Kalmath Falls situation - what do you think?

[TheHighwayMan]

I am paying attention to the Kalamath
Fall, OR incident involving the farmers
there. I am just going to keep this
one short, and to the point on this one.

I am in full support of the farmers up
there. All this crap over some worthless
sucker fish, and it isn't even endangered.
Matter of fact, it is a bottom fish, which
means farmers using the water are not even
going to effect it anyway.

I support the farmers, because they have
families, too, and they need to make a living. I like the idea of knowing that
because of American farmers, I am getting
the safest food money can buy. I really
don't like the idea of future food coming
from Mexico, and other countries where
they can use DDT and other lethal pesticides
on their foods. Or where animals are
defecating and uriniating on the food.

Our food has to meet high standards, I
fully support the American farmer and
his family, and greatly appreciate the
hard work they put forth to feed us.

To those of you who don't support our
American farmers, I suggest you go
on a hunger strike and don't talk with
your mouth full.

So where do you all stand????

[retired]

I stand with the farmers! Another example of federal power gone haywire, and the abuse by a federal agency!

I say stop the cancerous growth of the federal government and let the states decide their future.

Retired

[mac90]

Let the water flow. Sheriff told the feds to get out. Sheriff is top dog. Let the water flow. People over fish.

[Delta_V]

Originally posted by TheHighwayMan:
I like the idea of knowing that
because of American farmers, I am getting
the safest food money can buy.

You're getting the safest food money can buy because of FDA regulations and inspections, not because of American farmers. Do you think that if there wasn't any regulation, meat today would be as safe as it was before the laws passed in the early part of last century? As to pesticides, there are still dangerous ones being used in America, but not as bad as some used in foreign contries. Do you think this is really because of farmers, or do you think it's because the government regulates their use? Mexican farmers use DDT because it's cheap. I'm sure that if there weren't laws regulating its use in the USA, American farmers would use it too.

[TheHighwayMan]

Patrick,

You are correct about the FDA being a big
part of our food being so safe. On the
other hand, more farmers are going away
from lethal pesticides and going the organic
route, because they get paid more for
growing the organic way. While the FDA
is make our food safe, unfortunately our
same gov't is trying to end farming all
together. Be sure to back our farmers
and speak out now in their defense. If
one does not speak out, they can not be
heard.

MAC 90 - are you serious? Did the Sheriff
of the Klamath Falls area kick the Feds out?
If this is true, I am going to write that
Sheriff a wonderful letter of thank you's
and praise.

[shooter1201]

I'm 100% behind the farmers in this one. IMO, the EPA, et al, has GRAVELY overstepped their authority.

[retired]

Patrick,

Don't you think the states are capable of passing legislation that would safeguard the meat? Because the feds did it, it is better? States are quite capable of doing the same job and better.

Retired

[Excalibur]

Curious. How many speaking for the farmers are police officers? Would be strange to see officers on one subject saying that the law is the law, obey it. If you don't like it, get it changed, but don't break it. That would be a double standard, wouldn't it? Selective enforcement?

[goodgirl]

I am seriously out of touch here. Can anyone give me a clue what this is all about?

[Niteshift]

Excalibur,

Retired is obviously retired. Mac and Patrick are not cops and you will not turn this into a drug law comparison. Got it?

[Delta_V]

Originally posted by retired:
Patrick,

Don't you think the states are capable of passing legislation that would safeguard the meat? Because the feds did it, it is better? States are quite capable of doing the same job and better.

Retired

Retired,

Sure, the states COULD have passed the same regulations about meat and other foods, but they didn't. Conditions of meatpacking plants were terrible in the early 1900s all over the place. Everyone knew it yet the states did nothing. The laws aren't better because they are federal, but the feds were the only ones who were proactive. Actually, the one good thing about having federal regulations in this industry is so you can ensure that food from each state meets the same standards. If certain states had lax regulations, where do you think the meatpacking companies would decide to set up shop?

Honestly though, all that has nothing to do with the original situation. Who cares about a damn fish anyway? I doubt the earth's ecosystem is going tumble into disrepair because a few of these fish die.

[ 07-23-2001: Message edited by: PatrickM98 ]

[Pnutt]

We were stationed in Klamath Falls for two years and I'm definately with the farmers.

Connie

[ 07-23-2001: Message edited by: Pnutt ]

[Excalibur]

I didn't say a word about drugs, Niteshift. I just asked a question based on what some officers have said about "the law is the law". Is it or isn't it?

BTW, I'm for the farmers, of course.

[Niteshift]

I can see where you were headed. I merely warned you before you got there.

[Jensenfarm]

Originally posted by PatrickM98:


You're getting the safest food money can buy because of FDA regulations and inspections, not because of American farmers. Do you think that if there wasn't any regulation, meat today would be as safe as it was before the laws passed in the early part of last century? As to pesticides, there are still dangerous ones being used in America, but not as bad as some used in foreign contries. Do you think this is really because of farmers, or do you think it's because the government regulates their use? Mexican farmers use DDT because it's cheap. I'm sure that if there weren't laws regulating its use in the USA, American farmers would use it too.

I beg to differ!
As a 3rd generation family farmer, I can assure you that NO farmer wants to use any more pesticide than is ab-so-loutely necessary to keep insects from infesting the produce. The profit margin is so small, that no farmer in their right mind would waste money on unnecessary applications.
In addition, my family and I live on the farm......(as do thousands of other farm families)...do you honestly think that we would subject our loved ones to dangerous/unnecessary applications of poison?????
As for imported produce, thank your FDA/USDA for allowing it to be imported with less stringent guidelines (and higher residues of banned pesticides) than US farmers are held accountable.
Carefully direct your broad brushsrtokes toward corproate farms, which favor bottom line over food safety, and pay greater attention to "Country of Origin" in order to avoid dangerous pesticide residue.
Ya hit a nerve......things are not boding well for the family farm, and once they are gone, and a few corporate entities control the majority of the food growing/processing/distribution, they will do the same to the American consumer as the oil & power companies!