A statewide referendum asked voters if they favored an amendment to the Maine Constitution “to declare that all individuals have a natural, inherent and unalienable right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume the food of their own choosing for their own nourishment, sustenance, bodily health and well-being.” It was an experiment not tried before by any state.
So, what happens when somebody decides he/she wants to raise chickens in their apartment bldg? You just know, there'll be people who'll abuse this amendment.
ReplyDeleteThat's nothing. What happens when your neighbor plants potatoes on his potatoes in your front yard? Or on your roof? Or adds salt to your pool to farm tuna?
DeleteLewiston in 3..., 2..., 1!
Deletecockadoodal
I didnt read the article, just the teaser. but this is very dangerous.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, the fact that the think there is a need to assert natural rights holds within it that they think we do not have them inherently which we do. Secondly, and more importantly, there is no clause for the right to PURCHASE FOOD, which is exactly what we need to protect from the pricks who would withhold food sources from persons for political gain.
I don't need the governments permission to grow my own fucking food.
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteJD
Bingo. First thought I had.
DeleteCome and try to take it motherfuckers. Gettin' to the point I'm seeing ZERO use for any government.
'Right to food', as in the San Francisco law that says it is OK to steal $950 worth of food per store per day? We'll have some serious obesity in Maine soon. Lock up your lobstah!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought this was going to be some liberal everyone has a right to food even if they don't work for it but I guess we already got that. :P
ReplyDeleteI notice that there's no right to buy or sell in there. So raw milk sales are still illegal. Day late and a dollar short if you ask me. Still a step in the right direction, though!
ReplyDeleteAnd at least unlimited weed grows, as well as poppy and coca are legal now. As long as you grow it yourself, anyway.
I'm waiting for them to pass a law to allow us to breathe everywhere unencumbered!
ReplyDeleteThis is a good thing. Look at how Oregon is trying to attack animal husbandry, how much farmland bill gates is buying up, the impossible burger guy saying he wants to do away with animal agriculture. Having this codified in the state constitution is a hedge against that over reach.
ReplyDeleteI have friends who have to secretly grow a small raised bed garden in their backyard. This is in south Mississippi. Unfortunately, it seems laws protecting "us" from "them" have become necessary.
ReplyDeleteIf they can't grow a garden in Mississippi it isn't a law prohibiting it. It's an HOA.
DeleteGood God.
ReplyDeleteThis is what they do???
What damn stupidity.
No Wonder.
I actually think this is maybe not well thought out, but a good idea. Maybe get people to renew Victory Gardens, instead of sod on the yard. Livestock would be a different set of issues, but if you can have a dog, how much more yard do you need to have a couple of dwarf goats, or a small flock of hens.
ReplyDeleteRaised beds or other small scaled agriculture would also qualify as a science project with the kiddos, maybe aquaponics and tilapia would be too much, but beans, corn and squash would provide edibles and a life cycle lesson they won't see in school.
I don't have an issue with it for the most part, as long as your plants are on your property it's your Business
"as long as your plants are on your property it's your Business"
DeleteActually, it's interstate commerce.
- The Supreme Court
Look for deals in livestock as people find out you have to feed, water, and milk them critters every single day. Then there's the vet bills and Rxs. And plants don't take care of themselves, either. Big Food has nothing to worry about.
ReplyDeleteSince when have we required anyone's "seal of approval"? I say fuck 'em!
ReplyDelete"A statewide referendum asked voters if they favored an amendment to the Maine Constitution “to declare that all individuals have a natural, inherent and unalienable right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume the food of their own choosing for their own nourishment, sustenance, bodily health and well-being.” It was an experiment not tried before by any state."
ReplyDeleteWhat? We've been doing it for years!
- North Korean mothers
I have mixed feelings about this one. First of all, enumerating a right in a constitution does not "grant permission", it simply recognizes and codifies the right. For this very reason, this amendment disturbs me somewhat.
ReplyDeleteAs some have pointed out already, does this codification obscure common sense? To elaborate on one point, does this mean one could keep their beef cow in a 77th story apartment? To paraphrase Andy Renko in Hill Street Blues "Cows can go up stairs but they won't go down 'cause cows ain't got no down genes" On the other hand a nearby town prohibits beekeeping inside town limits.
With the feds making motions to declare authority to decide who can produce their own food, I can see a potential need for such an affirmation but one needs to tread carefully.
Folks may think this is a silly law. The town we just moved out of allows, ALLOWS, one rain barrel, permitted and approved of course. They just passed a 'rain tax' based on how much hard surface is on your property.
ReplyDeleteSo, they won't allow you to catch rain water, but they will tax you for the rain.