3,361,596 members
12,339,752 petition signatures
$17,571,785,510 diverted from Big Pharma
Criminalizing Organic and Home Growers
HR 875 The food police, criminalizing organic farming and the backyard gardener, and violation of the 10th amendment
UPDATE: Many people were unable to get the text for this bill, or it was simply unavailable. We have obtained the full text and can be disseminated here: http://healthfreedoms.org/h-r-875-food-safety-administration-full-text/
Tear it apart Freedom Fighters!
HR 875 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c111:1:./temp/~c1112RD9bb:e11439:
This bill is sitting in committee and I am not sure when it is going to hit the floor. One thing I do know is that very few of the Representatives have read it. As usual they will vote on this based on what someone else is saying. Urge your members to read the legislation and ask for opposition to this devastating legislation. Devastating for everyday folks but great for factory farming ops like Monsanto, ADM, Sodexo and Tyson to name a few.
I have no doubt that this legislation was heavily influenced by lobbyists from huge food producers. This legislation is so broad based that technically someone with a little backyard garden could get fined and have their property seized. It will effect anyone who produces food even if they do not sell but only consume it. It will literally put all independent farmers and food producers out of business due to the huge amounts of money it will take to conform to factory farming methods. If people choose to farm without industry standards such as chemical pesticides and fertilizers they will be subject to a variety of harassment from this completely new agency that has never before existed. That’s right, a whole new government agency is being created just to police food, for our own protection of course.
The more people who read this legislation the more insight we are going to get and be able to share. Post your observations and insights below. Urge your members to read this legislation and to oppose the passage of this legislation.
Pay special attention to
- Section 3 which is the definitions portion of the bill-read in it’s entirety.
- section 103, 206 and 207- read in it’s entirety.
- Legally binds state agriculture depts to enforcing federal guidelines effectively taking away the states power to do anything other than being food police for the federal dept.
- Effectively criminalizes organic farming but doesn’t actually use the word organic.
- Effects anyone growing food even if they are not selling it but consuming it.
- Effects anyone producing meat of any kind including wild game.
- Legislation is so broad based that every aspect of growing or producing food can be made illegal. There are no specifics which is bizarre considering how long the legislation is.
- Section 103 is almost entirely about the administrative aspect of the legislation. It will allow the appointing of officials from the factory farming corporations and lobbyists and classify them as experts and allow them to determine and interpret the legislation. Who do you think they are going to side with?
- Section 206 defines what will be considered a food production facility and what will be enforced up all food production facilities. The wording is so broad based that a backyard gardener could be fined and more.
- Section 207 requires that the state’s agriculture dept act as the food police and enforce the federal requirements. This takes away the states power and is in violation of the 10th amendment.
Didn’t Stalin nationalize farming methods that enabled his administration to gain control over the food supply? Didn’t Stalin use the food to control the people?
Last word…… Legislate religion and enforce gag orders on ministers on what can and can’t be said in the pulpit, instituting regulations forcing people to rely solely on the government, control the money and the food. What is that called? It is on the tip of my tongue……….
I haven’t read any of the Senate’s version of the bill as I have been poring through the House’s version. Here is the link and I hope some of you can take a look and post your observations and insights below. One thing I am pretty sure of is that very few if any Senator’s have actually read the legislation and when it comes up for a vote they will more than likely take someone else’s word on how they should vote. The other thing I am pretty sure about is that the legislation was probably written by lobbyists and industry experts.
S 425 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:s425:
Things you can do
- Contact your members at 202-224-3121 and ask them to oppose HR 875 and S 425. While you are at it ask them if they personally have read the legislation and what their position is? If they have not read the legislation ask them to read it and politely let them know that just because other representatives are not reading the legislation and voting on it does not mean they can do the same.
- Get in touch with local farmers and food producers by attending a local farmers market and asking them how business is.
- Attend a local WAPF meeting, this is a good start to learning about what is going on in farming and local & state initiatives . The website is http://www.westonaprice.org/localchapters/index.html
- Check out the Farmers Legal Defense Fund at http://www.ftcldf.org/index.html
- Find out who sits on your states agriculture and farming committee and contact them with your concerns.
- Continue to contact your elected officials and let them know your position on legislation and why.
- Get active at the local and state levels, this is the quickest way to initiate change.
I vehemently oppose bill HR 875 & S 425. The very nature of this points to the attempted destruction of our God given freedoms in this country for the corporate giants who are poised to take everything from us and charging us to get them back.
