Educating Politically

   I've tried to politically educate my friends (and even those who don't consider me a friend) concerning State Question 777 over the past couple weeks, and will continue to do so through November 8. There are actually, in my opinion, four state questions which are politically motivated, which I will explore before November 8, election day. In addition to SQ 777 - right to farm (which gives lawmakers the right to transfer local authority for family farms to corporate entities), there is SQ 779 - the one-cent sales tax increase for education (which gives lawmakers the right to transfer the authority to provide teacher salaries to Oklahoma voters), SQ 790 - the replacement of the Ten Commandments monument to state capitol grounds  (which gives lawmakers the right to transfer public monies to private and corporate schools), and SQ 792 - the modernization of Oklahoma liquor laws (which gives lawmakers the right to transfer local vendor economies to out-of-state and foreign corporate entities). These four state questions all have one common denominator - the right of government and corporate control, something which George Carlin ranted against in 2005 and Abraham Lincoln wrote about in 1866 (of which I'll detail later).
   Before I go on to common denominators though, I'd first like to address a question I received  from a YES voter concerning SQ 777. "Vote Yes corporate entities" have told local hog farmers that the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) will stop them from castrating pigs if 777 doesn't pass. First of all, Oklahoma has been losing local commercial hog farmers since the hog factory Seaboard began consolidating them (putting them out of business). As a matter of fact we had 6,200 hog farms in 1985, which was reduced to 1987 by 2012. The reduction was due in part to Seaboard, a corporate farm factory, stealing the hog market. I personally know several family hog farms that went out of business because of Seaboard's efforts. They are my friends. Seaboard is not my friend. I researched the castration concern, and determined that HSUS has no issue with the castration of pigs as a method of hog farming. As a matter of fact, HSUS does have an issue with Seaboard, in the way they confine sows in 2' by 6' gestation cages for their entire pregnancy (maybe 6 months), not just the time period just before giving birth (according to news release from Missouri). In the article, the reporter (not HSUS) mentioned the castration of baby pigs by Seaboard in relation to the cage sizes. Bear in mind that HSUS is not concerned with any abuse issue that pertains to farming and ranching, only abuse issues that Seaboard, Suanghui (Chinese owned), and other factory farms are guilty of committing. Seaboard seized the opportunity to spread the false rumor that HSUS would prevent hog farmers from castrating pigs, if SQ 777 doesn't pass. This is fear mongering at its worst, because HSUS has never passed a state law that says I can't castrate calves or hogs. The family hog farmers left in Oklahoma do not cage sows for long lengths of time, as I've seen their gestation cages, and know how long they cage them. But you must understand that factory farms do not care about livestock, only about corporate and shareholder profits. They produce livestock like the way the rest of us would grow tomato plants. So, this castration complaint was initiated by Seaboard for Seaboard, not our family farmers and ranchers.
   Now, let's analyze SQ 792, the modernization of Oklahoma liquor laws, and determine how its related to SQ 777. First of all, it was initiated by unknown ALEC corporations, although you may know. I could guess that it would be corporate retail sales outlets. The important issue the bill addresses is to allow strong beer and wine to be sold at corporate outlets, not just by our local business owners who are your friends and neighbors. In my opinion, this bill was initiated by Wal-Mart in an attempt to close the competition (local liquor stores). In my opinion, many local liquor stores will be forced to close if 792 passes. Just this one issue will encourage me to vote No on SQ 792. If you value your friends who own local businesses, you will also vote no. Also in my opinion, if 792 passes, our youth will more easily circumvent age requirements for purchasing alcohol. This is another reason I'll vote no. The bottom line for SQ 792 is corporate profits, just as it is for SQ 777.
   I'll continue to analyze the four state questions initiated by ALEC in each and every blog, through November 8... . Because it's far too much to write about in just one. Thank you for reading it...