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.
Did he really advise the Amish to make phone calls to their elected representatives? :0
Talk to "But Three Lefts Do" because he was filling in this week. "Iowa Granny" can keep you up to snuff, too.
Hey! She needs a ping, too! (Pinged her in the "To:")
"Think they're going to chip the buffalo?"
LOL! Man, am I slow on the uptake tonight or what? Fling that chip, Baby! ;)
"Wonder if the pigs have to produce three forms of identity to get a photo drivers license?"
If they want to vote in Wisconsin? Not if Governor (I Veto Anything That Will Cost Me A Vote) Doyle has his way.
In fact, those pigs are being "disenfranchised" if they're even ASKED for ID at the polls. *Rolleyes*
We're not in control here, the Lord is. We can neither prolong it nor hasten its arrival. It will happen at a time of His choosing.
In the meantime, we resist evil as God has commanded us, body, mind, and soul.
To choose to do otherwise indeed would not be wise. Do you remember what Pope John Paul said shortly before he died? That suffering was something that helped to bring us closer to God? I thought that was so profound in light of how Jesus suffered for us. We should know a little about suffering else how could we comprehend His sacrifice for us? I think it's meant to teach us, not punish us.
Not you again! LOL!
Not you again! LOL! A semester older and none the wiser, I see.
bump
The Amish vary in what technologies they have adopted.
Wow! You all need some serious elightenment! This animal ID thing is BIG and STUPID!! We raise dairy goats and we are fighting this thing tooth and nail.
The USDA is trying to get ALL animals bred and raised in the US tagged/microchipped. Even chickens, farm-raised salmon and trout, shrimp, frogs(legs) you name it, they want it tagged. Whether you breed for market or pet, if they show up at your property and some/none are/aren't tagged your property could be confiscated. This is a bureaucracy folks and they do not have to have warrant for seizure.
I am relieved to know the Amish are trying to fight this as well. They are not a powerful lobby but maybe it can help.
Vision of the Future:
All humans are chipped, vaccinated, profiled and hardwired with an implanted PC. All animals are chipped, vaccinated, and both humans and animals are enhanced with implanted IV drugs for memory, performance, productivity, personality control and reproduction.
Then *something* goes awry, leaving the Amish as the only freely acting, independently sentient humans on the planet, with the only livestock not infected with steroid or vaccine induced illness.
And the meek shall inherit the Earth.
I was going to post a story about this program.
It much bigger than this.
Next comes the tax then it will be a privilege
And if I put my tin foil hat on now......
OK thats better!
Heard the term Round Up Ready For those of you that havent. It refers to seeds that have been genetically engineered to resist herbicides that will kill plants of the same type that have not been modified. You can also in this group include plants the have been engineered to resist pests also. Both are in wide spread use now.
Its been a few years back now. But over around a six month span. There was a rash of scientists found dead. Not just any old scientists. But scientists that were prominent in the field of (need I say it?) Genetic Engineering.
Those of you that want to take the time can find the threads in the FR archive. Not conspiracy threads. Just people posting news articles on so & so was found dead.
For the sake of time I wont point out the all connection. But Im sure most can figure the rest of the story out.
( you dont have the mark..Well you sure cant have livestock & seed that resist the plague)
Whos more of a danger to this type of NWO government? People running around looting, rapeing but need the government to give them there basics. Or people who can give the government the finger and get along fine with out them?
Sound far fetched? Well doesnt this scene play out like some of those in the back of the Bible?
If I would have said 4 weeks ago A Hurricane is coming and the government will take everybodys guns
People would have been posting pictures of screws & balls
Were did the government go first down in NO.?
Well this hat is getting hot. Im going to take it off now....
HILLARY 88!
( bonus point question who can figure out what that means and why is it double scary?)
Something to thing about!
"Or people who can give the government the finger and get along fine with out them?"
I don't understand the rest of your story, but I do try to live my life in the above manner to the fullest extent possible, LOL! ;)
Well stated. I used to work for The Seed Savers Exchange, and we worked very hard to keep the pure, heirloom seed varieties in production. They have an extensive "Seed Vault" to protect many old varieties that are naturally resistent to many diseases.
But, that said, the Government maintains two or maybe three such vaults themselves. So...we'd be back to Square One if things all went to h#ll anyway. The Government could easily still be running the show, at least in food crop production, which may not be a totally bad thing until we can get back on our feet again.
But, I save garden seed from year to year, anyway, and can talk at length on the subject, should anyone be stupid enough to give me an opening, LOL! Not to be an alarmist freak or anything, but it makes sense genetically and fiscally to save seed from year to year (if you truly know what you're doing.) I keep a standard selection of seed (rotated, of course) in with my 'End of the World Disaster Kit.' ;)
Just damn.
If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...
And I also wanted to add...Remember that old song called "Wildwood Weed?" Jim Stafford?
"One day this feller from Washington come by
And he spied us and he turned white as a sheet
And he dug and he burned
And he burned and he dug
And he killed all our cute little weeds
Then he drove away
We just smiled and waved
Sittin' there on that sack of seeds..."
LOL!
Ditto.
When the Amish start driving explosive filled buggies into buildings, then you can start hollering for them to come out of the dark ages.
Many Amish have access to phones in their barns/shops for business purposes. Some have cell phones, again, for business only.
:-) FACT: The Bush campaign courted the Amish vote in Ohio. The Amish are very politcally minded, though most do not vote. However, there is a growing number of New Order Amish that do.
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