Your
Papers Please
By Karen Brown
The Bill of Rights
- Amendment IV: The right of the people to
be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable
searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but
upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing
the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
As part and parcel of the mountain of legislation, rules, and regulations that have assaulted the doctrines of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights since 9-11, Americans are now faced with a most insidious attack upon our privacy and rights in the name of protecting national health. This attack appears to only affect animal owners, but in truth, it affects every purchaser of animal products as well.
The USDA has implemented the National Animal Identification
System (NAIS) for the stated purpose of disease control in animal populations.
TAKE NOTE. The program is touted as voluntary. However, the plan as outlined
by the government states, “If the marketplace, along with State and Federal
identification programs, does not provide adequate incentives for achieving
complete participation, USDA may be required to implement regulations.”
In other words, the USDA clearly intends for the identification of every animal
and animal owner in America to become law and will expend whatever efforts and
funds necessary to achieve that goal. Considering our politicians have already
voted for the violation of most of our Constitutional rights as Human Beings
and Citizens of the “Free Democracy of America”, it won’t
be much of a struggle for the USDA to obtain legislation mandating NAIS. The
NAIS program is being initiated by the USDA; however, it is slated to be transferred
to the Department of Homeland Security.
Now, what I don’t understand is why there are “penalties”
for non-compliance with this “voluntary” program. Hmm. What penalties?
At this point the USDA doesn’t care to expound on that subject; rather,
they are leaving it up to the States to decide how to punish their citizens.
Proposed penalties provided in state plans include fines, confiscation of animals,
and the loss of the right to own animals.
The insidious nature of this attack on our rights comes in the manner in which
the USDA has chosen to brainwash the public. If you read any animal related
magazines, you have probably seen articles or news-shorts that encourage citizens
to register their premises with the NAIS.
It’s a “Join the Club” propaganda campaign designed to make
everyone believe they are missing out on ice cream if they don’t sign
up. It’s easy. It’s fun. You’ll love it. Yeah, right up to
the moment Homeland Security loads Ol’ Dobber into the government trailer
because you forgot to check in before riding over to your friend’s house.
They tell us it’s voluntary and update their stats on how many premises
have been registered so we will feel good about going along with the crowd.
Most people don’t listen to details or read fine print. The USDA certainly
isn’t advertising the penalty provisions in this proposal. What they’re
really saying is that if you don’t voluntarily comply quickly enough,
you will be punished.
The NAIS system is condemned for failure. The USDA states that the success of
the system is dependent upon “a high degree of producer (animal owner)
participation”. Any program, system, regulation, rule, or law that is
dependent on the good graces of the people it is controlling is bound to fail.
The percentage of people who will not comply with the reporting aspect of this
system far outnumbers the few folks that always follow the rules no matter what.
How many years did vehicles contain seat belts before people started wearing
them? The number of people who always cross the street at cross-walks, always
park perfectly square between the yellow lines, and never drive one mph over
the speed limit are a tiny percentage of our population. Whether from neglect,
indifference, lack of knowledge or outright refusal, the mass of people will
find the reporting requirements of this system too invasive, cumbersome, and
just downright irritating; they will stop complying. And the system fails.
A good example within the equine industry pertains to EIA control. The law requiring
a Coggins test is frequently ignored or not properly enforced (i.e. visual inspection)
at every level of the industry, from recreational trail rides to national and
world-class competitions. What is the likelihood of show officials scanning
3,000 horses as they arrive at the Arabian National Show or the local charity
trail ride on a private ranch? Who’s going to pay for that? Who’s
going to buy their own transponder or hire a vet to come out and scan the participants
of a friendly get together?
What makes the USDA believe that everyone is going to fully participate with
this program? And what are they going to do to those who don’t? Force
them at gunpoint to “show their papers”? Maybe.
Understand this. The NAIS gives the U.S. Government legal provisions to invade
your privacy and take possession of your property without recourse. We have
the right to own property. Nowhere does the Constitution give the government
the right to label, list, control, or confiscate our property.
NAIS is not a system for disease control. It is a system for CONTROL.
If all citizens don’t act now, the next time you read something of this
nature it won’t be about animals. You’ll be checking the local news
to find out where to get your very own Radio Frequency Identification Device
implanted. If you don’t think so, take a moment to search the internet
for “Real ID 2008” and find out what’s in store for us humans.
The NAIS is just a warm-up exercise.