together. I, personally, see this as religious persecution from the state...which doesn't surprise me in the least from bright BLUE Wisconsin legislators.
Yeah. Those Amish. They're in the news on a daily basis; dem Rabble Rousers! /sarcasm
*Shakes Head, Walks Away*
Ping
Although I think their end reasoning is a bit, shall we say, loco, I have to agree with the fact that ID chips, etc., when implemented by the government, are completely wrong be they for pets or for humans.
The Amish are an admirable group of people.
Dog Gone,
You forgot one thing. If we accept any mark or chip that can track us now, we will accept the system used by Satan later.
I know Amish families in both Wisconsin and Iowa. They, for lack of a better term, have their sh*t together.
And they make great pies, and bread.
I, personally, see this as religious persecution from the state...which doesn't surprise me in the least from bright BLUE Wisconsin legislators.
Probably not persecution, they just don't care. I don't understand the chipping thing anyway.
Chipping horses? Are the exporting them to France? We don't eat them here. If McDonalds doesn't want what livestock they raise, let them have it butchered and sold locally, buyer of unchipped beed beware.
Think they're going to chip the buffalo?
Or just leave them alone, the most difficult of all concepts for government.
But you're not a legislator, probably not even a lawyer.
The first broken tooth from a chip in a Wendy's burger, instant millionaire.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.