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PURE & SIMPLE:
NO, NO, NO
to bill HR 875 & S 425
It’s intention:
Outrageous & Insane !!!!!
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Your link to the text of this bill is no longer valid. The current site to view the text of the bill is at: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.875:
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Maria Reply:
March 30th, 2009 at 11:34 am
I could not get the website to bring anything up.
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Anyone who wants to contact their state representative but doesn’t know how can also hit this page to find out: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
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Please oppose bills HR875 and S425. If you havent read the legislation,it is paramount that you do.
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[...] As Earth Day approaches, so does a whole new bag of worms in our government. Check out this post on Criminalizing Organic & Home Growers, and speak out to your state representatives in opposition of this idiotic [...]
[...] interested yet? You seriously need to read this article posted at the Health Freedom Alliance. Some of the most concerning highlights of this [...]
You must vote “no” on this bill. The large companies and the pesticides etc are killing the planet and the humans. Please seek out educated people on the side of ecology, sustainability and botany who understand the future negative impact of genetically modified crops. I cannot believe a bill like this even exists in this country. For my health I need to eat organic food, I am 62 and it makes a huge difference in health. We should be outlawing the chemicals and Genetically modified seeds.
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Rise up to save your freedom or lose it forever. This bill is an obscenity and clearly a human rights violation. Big business owns your government and is working tirelessly to enslave the working class people of the world and that means you unless you are sitting on your as on a yacht waiting for your copy of the Wall St. Journal. Speak now or forever hold your peace.
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It is extremely important to oppose bills HR875 and S425. If you haven’t read the legislation, it is paramount that you do. This bill is insane and shows who thinks they own and control everything. Please stop the madness.
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Please oppose HR 875 and S 425. I also request that you personally read the legislation and I would like to know what your position is. After you read it, encourage your colleagues to read it also. It is appalling that there are so many possibilities for abuse available in it; and dangers to small and independent farmers, as well as organic farmers, not to mention other industries.
As you well know, Hawaii Island is growing in numbers of organic farmers. It is the way of the future and is highly successful here. Please do all you can to protect our local farmers, as well, as all those organic farmers across the nation. Mahalo for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
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I have not read the bill,I simply believe everything the Bible said:REV.13:4,8,16,17.The world will follow after the beast.why?because this beast who wants to be God must be in controll of everything including your organic garden, otherwise he is not god,and this country will work all things together for good to the beast.WE cannot buy or sell unless we have the mark of the beast.Let us pray for our leaders that they may put an end to this nonsense.
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It is extremely important to oppose bills HR875 and S425. If you haven’t read the legislation, it is paramount that you do. This bill is insane and shows who thinks they own and control everything. Please stop the madness.
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I am writing to respectfully ask that you oppose HR 875 and S 425. I would also request that you personally read the legislation. I know that some of your collegues have not read this legislation, and I would ask that you urge them to do so. I believe that (just like some other things that you were all urged to sign without reading) anyone who does give this a full and fair reading, will be as appalled as I was at the possibilities for abuse available in it; the dangers to small and independenet farmers is imminent, as well as organic farmers, not to mention those who have family gardens.
If I can understand this, then I’m sure anyone reading it can. Please ask your colleagues to stop and read them before they vote, and do not let this pass. Thank You!
Sincerely,
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We urge you to oppose HR 875 S 425 Bill, the passage of this destuctive bill will interfere with our rights as consumers to choose organic and chemical free food. This bill is an attempt by the chemical corporations to control their competition, when people have real choices they choose organic and chemical free food. Please READ this bill and vote NO.
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I am writing to respectfully ask that you oppose HR 875 and S 425. I would also request that you personally read the legislation. I would like to know what your position is. I imagine that some of your colleagues have not read this legislation, and I would ask that you urge them to do so. I believe that anyone who does give this a full and fair reading, will be as appalled at the possibilities for abuse available in it and the dangers to small and independenet farmers, including organic farmers.
Please help your colleagues to stop and read them before they vote, and stop HR 875 and S 425 from passing. Thank you for your attention to this important matter and for all of your hard work.
Sincerely,
Taira Restar
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You sheeple are “respectfully” requesting those in the new corrupted (or imprisoned) government to “please” not pass legislation to stop organic farming. WAKE TF UP! The country has been over thrown and your pleading with those responsible to not pass laws their going to pass anyway. This legislation is a formality to make it “look” like everything is legal.
