You good, Arizona? Arizona Genome Stewardship Act
Ever thought about just not eating? Yeah. Me, either. Yet, some folks down in Arizona seem to really have a lack of understanding in regard to the law of unintended consequences. In the continued fight to wrap our heads around misleading proposed legislation, let’s take a closer look at what this particular initiative actually means for you and me.
This ballot initiative seems fairly harmless at first look. It’s presenting itself as an opportunity to protect indigenous genomes. While protecting things seems like a good idea, their idea of enforcement looks like the eventual eradication of farming and ranching in Arizona.
The Citizens of Western Watersheds say they aim to protect the watersheds and wildlife of the American West. They focus on the use of public lands, but not in “the Teddy Roosevelt riding a moose across a river” way. They foresee a future where pastures that now feed cattle become wildlife sanctuaries, and slaughterhouses become greenhouses. Sounds kind of peaceful until you remember that you really enjoy a cheeseburger and french fries.
This initiative even proposes doing away with using public land for entertainment. Say goodbye to your tours through Yellowstone National Parks, because even tour guides, many of which are often committed to the preservation of our national parks, are considered “toxic.”
They use scare tactics, telling supporters that if they don’t support this amendment, wildlife will die. Putting aside the group founder’s known animosity towards ranchers, let’s look at what these Citizens plan to do.
They’d like to see a 75 percent (yes, you read that right.) penalty fee imposed on any company who engages in the production of “consumer, commercial, industrial, and exploitive, aquatic, and terrestrial animal and toxic consumer product.” The group says this fee “reflects the external cost imposed upon society by aquatic and terrestrial or other toxic product production.”
In practical language, this amendment would more than double the cost of any animal derived product, like the milk from our dairy, to cars, trucks, and gasoline. Now, with gas prices currently looking like a Magna Cum Laude graduate’s GPA, this is more than a bit radical. In case price hikes aren’t scary enough, this 75 percent penalty fee will essentially create a multi-billion-dollar slush fund that can then be used to push the radical vegan agenda onto Arizona citizens. Also, think this just affects Arizona? Think again.
If they’re coming for Arizona, they’re coming to a state near you, and they aim to essentially end their own food supply. I’m not saying I don’t need to watch what I eat, but I do intend to avoid forced starvation or living entirely on kale smoothies.
