Posted on by Californiacontrarian

“No Pork For You!”

They’re doing it again. Perhaps better said … they are trying to do it again. Over and over and over again Democratic politicians, especially in California, do things which inevitably harm the little guy. The high gas tax in California is a prime example. Who is primarily effected by this high tax? Obviously, it is those that need to drive longer distances to get to work every day … those who by necessity are forced to live far from their place of employment because they cannot afford to live near to where they work. In other words it effects those at the lower rungs on the economic ladder the most. Does the high California gas tax effect those who drive electric cars?  … No, and which economic group can afford an EV? Nuff said.

The latest example of this is a case argued before the Supreme Court on 10/11/22. The case is National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) v. Ross, court file 21-468. Respondent Karen Ross is secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The NPPC, the petitioner, describes itself as an agricultural organization representing the interests of the $26 billion-per-year U.S. pork industry.

The case has to do with the legality of California Proposition 12, the Farm Animal Confinement Initiative, which was approved by state voters in 2018. Basically what Prop 12 says is that in order to sell pork in California, the pork producer must abide by the standards that were established in 2008 by California voters, namely Proposition 2, the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act. Prop2 outlawed “gestation crates” for pregnant pigs, cages for egg-laying hens, and veal crates for calves. However, the measure didn’t forbid the sale of food that comes from animals confined in prohibited ways, and this led to the passage of Prop 12 in 2018.

Since California imports 99.9 percent of its pork, the nuts and bolts of this case involves the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. However, to me it involves a Common Sense Clause. If pork producers throughout the U.S. in order to sell pork in California, are forced to abide by the egregious standards set by Prop 2, then the price of pork in California will by necessity go up. Furthermore it will probably go up quite a bit. The same things will hold true for eggs. Which economic class in California will then no longer be able to afford pork? Those that drive EVs will still be able to afford and eat pork, as well as those who can work from home. 

If the SCOTUS sides with  Karen Ross of the State of California, those same individuals who are suffering the most because of California’s gas tax, will be eating fewer eggs and will no longer eating any pork.

I know, I know, Prop2 and Prop 12 were passed by the California voters, most of whom will reflexively shed a tear when shown a sad pig or hen. In some ways I guess I feel a bit sorry for the crowded pigs and hens, but I   will feel a lot sorrier for those who can no longer afford to eat pork or eggs. If the elites wish to eat only pork and eggs produced under stringent and more expensive conditions, so be it. However, do not mandate your “morally superior standards” on the hoi-polloi. 

10/21/22

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