Who is upset about this Raw Milk issue?

[Mattemma]

When was the last time someone died from raw milk? I saw 2 people died recently from cantelope. My mom drank raw milk.Got it fresh every am from a neighbor.Just more $$$$ for the local govt. as they fine and jail people who then have to defend themselves.

 

[Royd]

We now have a president and regulatory commissions who think it's their privilege to make and enforce rules by fiat, without putting it through the proper process of discussion in The People's House, IE. the House of Representatives, and then, on to the Senate.

Then, we have half the population who don't seem to have a problem with Big Brother running their lives....Freedom to them is lack of responsibility.

What I see happening, if this doesn't change, is more and more people, will attempt to seek out like minded people and form closed enclaves, with a very tight lipped society.

BTW, they can only put so many people in jail, before the system collapses on itself. Don't seek bail, don't pay for a lawyer. Just let the state support you, at 10 times the cost of just letting you get back to your life and actually supporting the system, through honest commerce.

 

[Marcymom3]

Raw milk is NOT as dangerous as the government. Our freedoms are being taken away little by little.

 

[Marcymom3]

Quote:
Exactly!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I grew up drinking raw milk. Heck, I milked the cow. But this quote

The regulation of raw milk sales in the first half of the 20th century proved to be a major public health success in this country. In 1938, milk-borne outbreaks constituted approximately 25% of all disease-outbreaks from contaminated food and water. As of 2005, that figure was down to about 1%.

From this source demonstrates why the regulations came about.

http://www.marlerblog.com/lawyer-oped/a-legal-history-of-raw-milk-in-the-united-states/

A drop from 25% to1% of all food and water borne illnesses is remarkable and cannot be glossed over by saying that we have made advances. We have made advances in all food and water treatment and handling, not just in milk.

I don’t know how reliable this source is as far as the statistics. It seems high, but it is not talking about all food and water borne illnesses. It is talking about general outbreaks, not isolated individual cases, so maybe it is not that far off. But the health benefits of pasteurizing milk are pretty clear. Milk is a perfect medium for bacteria growth.

The issue is not the health benefits. The issue is whether the government has the responsibility to protect the citizens. The courts have determined that, under the Constitution, the government has that right and responsibility.

If it is not broke, don't fix it.

 

[ragnar1107]

This is an interesting topic in that it truly is something that unites people of incredibly divergent views and politics. The people who are interested in living a more sustainable, accountable agrarian lifestyle are just as likely to be liberal as conservative, I personally think that's neat. There is so much anger and hate in our mainstream political discourse it's nice that just regular folks can see something that unites instead of divides. I think it is a really alarming trend that small producers and consumers are being raided by government swat teams all about food choices made on a strictly local and individual choice. It really is big government and big food trying to establish dominance in the market place, they want us in those grocery stores buying what they produce. All the factory farmed genetically altered crap that ADM and Monsanto can come up with.

 

[chickened]

What lawbreakers are easier to catch/prosecute burglars or farmers? which have money to throw at defense? Which will eager DA's use to climb the ladder of success?

 

[CluckyJay]

Then why aren't they protecting my family from all the foods that make us sick ...the "safe" ones they are so proud of? Sorry, raw milk when properly handle, which most people do, is perfectly safe and perfectly healthy. It is a money and power thing, period.

 

[PotterWatch]

I have to disagree with what Debi posted about California. Yes, it does have a pretty deep divide between conservatives and liberals, but liberals in CA are not behind a push to get rid of things like raw milk, that is the FDA. The majority of those who are trying to buy raw milk in CA are liberals, local food loving liberals. I am one of them. And AB 107 refers to licensing needed to run a processing facility or slaughterhouse, not to process your own meat. We still process our own chicken for our customers because we are not considered a processing facility. We can still run our business based on the USDA guidelines for raising and selling chicken meat. I know it is sometimes easy to try and blame the "other party" for all the ills of a given area; heck I do that myself sometimes; but this particular thing is not a republican/democrat issue. This is an issue of big business trying to maintain control over our food supply. Politicians from both parties are allowing this to happen and we all need to recognize this and work together to make any kind of change. I will continue to consume raw milk and I will work to make sure that I will always be able to.

 

[chickened]

I think the issue is more divided along the lines of self responsibility and I want BDG to take care of me. Conservatives want less government encroachment and liberals want the government to regulate everything (nanny state). Well we now have the government doing what you wanted taking care of us so we do not get sick. The side effect is larger government and situations to feed and justify the existence, they have to do something they can never say we have enough regs.