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.
I'd never own a MAC.
Note that. At this time. They didn't say they wouldn't do it in the future.
You said it best.
Force them to accept the mark of the beast. Force them to accept one world religion. Percecute them unmercifully if they don't. Eventually there will be death for those who refuse to accept it.
Because God will not accept us who have given in to antichrist. We seal our fates.
Amen.
Amish Animal ID system:
Amish man #1: I believe that's a cow over there, what do you think?
Amish man #2: Yup, it's a cow all right
"Good grief. There's another group that needs to come up out of the dark ages."
Why? Because you say so?
This is America, not the USSR or Communist China. Leave the people and their animals alone.
It's nobody's business but theirs.
If they are in the dark ages, it sure looks good to me.
We could use ALOT of Politicians with that kind of spine.
Thanks, I'm just generally familiar with this, I though it only applied to animals used for meat, equally silly since they seem to have no problem tracing the source of animals right now.
Dairy goats, seems to me they'll have to put some marker in the milk if they want to trace it back to you. And I can imagine restaurants dealing with chipped shrimp, I can see some broken tooth lawsuits arising there.
Maybe one of you want to try it. Perhaps include rural issues as well. I'd be willing to do it I suppose as long as people pinged me to the articles.
Yes, though it's partially serious. Lots of buffalo raised in WI.
It's the Greater Good. We wouldn't want people exposed to the devistating psychological effects of Mad Cow or God. (sarc.)
"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."
Now this explains the MSM and Cindy Sheehan. I understand.
Funny!
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.