Meerland Agribusiness vs. The Common Good
Daniel Downs
January 26, 2007
The fight of Meerland Dairy Agribusiness to establish another factory farm is on. So is the fight for our freedom and rights. Vreba-Hoff Corporation and the people seeking to create the Concentrated Animal Feed Operation (CAFO) claim the legal right to do so. Existing federal and state law does give them that claim, but not without local jurisdiction over local issues. Officials of Ross Township where the Meerland Agribusiness is planned along with County Commissioners claim the right to regulate such commercial operations.
Vreba-Hoff and the intended owners of the Meerland Argibusiness would have us believe our local officials have no authority over local developments. A little knowledge of the corporate history would convince otherwise. Prior to the 1886 Supreme Court decision to make the corporation a fictitious individual with equal constitutional rights, all corporations answered directly to local and state governments. Many corporations not proving beneficial to their communities lost their right to do business. If a corporation did not meet its agreement with the local community, the people's representative revoked its legal status. It was history. How many corporations have ceased to exist because their promise of more jobs, greater community revenues, better schools because of more revenues, and so forth. The correct answer is zero. The Meerland Agribusiness is one more corporation selling the false promises of more jobs and increased community wealth. Studies have already proven the marketing hype as false. Recent history has confirmed the federal government and corporations have, are, and will violate our freedom and rights in the name of profit for local economies. The Supreme Court's recent violation of individual property rights by giving eminent domain rights to corporations in Connecticut is a case in point.
More important is whether any agribusiness, corporation, or individual has the right—approved by government or not—to harm, deceive, and diminish the rest of us by what they produce and how? Do special interest groups and individuals with legal and political backing have the right to usurp the common good of the rest of us—the majority? Not if our national compact, in which our constitutional freedom and rights are delineated, actually means anything. It has already been proven by various studies that Concentrated Animal Feed Operations, like the Meerland agribusiness, already diminishes our inherent right to pursue maximum happiness. Studies already demonstrate the threat to our health and well being posed by agribusinesses. Who can pursue and enjoy happiness when then they are suffering from the poisons of a toxic environment and diseases from contaminated food? Agribusinesses like Meerland can produce nothing else.
It's a moral responsibility of Americans to defend our God-given rights, demand responsible stewardship of natural resources, and fight for a right to moral, healthy, and prosperous life for all, not for the interests of a few. That is why the Trustees of Ross Township, the Greene County Commissioners, and organizations like Citizen's Against Mega-Dairies are to be commended.
Vreba-Hoff and the intended owners of the Meerland Argibusiness would have us believe our local officials have no authority over local developments. A little knowledge of the corporate history would convince otherwise. Prior to the 1886 Supreme Court decision to make the corporation a fictitious individual with equal constitutional rights, all corporations answered directly to local and state governments. Many corporations not proving beneficial to their communities lost their right to do business. If a corporation did not meet its agreement with the local community, the people's representative revoked its legal status. It was history. How many corporations have ceased to exist because their promise of more jobs, greater community revenues, better schools because of more revenues, and so forth. The correct answer is zero. The Meerland Agribusiness is one more corporation selling the false promises of more jobs and increased community wealth. Studies have already proven the marketing hype as false. Recent history has confirmed the federal government and corporations have, are, and will violate our freedom and rights in the name of profit for local economies. The Supreme Court's recent violation of individual property rights by giving eminent domain rights to corporations in Connecticut is a case in point.
More important is whether any agribusiness, corporation, or individual has the right—approved by government or not—to harm, deceive, and diminish the rest of us by what they produce and how? Do special interest groups and individuals with legal and political backing have the right to usurp the common good of the rest of us—the majority? Not if our national compact, in which our constitutional freedom and rights are delineated, actually means anything. It has already been proven by various studies that Concentrated Animal Feed Operations, like the Meerland agribusiness, already diminishes our inherent right to pursue maximum happiness. Studies already demonstrate the threat to our health and well being posed by agribusinesses. Who can pursue and enjoy happiness when then they are suffering from the poisons of a toxic environment and diseases from contaminated food? Agribusinesses like Meerland can produce nothing else.
It's a moral responsibility of Americans to defend our God-given rights, demand responsible stewardship of natural resources, and fight for a right to moral, healthy, and prosperous life for all, not for the interests of a few. That is why the Trustees of Ross Township, the Greene County Commissioners, and organizations like Citizen's Against Mega-Dairies are to be commended.
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