Amish find refuge in Wisconsin (after all, farming will survive!!!)

Yahoo! News ^ | March 26, 2004 | E.A. Torriero

[El Conservador]

We could use some Amish here in Missouri...

[Barnacle]

Amish are cool.

[benjaminjjones]

"complain about the body odor of the Amish, who tend to bathe infrequently"

I dunno, if all the Amish women looked as yummy as Kelly McGillis taking a stand-up bath in the movie "Witness", I might get over the BO, hehehe

[CruisinAround]

Let's see, hmmmm.

As a Wisconsin resident, if I were to choose between the Amish emmigrating to Wisconsin, or Illinois residents fleeing to this state (either professionals retiring or scumbags on the gov't trough), ...

I'm all for a barn raising!

[Choose Ye This Day]

Dumb question, but do the Amish pay state and federal income taxes? And property taxes? I imagine they do, I just wasn't sure if there was some sort of religious prohibition.

Do the Amish consider themselves Americans?

Do Amish ever serve in the Armed Forces?

I'm just curious. I know little about them.

[ApplegateRanch]

Sometimes animosity spills over into hate crimes, such as in northern Wisconsin, where police in three counties have been investigating several incidents since last fall of people shooting at Amish neighbors.

Looks like Wisconsin is a Democratic Paradise, a hot hotbed of Liberal values, celebrating diversity, multiculturalism, and tolerance...provided you attend the same church, go to the same BBQs, don't homeschool, and above all, don't successfully farm sans subsidies.

[Eska]

Amish I knew back east were pretty respectable, born again and looked to the Bible in decision making. They paid taxes but sure worked the system just like anybody else. They had paid ssn for like 70 years but refused to collect when they turned 62. They see themselves as under God's law and do anything they can to be left alone by our Govt. They see computers as the mark of the beast but don't mind if their English secretary keeps the business computer at her house. They don't serve in military but they complete public service. For the most part, dollar don't pass their eyes and many are quite successful in pallet factories, sawmills, ect Knew one family that each son owned over 40 trucks and employed drivers but didn't have their own licenses. They work for their parents but then the parents give each kid a few hundred thousand to start businesses. Some families, every son has made his first mill by 25.

Amish communities face the same pressures as all Americans face. Jealousy, greed, infidelity (but none ever get divorced), also many genetic medical problems from inbreeding; but the Dutchmen quietly deal with the problems and don't ever want the govt involved.

Bottom line, their word is good and that's probably the most important character trait a man can possess. We can't even get politicals whose word is good.

[Dan Evans]

Do Amish ever serve in the Armed Forces?

Being pacifists, they can't pick up a gun as long as they belong to the church. But I've read of Amish that have left the community (used to be about half) and joined the army. Since they haven't been spoiled by modern luxuries, I can imagine they would be good soldiers.

[dennisw]

Last I was in Lancaster county PA (15 years ago) it was just way too touristy and more or less an Amish theme park. I saw hardly any trees though there were many cultivated fields. They are smart to get out to Wisconsin. Good luck to 'em.

My father loves the Amish swiss cheese from Wisconsin.

[woofer]

My father loves the Amish swiss cheese from Wisconsin.

Along Iowa Hwy 2, you'd be considered stupid and slow-witted if you don't stop at an Amish Pie Stand for at least one pie, a loaf of bread and some pastries.

[Catspaw]

Don't forget to pick up some jams and jellies made by the Amish. You won't go back to Smuckers for a long, long time.

When I lived in SW Wisconsin, Amish and Mennonites had been in the area for a while and were accepted as part of the community. They were just moving into north-central Wisconsin when my in-laws were selling their farm (they hoped the Amish would buy it because they paid cash), but the farmhouse was too small (only three bedrooms). If my hubby's family is any indication, at that time, they were met with some hostility, but now, a decade or so later, the Amish are accepted by the community. My mother-in-law and sisters-in-law rave about their pies (and the jams and jellies), but I still can't convince one brother-in-law that they aren't Quakers.

[LadyDoc]

The Amish area in Pennsylvania is now a suburb of Philadelphia. Full of rich yuppies, commercialism, and a thriving drug trade. So they are now moving out. You now see Amish in the mountains of PA and KY, where land is cheap.

And there are several Amish groups-- some use nothing modern, and others allow gas refrigerators etc. Because there are few converts, there are genetic problems among the Amish.

The Amish have a lot of kids, but not all of them stay Amish. About half remain Amish, the rest join the English, or switch to the Mennonites.

Mennonites, who follow the tradition but are less strict. They drive cars and many become nurses or even doctors, and run hospitals in poor countries.

My mother's town has four high schools: Public, Catholic, Baptist/christian and Mennonite.

And some Mennonite churches now run ads encouraging people from liberal churches to consider joining them...however, they are strict pacifists-- in the good sense of the word.

[LibKill]

How do they get from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin? How do they move themselves and their worldly goods without motor vehicles? Covered wagons?

Just curious. If they want to live without modern gizmos that's fine by me.

[dennisw]

How do they get from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin? How do they move themselves and their worldly goods without motor vehicles? Covered wagons?

They are not prohibited from hiring a trucking company. There are many non Amish who have good commercial relations with the Amish and help them with such matters.

[LibKill]

Thanks.

Maybe these folks are happier than I. There is something appealing about a simpler lifestyle.

Alas, I could never give up my computers.

[FITZ]

Would you give up your car?

[LibKill]

Would you give up your car?

It's a pickup truck and I'm a Texan, you figure it out. :)

[Wiser now]

The Amish may ride in cars, busses and trains. There are "English" who make their living providing "taxi" service. They charge 50 cents per mile to drive folks to the store when they are too busy to catch the horse, hook it to the buggy and drive to town. They aren't supposed to fly, but under some circumstances they can be given permission though that is rare.
Whole busloads of elderly snowbirds descend on Pinecraft Florida in the fall and stay until spring.
They will take the bus from Pa to Wi and ship their household goods in a truck. Heck in Ohio they drive trucks and heavy equipment at their jobs at the pallet factories.
They are always scouting new land in Ohio too.

[Wiser now]

Here in Ohio the Amish have windmill driven running water and gas water heaters. They can take a hot shower just like we can.
However if they have gone into town after a morning in the fields they may smell like a working man. That does mean they go to bed smelling that way!

[Fury]

Bump for later read...