Standards for Confining Farm Animals
Requires that certain farm animals be allowed, for the majority of every day, to fully extend their limbs or wings, lie down, stand up and turn around. Limited exceptions apply. Fiscal Impact: Potential unknown decrease in state and local tax revenues from farm businesses, possibly in the range of several million dollars annually. Potential minor local and state enforcement and prosecution costs, partly offset by increased fine revenue.
I’m voting Yes on Prop 2, because I believe it helps protect small, family owned farms.
Large, corporate factory farms have an incentive squeeze even the smallest amounts of “efficiency” out of their systems, in order to boost the bottom line. Often this leads to cruel farming practices, which result in unfair advantages over small farms as well as unfair treatment of animals.
Family owned farms have a greater connection with and responsibility to the land, including an awareness of how their methods affect the meat and produce they raise. There is ample evidence to suggest that this yields food that is both safer and healthier to consume.
On a personal level, the commercials aired by Yes on Prop 2 have been, for me, the most disturbing of the election. I’m embedding a segment from YouTube here, so those outside the state can view it. A word of warning however, it is graphic.
Every time this comes across my television, I have to turn away. After watching it, I’m tempted to resume my previous short-lived attempts at being a vegetarian.
Additional information is available at Ballotpedia.