They don’t give a shit about you or me. It’s all about greed, power and profit. Dig in, be strong but DON’T RIOT. That’s what they want. They’ll keep pushing until people snap and then they’ll release hell on society in the form of martial law. DON’T FALL FOR IT!
Let them play their games. If big companies want to screw with us screw with them back. Buy nothing you don’t absolutely need. They live for their profits, Deny them. They only exist if we buy their goods – DON’T! Show them we have the power to shut them down cold.
Peace be with you. God bless us all.
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Please, please let us grow our own veggies in our own little plots and share what we have. After all this is STILL the U.S.A. Clean up the FDA – new staff bring with them fresh ideas. A new broom sweeps clean.
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Those now in power are taking our Constitution and making a mockery of it. At frightening speed they are taking away all freedoms of our Country and replacing them with total rule by government. Food is a very important commondity to life and it is easy to control large corporations.
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Please oppose HR 875 and S 425. These pieces of legislation have the potential to do serious financial damage to small and organic farmers. I certainly want to keep our food supply safe but not in a way that could eliminate the supply of food I consider safest: organic.
With all due respect, a few food recalls have not shattered my confidence to the degree that the government (or any subset of it) has in recent months. Government intervention to save us from ourselves is rarely the right answer. If companies do not operate responsibly, there will be repercussions. The American consumer will recognize the indiscretions and buy accordingly.
If the current financial crisis has taught us anything, it is that eliminating competition to the point where only a few mega-companies can remain only sets us up for disaster when those mega-companies on which we are forced to rely fail. And the farmers who are forced to get jobs with those mega-companies because they can no longer afford to work for themselves will find themselves unemployed again when those mega-companies fail.
People do not oppose this legislation because we find food safety unimportant. We oppose this legislation because we have already found a source of safe food. Food that is not laden with chemical fertilizers and pesticides. We ask that you not condemn this source to financial ruin. We ask that you not perpetuate the degradation of health in America by taking away what many of us know to be the best way to maintain health.
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Please oppose HR 875 and S 425. I also request that you personally read the legislation and I would like to know what your position is. After you read it, encourage your colleagues to read it also. It is appalling that there are so many possibilities for abuse available in it; and dangers to small and independent farmers, as well as organic farmers, not to mention other industries.
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This is more hype among so much dealing with food.
The big companies are at it again. More profits and the
population gets sicker. This is the worst legislation I
have ever heard of. Worst of all it is unconstitutional.
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Please read in detail and oppose HR875 and S425.
As the air we breathe and the water we drink becomes more and more contaminated, we need more organic grown foods not less.
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I am writing to respectfully ask that you oppose HR 875 and S 425. I would also request that you personally read the legislation — I would like to know what your position is.
I know that some of your colleagues have not read this legislation, and I would ask that you urge them to do so. I believe that (just like some other things that you were all urged to sign without reading) anyone who does give this a full and fair reading, will be as appalled as I was at the possibilities for abuse available in it; and the dangers to small and independent farmers, as well as organic farmers, not to mention other industries.
Please help your colleagues to stop and read the proposed legislation before they vote, then vote them down.
Thank You.
Sincerely,
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I am writing to respectfully ask that you oppose HR 875 and S 425. I would also request that you personally read the legislation — I would like to know what your position is.
I know that some of your colleagues have not read this legislation, and I would ask that you urge them to do so. I believe that (just like some other things that you were all urged to sign without reading) anyone who does give this a full and fair reading, will be as appalled as I was at the possibilities for abuse available in it; and the dangers to small and independent farmers, as well as organic farmers, not to mention other industries.
Please help your colleagues to stop and read the proposed legislation before they vote, then vote them down.
Thank You.
Sincerely,
[Reply]
Laura Lampe Reply:
April 2nd, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I am writing to respectfully ask that you oppose HR 875 and S 425. I would also request that you personally read the legislation — I would like to know what your position is.
I know that some of your colleagues have not read this legislation, and I would ask that you urge them to do so. I believe that (just like some other things that you were all urged to sign without reading) anyone who does give this a full and fair reading, will be as appalled as I was at the possibilities for abuse available in it; and the dangers to small and independent farmers, as well as organic farmers, not to mention other industries.
Please help your colleagues to stop and read the proposed legislation before they vote, then vote them down.
Thank You.
Sincerely,
Laura Lampe
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Neil Herman Reply:
April 2nd, 2009 at 12:53 pm
I am writing to respectfully ask that you oppose HR 875 and S 425. I would also request that you personally read the legislation — I would like to know what your position is.
