Next time someone says D's and R's are all the same, show them this...

[garybeck]

In recent past, photographs and videos taken undercover have brought to light some of the horrific conditions, unbelievable abuse, and criminal activity that takes place in factory farms. In response, the ag industry and their slew of high-paid lobbyists have negotiated the writing and introduction of bills in State Legislatures to ban undercover photography of factory farms.

While many consider these bills to be unconstitutional, that appears to be besides the point to the ag industry, their lobbyists, and the legislators they're work with.

One example is in Iowa. HF589 (http://search.legis.state.ia.us/NXT/gateway.dll/cl/84th%20ga%20-%20session%201/02___other/001___bills/01___house/01___introduced/hf589.html?f=templates$fn=document-frameset.htm$q=589$x=server$3.0#LPHit1) would make it a criminal act to photograph or video anything that takes place at a farm without permission of the owner, with significant penalties.

My first thought was, "damn Republicans.... I'm sure they're at the root of this." But before I embraced my knee-jerk reaction, I decided to investigate.

Guess what I found.

On March 17th, the bill passed the State House, by a vote of 66-27. Anyone care to guess the party affiliation make-up of the vote?

Out of the 27 people who voted against the bill and for the US Constitution, and to protect those who uncover illegal abuse of animals, not to mention protecting the animals themselves, ALL 27 are Democrats. Not a single Republican voted Nay.

Out of the 66 people who voted for the bill and against the US Constitution, to protect big business and enable them to continue to abuse animals, and to put whistleblowers in jail, ALL BUT 7 are Republicans.

(see voting records here: http://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/pubs/hjweb/pdf/March%2017,%202011.pdf#page=5 )

This is a glaring example of how Democrats tend to protect people's rights (whistleblowers), defenseless beings (factory farm animals), and the Constitution, while Republicans sole purpose is to serve big business and protect them from prosecution, regardless of how horrible the acts they commit.

I frequently get into heated discussions with people on facebook who listen to Beck and Limbaugh and they are convinced that Republicans actually are the ones who are protecting people's rights. Then there's a whole 'nuther group out there who think all the politicians, whether D or R, are all the same.

Well they're not. This bill, and the vote, show that Beck and Limbaugh are full of hot air. The proof is in the vote.

These bills are not only unconstitutional, they are a nightmare on several levels. How anyone can make an argument for protecting a farm's ability to abuse animals when it is against the law is beyond me. If anything, we need to strengthen whistleblower's rights and protections, not enact laws that would discourage and criminalize their work.

I think most people agree animal abuse is bad. The criminal activity that these videos have uncovered in the past is far beyond anything that a sane person could say needs to be happening in our world today. If these bills pass it will mean more abuse and a further erosion of our Constitutional rights. Don't count on the Supreme Court to bail us out on this one.

NOTE: Iowa is just one state where this is happening. This is a concerted effort. Florida and several other states similar bills. Find out more:

Excellent CNN reporting on this issue from Jane Velez-Mitchell:
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/crime/2011/03/25/jvm.undercover.farm.laws.hln.html

Bills to Ban Undercover Factory Farming Videos Moving Ahead in Iowa and Florida
http://animalrights.about.com/b/2011/03/23/bills-to-ban-undercover-factory-farming-videos-moving-ahead-in-iowa-and-florida.htm

(if anyone wants to argue that the abuse is overblown or not happening.... just watch the CNN video above. do you think they should be able to do that?)

[rfranklin]

1. Republicans know on which side their bread is buttered...

or "palms are greased," as the case may be.

[RKP5637]

2. Give it a few more years and it will be abused workers people are trying to

photograph and it will be unconstitutional.

[Mojorabbit]

3. I still have nightmares

about that asshole with the pitchfork. I still can't believe the farm owner got off with nothing.

[garybeck]

4. I don't know the particulars of that incident, but

i saw it for the first time last night and I am still sick over it. I was unaware until you told me that the guy got off with nothing. How the hell did that happen? WTF is it with this world we live in? Why would anyone do that?