A conservative is someone who respects and upholds the cultural and historical legacy of the American past. What you decribe, cinives, is not the conservative position, but the libertarian one.
The American tradition has been that we do not eat horses or dogs (unless one is starving to death and has no other food source). Historically, Americans have regarded both dogs and horses as man's companions and working partners. These animals are considered food sources only in the most backward countries of the world -- and I guess that would have to include France, because cheval appears on the menus of some of the most upscale restaurants in Paris.
But America is not France!!! (Thank God.)
If the Illinois packing plant is going out of business, it's because the people of Illinois want it gone. Who are you to tell them that they may not express their will in this way? This is a state matter, under the Ninth and Tenth Amendments.
I applaud their decision. So does Bo Derek, who tirelessly campaigns on this issue. Free speech in this matter is our right.
Also it is your right: You are entitled to your own opinion. I'm just saying your opinion isn't the conservative one.
You applaud Bo Derek and others that campaigned against horse slaughter- but those of you that supported closing slaughter plants did nothing to see that the unwanted horses would be taken care of any other way. I hold you and others that think like you directly responsible for the rise in abused and neglected horses. The added suffering is on your heads and will be until you come up with a solution to care for about 80,000 unwanted horses per year. This is what happens when people jump up for a cause without thinking it through. No real solutions, just more problems.
Tradition does not equal conservative - I don’t know where you ever got that notion. Attitudes like yours are what brings us closer to that socialistic society no conservative wants to inhabit.
With a view like yours I sure hope to hell that you contribute all of your discretionary income to maintaining horse and dog rescues, because it’s misguided, interfering busy-bodies like you who cause needless suffering to these animals when their owners can no longer afford them and they can’t be given away for free.
Wise up. We are no longer an agrarian society where everybody has a few acres or so upon which you can turn out your old or lame horses for next to no cost. It costs hundreds of dollars a month to keep even one; just ask the rescue farms.