Another excellent editorial about the National Animal Identification System (<acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym>) that is worth a read.<br />n<br />n<a href="http://magic-city-news.com/article_5192.shtml"><acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym>: What Does it Take to Raise an Alarm These Days?</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>Over the past couple of years, we've been subjected to a series of media scares relating to our meat supply. From Mad Cow, to swine flu, to e.Coli, to mutant flesh-eating viruses, and now the Avian flu, we've been led to believe that if we don't act immediately, we're all going to die.<br />n<br />nEnter the National Animal Identification System, a governmental program which utilizes public-private partnerships in an attempt to identify and track every animal in the United States.<br />n<br />nAnd despite the fact that we haven't had a single case of Mad Cow or the Avian flu transmitted to humans in the United States, and that the <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym> couldn't possibly do a thing to prevent contaminations of our meat supply occurring after the meat has been processed, we're all expected to expel a deep sigh of relief.<br />n<br />nUncle Sam has come through for us again.<br />n<br />nBut at what cost?<br />n<br />nThe National Animal Identification System will force farmers, hobbyists, and even pet owners to register each animal they own, and tag that animal with an identifying tag, band, or implanted electronic chip, for the purpose of tracking that animal through the food chain whether or not it even enters the food chain.</blockquote><br />n<br />nAn over-reaching government out of control is what it sounds like.<br />n<br />n<blockquote>Will implementation of the <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym> make our meat supply safer? Probably not, and it's not likely that we'd know if it did. It's not like people are dropping like flies from Mad Cow disease, as it is. The <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym> might be compared to using a cannon to hunt black flies in February.<br />n<br />nThe <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym> is likely to drive small meat producers out of business, placing an unfair economic burden on the traditional American businesses that have fed us since we've existed as a nation. Once the program is established, animal owners will bear the costs associated with the requirements for registration, identification, and reporting.<br />n<br />nCosts to large-scale producers of meat will be absorbed by consumers, raising the cost of living for all of us.<br />n<br />nThe <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym> will prevent many people from raising animals for their own food. The <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym> is said to be necessary in order to make our food supply secure against disease or terrorism, yet what can be more secure than raising your own food or buying from a local farmer who you actually know?</blockquote><br />n<br />nThis is exactly the thing, <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym> will not make our food supply safer. It will only increase the cost of production of food which will be passed on to the consumers and drive the little guys out of business. Is this what we want to see as a country? The family farm and ranches disappear.<br />n<br />n<blockquote>Although it seems to be slow in coming, there is yet time for an outcry over this program to have some effect. Small farmers and landowners can take action to oppose implementation of this plan.<br />n<br />nFirst, do not participate in the "voluntary" state program to register either your farm or your animals, as they'll use your willingness to participate in the program as justification for making it mandatory for everyone in the near future. If state or federal officials urge you to register either your premises or your animals, ask them whether your participation is voluntary or mandatory. Ask to see a copy of any legislation that gives them the authority to require compliance.<br />n<br />nMore importantly, contact any farming, breeding, or other associations that you might be a member of, asking them to oppose the <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym>. Ask these organizations to sponsor letter-writing campaigns to elected officials, both state and federal. Individually, you can write to your state and federal legislators. Letters sent via the postal service carry more weight than emails or form letters, but anything is better than nothing.<br />n<br />nThe United States Department of Agriculture plans the issuance of a <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym> rule for public comment in July of 2006. Be aware of this when the time comes, and be prepared to submit an individual comment opposing this rule.</blockquote><br />n<br />nHeed this advice and do everything you can to oppose this Nais rule from going into effect. The amazing thing about it is that their is no legislation authorizing this. It is the executive branch of the government acting on their own with no oversight from Congress. Write your Congressman to draft legislation opposing this. Everybody's help is needed.<br />n<br />n<b>I never worry about action, but only inaction. Winston Churchill</b>