We've talked about about Proposition 1 in California, which would force a huge increase in transit funding. But until today, I didn't know much abut Proposition 2: "Standards for Confining Farm Animals." This is, in essence, a ballot initiative meant to address cruelty in livestock production. Paul Shapiro writes that "this moderate measure merely seeks to provide certain farm animals with enough room to stand up, lie down, turn around, and extend their limbs. It really is that basic." But Shapiro is part of the slow food movement, so that's probably a biased lie spitshining what's surely an absurd regulatory boondoggle. So I went over to the California Secretary of State's summary, which says the bill "requires that certain farm animals be allowed, for the majority of every day, to fully extend their limbs or wings, lie down, stand up and turn around. Limited exceptions apply."Nick Kristof -- in a poignant, affecting column that everyone should read in full -- makes the salient point here, saying “the law punishes teenage boys who tie up and abuse a stray cat. So why allow industrialists to run factory farms that keep pigs almost all their lives in tiny pens that are barely bigger than they are?” We abhor animal cruelty when it's done for pleasure, but condone it when it's conducted for profit. It really is, as Shapiro says, that basic. Related:: YES! on Prop 2. PROP 2.
We've talked about about Proposition 1 in California, which would force a huge increase in transit funding. But until today, I didn't know much abut Proposition 2: "Standards for Confining Farm Animals." This is, in essence, a ballot initiative meant to address cruelty in livestock production. Paul Shapiro writes that "this moderate measure merely seeks to provide certain farm animals with enough room to stand up, lie down, turn around, and extend their limbs. It really is that basic." But Shapiro is part of the slow food movement, so that's probably a biased lie spitshining what's surely an absurd regulatory boondoggle. So I went over to the California Secretary of State's summary, which says the bill "requires that certain farm animals be allowed, for the majority of every day, to fully extend their limbs or wings, lie down, stand up and turn around. Limited exceptions apply."Nick Kristof -- in a poignant, affecting column that everyone should read in full -- makes the salient point here, saying “the law punishes teenage boys who tie up and abuse a stray cat. So why allow industrialists to run factory farms that keep pigs almost all their lives in tiny pens that are barely bigger than they are?” We abhor animal cruelty when it's done for pleasure, but condone it when it's conducted for profit. It really is, as Shapiro says, that basic. Related:: YES! on Prop 2. 
