Politically, we live in disturbing times. They say real politics are local and they are. Here in Colorado, we have two random citizens—activists—proposing a ballot measure to amend Colorado’s animal cruelty laws.
Ballot measures must go through a strict initiative process and garner 125,000 signatures from the various districts to be on the 2022 ballot. These two guys are proposing the “Protect Animals from Unnecessary Suffering and Exploitation” (PAUSE) ballot initiative.
Ballot initiatives have been somewhat of a reckless tool for state governments. Random folks have the ability to change state laws. I can’t believe something like this could make it on the ballot but here in Colorado you never know. Restoring the wolf population made it on the ballot and now we must release wolves in the state. Colorado has a history of getting wild initiatives on the ballot; we were the first state to legalize pot. California does too.
This trend of folks who don’t care for one aspect of our society and economy wanting to make laws so other people can’t pursue their endeavor is getting out of control. Why do people like this want to tell us how to conduct other people’s business?
Even our Gov. Jared Polis made a random proclamation that March 20 was Colorado Meat Out Day. This is going too far. If you don’t like meat or animal agriculture, don’t eat it or expose yourself to it. I know you all get it. Animal agriculture and producing meat protein is ingrained in people’s DNA.
Polis said in his proclamation, “WHEREAS, removing animal products from our diets reduces the risk of various ailments, including heart disease, high-blood pressure, stroke, various cancers, and diabetes; and
“WHEREAS, a plant-based diet helps protect the environment by reducing our carbon footprint, preserving forests, grasslands and wildlife habitats, and reduces pollution of waterways; and
“WHEREAS, a growing number of people are reducing their meat consumption to help prevent animal cruelty…” and you get the rest.
This is the governor who put the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) at risk when he shut down the state’s business because of COVID-19. Many breed associations are planning on having their national shows in Oklahoma City. Cattlemen’s Congress, which is aggressively trying to attract the national events, has been the domain of Denver for 115 years. This guy will ruin Colorado agriculture. Also, he apparently doesn’t realize the investment the city of Denver has made in improving the NWSS. Denver is investing $1.3 billion to make sure Denver hosts these shows forever.
Back to the PAUSE initiative, these folks want to redefine the term “livestock” to include fish. The one aspect that has the potential to ruin the livestock industry in Colorado, which is the largest segment of agriculture in Colorado, is that we can’t process livestock until they have reached 25 percent of their expected lifespan. So, you wouldn’t be able slaughter a steer until he was 5 years old. I don’t think I would want to consume a steak from a 5-year-old steer. It would be two years until a chicken could be processed. So, what do we do? Take them out of state and process them and ship the meat back?
Then they really go off the rails when they refer to sexual acts which includes “any intrusion or penetration, however slight, with an object or part of a person’s body into an animals’ ‘private parts,’ my words. Then they say it shall be construed to prohibit any person from dispensing care to an animal in the interest of improving that animal’s health.
This little provision would decimate modern livestock production. No artificial insemination, no embryo transfer. I wonder if they thought of DNA or gene editing. Probably not, because we have regular citizens proposing laws on things they know nothing about. This would ban a common pregnancy check on a cow. This stuff drives me crazy.
Colorado agriculture is angry with the governor’s office. Colorado Cattlemen’s Association proclaimed March 20 as Meat In Day and recruited restaurants and retailers to feature beef products. Other states have joined in the Meat-In campaign.
Everywhere you turn, unintended ignorance takes a swipe at agriculture, the industry that feeds 330 million Americans and the world. Folks need to appreciate they can go to the grocery store and have plenty of food choices. Meanwhile, let’s pray for spring rains. It’s working so far. — PETE CROW
