Sunday Forum letters

Oakland Tribune, Sep 27, 2008 by Sunday Forum letters

Food safety first

Proposition 2 will ensure egg-laying hens, veal calves and pigs will be able to do such basic things as stand up, lie down, turn around and extend their limbs.

It's supported by the California Veterinary Medical Association and the Humane Society of the United States, among others.

Big agribusiness argues the measure will hurt family farmers, when these corporations have a history of driving family farmers out of business and are not above possible price-fixing that hurts consumers.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Department of Justice has subpoenaed records from the United Egg Producers (UEP), one of the leading opponents of Proposition 2, as part of a criminal probe into whether illegal price-fixing is behind record food prices.

The UEP and three other large egg-factory companies have contributed more than $800,000 and netted approximately $8 million in fundraising to fight Prop 2.

Bill Niman, founder of Niman Ranch, arguing in favor, stated that the measure's higher standard of animal husbandry practices will provide needed relief for animals as well as increase food safety and benefit the environment.

It's big business versus animal welfare, food safety and the environment -- not a difficult choice. Vote yes on Proposition 2.

Anne Gilbertson

Danville

Least of worries

Are you kidding me? This is some kind of a joke, isn't it? Here we are on the edge of the second great depression, a Republican ticket made up of two liars, the flip-flopping senator from Arizona and the half-baked Alaska governor Sarah Palin.

We are in two wars, and people are losing their homes every day with who knows how many more on the horizon.

Sorry, I don't have the time to worry about the caging of egg- laying hens unless they are being waterboarded in Guantanamo.

Steve Raucher

Walnut Creek

Comic relief

In your Sept. 21 Sunday Forum, you requested that your audience address the subject of the regulation of caging of egg-laying hens. Since many were probably pondering the terror of financial collapse, they surely appreciated your masterful bit of comic relief.

Daniel Mauthe

Livermore

Appalled

I was appalled to discover the conditions our feed animals are kept under.

We owe them at least the most basic of comfort and care, and shame on anyone who believes otherwise. Please vote with me to give them a more compassionate level of care.

Sandy Johnson

Concord

Flawed measure

Proposition 2 is proposed legislation making an end run around good government, where elected officials hold public hearings, listen to all sides of an issue and make decisions based on facts and merit.

We should not resort to a seriously flawed initiative process when our elected officials should be drafting laws in an open and orderly process.

Hen-huggers should take their case to the elected officials and not be pitting an ill-informed urban populace against a handful of hard-working and efficient food producers.

Do-gooders behind Prop. 2 should be spending more time and effort on more serious problems confronting the nation such as terrorism, illegal immigration, corruption and inefficient government and leave America's finest alone.

Most ballot measures are shot full of lies, deceit, and warped thinking, and should be voted down. Prop 2 is no exception.

Richard A. Hartmann

Pleasant Hill

Silly measure

We have a terror war, recession, Wall Street turmoil, financial chaos, Washington and Sacramento deceit and corruption, energy crisis, crucial elections, questionable media bias, gay marriage, illegal immigrants, possible California bankruptcy, record national deficit and debt, foreclosures, unemployment, higher tax and fee proposals, and much more.

Now we the people are supposed to worry whether or not egg- laying chickens are living in cages? This would be cartoonish if the backers weren't so serious.

Proposition 2 is another glaring example of the silliness and moronic activity of animal rights activists who have no concept of reality.

If passed, it will suck even more taxpayer money and resources away from the important and critical issues of our time. This is an easy decision: Vote no.

Additionally, vote 'no' on propositions, initiatives, and measures that require taxpayer funding, bond money, or more parcel taxes, even if you believe the cause is worthy.

California and Contra Costa County teeter on economic disaster. A slight push will send them over the precipice. Don't compound the problem by adding more debt to the load that politicians, bureaucrats, public service unions and special interest groups have created for taxpayers to carry.

When in doubt, vote no, especially on incumbents.

Ernest Hampson

Pittsburg