I pulled up Bing search engine this morning and got a bit teary-eyed from their wallpaper image. You may find it a bit silly. It's an areal view of prairie farm land. The land here is laid out mostly in square mile sections with circles of green in some of it from the irrigation circles. There are tan or gold strips I'm assuming are wheat and brown strips of either fresh cut or plowed ground. There's nothing like it. At night, from the sky, the world literally twinkles with the lights of the irrigation systems. Flying over in the dark is an awesome sight. I can stand on a hill and look out over miles and miles. On a clear night I can see lights from towns in Texas and Kansas. I love it!
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I try really hard to refrain from publishing blog posts about political things. This is hard because a majority of my life revolves around potentially volatile issues such as:
- Education - We were the first family in our county to homeschool. (Other than the pioneers...) I do not believe I should have to pay for the education of others. I know, understand, and sympathize with the fact that not everyone can homeschool. I'm an advocate of small community schoolhouses paid for and run by local communities and non-profit organizations. Education should never be under state or federal jurisdiction.
- Healthcare - I'm an herbalist and while I am ever so grateful for my doctor's knowledge and expertise, he knows I'll try everything else I possibly can and maybe even ask a veterinarian before I visit him. I'm also a faith midwife and have helped families give birth in their own homes. This also pegs me as a breastfeeding advocate. I do NOT believe in socialized health care or that my family should be forced to have insurance or pay for others' lifestyle consequences. Hospitals and clinics should be owned and operated privately or by non-profit organizations. Healthcare should never be under the jurisdiction of the state or federal government.
- Private Property - On one hand, from a Biblical perspective, I know God owns everything and I am only a steward of what HE puts in my care. On the other hand, the governments of the world have always tried to tell the working people how and when to do their work, plus take as much of the production as possible. It has always been a struggle and will be until the LORD returns. This doesn't mean I don't fight for my God given right to have dominion over what HE has provided and I have worked hard for.
BALLOT TITLE FOR STATE QUESTION NO. 777
This measure adds Section 38 to Article II of the Oklahoma Constitution.
The new Section creates state constitutional rights. It creates the following guaranteed rights to engage in farming and ranching:
The measure—and the protections identified above--do not apply to and do not impact state laws related to:
The new Section creates state constitutional rights. It creates the following guaranteed rights to engage in farming and ranching:
- The right to make use of agricultural technology
- The right to make use of livestock procedures, and
- The right to make use of ranching practices.
The measure—and the protections identified above--do not apply to and do not impact state laws related to:
- Trespass,
- Eminent domain,
- Dominance of mineral interests,
- Easements
- Any state statutes and political subdivision ordinances enacted before December 31, 2014.
I have highlighted the areas I'm concerned about & will explain why.
If you are a resident of the USA and especially Oklahoma right now, I ask you to prayerfully research the references I've provided above and the links below. This is something that affects all of us and since we are providing food for much of the rest of the world, consider what we are growing to feed future generations. Who doesn't prefer a basket of organic or home-grown produce over most of what's available from the grocery store produce department? Have you compared the quality of meat, eggs or milk from a local farmer to that of the grocery store?
If you live outside the USA, please pray for us.
- Technology & Procedures - Ag tech includes diagnostic testing, computerized data, robotics (including the use of drones), economic tracking, and Genetic Engineering. Monster companies like Monsanto, Bayer, and other pharmaceutical companies have a lot invested in Ag Tech. Many medications and immunizations are made from animal genetics. A big worldwide and nationwide debate is going on right now about the ethics of growing Chimera body parts in livestock for human transplants. (CDC.org, WashingtonTimes.com, MedicalDaily.com, TechnologyReivew.com, ObservatorioBioEtica.org, Agriculture.com, Zenit.org, SkywatchTV.com)
- State Interest - This is 'meant' to be a protection, but it also means any unethical technology & procedures can't be stopped until it's gone through the whole legislative process and a law is passed. This really worries me...
- Do not apply or impact - Do you get this? This means any infringements on our agricultural rights in affect before Dec. 31, 2014 are permanent. This amendment doesn't repeal any unfair laws or regulations. This is being promoted as something that will "ensure that you have access to great-tasting, healthy, affordable nutrition" but it will not give me the right to sell fresh eggs, chicken, or raw milk from my little barn door or at a farmer's market.
- Eminent Domain & Easements - Again, this doesn't give me the right to farm land that has already been taken over by some duly ordained company or agency. Two examples: If my neighbors allow a windfarm to be installed and operated on their property I must adhere to the windfarm's rules and not build a new barn for my livestock or put up a new silo for my grain. If my neighbors allow a corporate hog farm to be installed and operated on their property, I can't purchase a pig to raise pork even for my own family use.
If you are a resident of the USA and especially Oklahoma right now, I ask you to prayerfully research the references I've provided above and the links below. This is something that affects all of us and since we are providing food for much of the rest of the world, consider what we are growing to feed future generations. Who doesn't prefer a basket of organic or home-grown produce over most of what's available from the grocery store produce department? Have you compared the quality of meat, eggs or milk from a local farmer to that of the grocery store?
If you live outside the USA, please pray for us.
"Oklahomans for Food, Farm and Family, a nonprofit formed specifically to fight against SQ 777, is made up of members of the Oklahoma Municipal League, the Conservation Coalition of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Farm and Food Alliance with support from the Oklahoma Food Cooperative, the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, the League of Women Voters, the Choctaw Nation, the Cherokee Nation, the Chickasaw Nation, Muscogee Creek Nation, the Seminole Nation and other organizations." ~ RedDirtReport.com
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