I know that some of your colleagues have not read this legislation, and I would ask that you urge them to do so. I believe that (just like some other things that you were all urged to sign without reading) anyone who does give this a full and fair reading, will be as appalled as I was at the possibilities for abuse available in it; and the dangers to small and independent farmers, as well as organic farmers, not to mention other industries.
Please help your colleagues to stop and read the proposed legislation before they vote, then vote them down.
Thank You.
Sincerely,
Neil Herman
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The government is our worst enemy. The almighty dollar is far more important than our health. It is extremely sad and embarassing to be represented by a government that turns a blind eye.
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I am writing to respectfully ask that you oppose HR 875 and S 425. I would also request that you personally read the legislation. I know that some of your collegues have not read this legislation, and I would ask that you urge them to do so. I believe that (just like some other things that you were all urged to sign without reading) anyone who does give this a full and fair reading, will be as appalled as I was at the possibilities for abuse available in it; the dangers to small and independenet farmers is imminent, as well as organic farmers, not to mention those who have family gardens.
If I can understand this, then I’m sure anyone reading it can. Please ask your colleagues to stop and read them before they vote, and do not let this pass. Thank You!
Sincerely,
T.Glick
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What the hell is this? Why is this country going more and more towards Communism?? Why does the govt. feel the need to control EVERYTHING the citizens do?? What are they gonna do next – tell us how to wipe our own asses, that a govt. official will have to attend and monitor how we do it? This is so ludicrous that I can’t even believe I have to waste my time defending this. I love my backyard organic garden and hell if some jerk who’s got small man/woman complex to tell me I can’t grow my own veggies on my own property!!! Who’s it gonna hurt? The chemical companies ’cause I’m not buying their bug killer sprays? Why don’t you govt. people try working on your own personal problems instead of creating stupidity like this!!
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My representative, Jim McDermott, a well-respected progressive, co-sponsored HR 875. I just spoke with his aid in charge of this bill and asked about criminalization of home growers. She responded that this bill related only to interstate commerce and thus could not apply to home growers producing food for local consumption.
If you want us to help by making calls, you’ll have to provide much better information than sounding the alarm. If there’s something in here that really affects such growers, please explain help me understand it so I can make a call and not sound ignorant.
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Dan Yon Reply:
April 5th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Thanks Stan,
I agree! We need to fully document our case.
This means we need to CITE the law to back up each and every claim we make.
E.G.
The text of the bill specifically EXCEPTS facilities covered by the Federal Meat Inspection Act and Poultry Products Inspection Act.
Please see:
H.R. 875 Sec 3 (5)
“category 1 food establishment’ means a food establishment that slaughters …animals that are not subject to inspection under the Federal Meat Inspection Act or poultry that are not subject to inspection under the Poultry Products Inspection Act.”
Also See
H.R. 875 Sec 3 (6)
“…category 2 food establishment’ means a seafood processing establishment or other food establishment …not subject to inspection under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, or the Egg Products Inspection Act”
The Federal Safety and Inspection Service provides inspection for all meat and poultry products sold in interstate commerce as authorized by these laws.
Please see
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/federal_meat_inspection_act/index.asp
and
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/PPIA/index.asp
How can a law both EXCEPT interstate commerce and, as the staff member you talked to states, relate “…ONLY to interstate commerce and thus could not apply to home growers producing food for local consumption.”
I urge you, to familiarize yourself with these citations and have Mr. McDermott or his staff clarify this issue for us all.
Thanks for your diligent, sober, and intelligent pursuit of truth and fairness in this important issue.
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The lobbyists and special interests may pay for your campaigns but We The People ultimately vote your butts in or out!
Wake Up People, The mind game is being played on YOU!
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I certainly oppose much of the intrusive nature of this bill. However, I feel that to be effective at stopping this type of legislation our arguments need to be precise and documented. While I am sympathetic with the sentiment,”Get the government off my back” lawmakers and their well paid staff members are not.
We need a clear understanding of the law and be able to CITE the bill to counter attempts to dodge or misrepresent the actual effect the law will have.
Toward that end I have some issues I need clarified before confronting my legislator.
As with most laws, WHO the law covers is of primary importance.
