Some day I hope to write in this column, "President signs bill to eliminate taxpayer subsidies to meat, dairy and egg producers. Prices for these items to become prohibitively high for most Americans, but millions upon millions will live longer and healthier as a result." That story has about as much chance of being written as a steer surviving a Detroit Eastern Market slaughterhouse. OK, so maybe some day it could happen, but unfortunately, that day isn't today. Once again I find myself writing about something else that has gone very wrong in Washington.
It is common knowledge that President Bush is no friend of the environment. Since his inauguration three years ago he has worked feverishly to dismantle over 30 years of environmental laws and public safeguards. These protections are supported by an overwhelming number of Americans, but he continues stealthily down the path of destruction.
Last October, Bush directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue a decree to give factory farms (large, corporate-owned farms that incarcerate animals by the thousands and produce staggering amounts of waste) immunity from the Clean Air Act and the Superfund law. The EPA can restrict and monitor polluting air emissions from factory farms, but this agreement would allow them to pay a mere $500 fine instead of the current fine of $27,000 per day. It will also shield them from any ensuing lawsuits. The shame of this administrative act, and the many others like it, is that it was formulated behind closed doors and without citizen input.
It's not enough that agribusiness squanders vast amounts of non-renewable resources such as topsoil and fossil fuels, now they can pollute our air with impunity. The repercussions of these backroom deals will be felt for many generations to come.
Yes, change will be difficult as long as the other kind of "bull" is running loose in Washington, but we must be willing, as citizens, to step in some cow pies. If you're as outraged as I am with Bush and politics in Washington, then put it to good use. Take action against environmental deregulation by going to the non-partisan League of Conservation Voters web site www.lcv.org and make a difference through them! It's an easy and satisfying way to join hundreds of thousands of other Americans that want to preserve resources and options for our children's future.
NOTE: The Detroit Eastern Market bull that survived the slaughterhouse is now in the care of SASHA Farm. To learn more about this local farm sanctuary and to support them, go to their web site
www.sashafarm.org