As to the allegation that:
” It will effect anyone who produces food even if they do not sell but only consume it. ”
The law defines:
Five (5) Categories of “Food Establishments” Sec 3 Par 5-9
What constitutes a “Food Establishment” is defined in Sec 3 Par 13 SubPar (A)
BUT EXPLICITLY EXCLUDES “food production facilities” and “other retail food establishment” Sec 3 Par 13 SubPar(B)
A ‘food production facility’ is defined as “any farm, ranch, orchard, vineyard, aquaculture facility, or confined animal-feeding operation.” Sec 3 Par 14
But what is an “other retail food establishment”?
All “Food Establishments” covered in the above are defined as “Processing” food.
” The term `process’ or `processing’ means the commercial slaughter, packing, preparation, or manufacture of food.”Sec 3 Par 19
Note stipulation of ‘commercial’. This means selling.
Note stipulation of ‘manufacture’. It would seem that this doesn’t include ‘food production’ by a “food production facility.”
Sec3 Par 13 sub (a) covers “a food establishment that holds, stores, or transports food.” This would include road-side vendors and farmer’s markets but NOT home gardens(they are NOT “food establishments” Sec 3 Par 13 SubPar(B).)
I still cannot find a section that applies to those not SELLING food.
Can anyone cite the exact location in the bill that establishes this as fact?
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I respectfully request that bill HR 875 be opposed. By restricting the freedom of
American citizens to grow their own organic foods, not only would this bill be against constitutional rights, but it would be a great disservice to the mentally disabled community. Many families grow their own food and raise their own livestock for eggs and milk because their children with mental disabilities are allergic to the pesticides, chemicals, and hormones in processed foods and vegetables. For example, many autistic children have increased behaviors in response to dairy products purchased in the stores. They have no reaction, however, to home made milk products. By penalizing the American citizens for growing their own food and raising their own animals for dairy products, we would be handicapping the farmers and families of this land. Even more, we would be making it even harder for families with children who have developmental disabilities to cope with life.
How, in an economic time period such as this, can this government justify penalizing its own citizens for growing their own food when they can barely put food on the table as it is. There is a saying that a government can be judged by how it treats its children, its poor, its elderly, and its disabled. Legislation such as this would surely be detrimental to all of these minority groups. I sincerely hope that all who vote on this bill will personally read it and consider the grave consequences of their actions. I voted for President Obama, but if nothing is done to stop this chain of events, my faith in him will be gone.
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Quote:
“Legislate religion and enforce gag orders on ministers on what can and can’t be said in the pulpit, instituting regulations forcing people to rely solely on the government, control the money and the food. What is that called? It is on the tip of my tongue……….”
Fascist Dictatorship, that’s what it’s called.
I am strongly opposed to “Bill HR 875″.
The fact that the Government is trying to take control of the food and the seeds should send up lots of red flags, it does to me. When I go out now-a-days I literally feel like people live, THRIVE even, on denial. Everyone’s so stupefied and refuses to even acknowledge it when it’s placed right in front of them. I’ve shown people GOVERNMENT documents and news broadcasts, etc. and even then they refuse to believe it exists.
First they take the food, then they take the world.
I mean seriously, where do you people think those trillions of dollars went? Money doesn’t just walk away and we sure as heck didn’t get any of it. It’s all part of a strategically thought out plan.
A man once said “If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed”. That man also said “How fortunate for leaders that men do not think”. Now, who was that man, let me see here… Oh yeah, Adolf Hitler.
It’s war people and it’s already begun.
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So…..if Monsanto has bought up 11,000 patents,on those that are unpatented, why not just buy up the rest? How much does a patent cost? How can one go about buying it?
Has anyone reading this considered writing an article to their local newspaper about this in order to make more people aware? Just wondering….
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Do not let this pass. We have a right to pure food. We do not want to plant seeds which have been modified & are now sterile. Get up – stand up – stand up for our rights. Listen to the voice of the people, not the corporations.
It is not ok to allow a Frankenstein corporation like Monsanto to control our food supply.
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This is out of control! I firmly stand with Governor Rick Perry of Texas who is proposing to secede from the Union. I believe it is time Americans abolish the Union and go back to being self sufficient colonies! The so-called “leaders” we were coerced into electing have proven beyond a resasonable doubt that they are incapable of upholding our Constitution due to their incessant greed!
We must not allow the Government to control our lives, our property or our livestock any longer and should take back what is rightfully ours as property owners and abolish this Dictatorship once and for all!!!
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Watch the documenatry Food Inc to see how the big farmers operate (it’s even illegal to take a picture of one of their factories now or the animals)
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Watch the documentary Food Inc to see how the big farmers operate (it’s even illegal to take a picture of one of their factories now or the animals)
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