Some Things Just Aren’t “Thinkin Things” And That Can Be A Problem
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
If the laws and government-imposed requirements coming from Washington, D.C. were based on solid thinking and evaluation of facts – it would be a far different world for us to live in. Based on this news account, an American Horse League has been formed to “educate” the American public about the on-going horse slaughter debate.
Much of the emphasis that we’ve seen, from watching the internet traffic and “rallies” of those who support no slaughter for horses, is that the effort has been a great fund-raising bonanza as well as a central unifying theme for lots of folks who wouldn’t normally get together – to get together.
Bringing the supporters, who do support slaughter as an option, together may be a greater challenge. Unifying behind common sense and a thoughtful perspective doesn’t quite match up with fighting for the cause on an emotion-driven basis.
While standing up for what you believe in and seeking to persuade appropriate government policy/law is an extremely important mission to pursue – those in the conflict industry cash in from whatever fuss they can create as well as from your efforts to set the record straight. It will be hard to say whether elected officials in Washington, D.C. will be swayed by common sense of those directly affected by a horse slaughter ban or the emotional appeals of those who wish to exert their vision for a social cause.
In most of the districts, for those who will be doing the deciding, it’s an easy vote to go with the heart instead of the head. They won’t have to deal with the roaming bands of abandoned horses, turned loose because owners didn’t have another choice.
Meanwhile anti-horse slaughter advocates will be cashing the checks for donors who somehow felt better about themselves for contributing to such a wonderful cause.
If the laws and government-imposed requirements coming from Washington, D.C. were based on solid thinking and evaluation of facts – it would be a far different world for us to live in. Based on this news account, an American Horse League has been formed to “educate” the American public about the on-going horse slaughter debate.
Much of the emphasis that we’ve seen, from watching the internet traffic and “rallies” of those who support no slaughter for horses, is that the effort has been a great fund-raising bonanza as well as a central unifying theme for lots of folks who wouldn’t normally get together – to get together.
Bringing the supporters, who do support slaughter as an option, together may be a greater challenge. Unifying behind common sense and a thoughtful perspective doesn’t quite match up with fighting for the cause on an emotion-driven basis.
While standing up for what you believe in and seeking to persuade appropriate government policy/law is an extremely important mission to pursue – those in the conflict industry cash in from whatever fuss they can create as well as from your efforts to set the record straight. It will be hard to say whether elected officials in Washington, D.C. will be swayed by common sense of those directly affected by a horse slaughter ban or the emotional appeals of those who wish to exert their vision for a social cause.
In most of the districts, for those who will be doing the deciding, it’s an easy vote to go with the heart instead of the head. They won’t have to deal with the roaming bands of abandoned horses, turned loose because owners didn’t have another choice.
Meanwhile anti-horse slaughter advocates will be cashing the checks for donors who somehow felt better about themselves for contributing to such a wonderful cause.
Posted by Doug Busselman at 6/22/2009 9:40 AM 
Categories: Animal Rights
Tags: Horse Slaughter Ban Congress
Categories: Animal Rights
Tags: Horse Slaughter Ban Congress
Doug
See the website http://www.unitedorgsofthehorse.org/
a new organization that is bringing horse groups together all over the nation - and developing counter legislation.
Reply to this
I doubt this will be posted, but in the interest of rational discussion:
We are in the 21st Century & times are changing. We're even using the word empathy in appointing to the Supreme Court.
Empathy for animals is a shared value in the US, among my friends who raise beef commercially too. None of them would think of eating their dogs, cats or horses, and none of them put up with cruelty in the slaughter process.
Horse slaughter plants in Canada, Mexico-and the US when they were open- were brutal. Multiple stunnings and conscious dismemberment, which horses routinely endure, are violations of the Humane Slaughter Act.
I have yet to hear a plan from the pro-slaughter lobby on how they plan to make horse slaughter humane. Why? Slowing down the lines and hiring documented, trained workers would cut too much into profits.
Most issues America has faced in its 225 years have an emotional part. Safer gear for our soldiers overseas, Right to Farm laws, Civil Rights, the right to vote, child labor laws, HMOs refusing basic medical care, Wall Street greed leaving so many people out of work.
Horse slaughter is right up there in the passion index because of the cruelty it inflicts on companion animals. We don't eat dogs and cats, either.
Unless you are made of stone, examining the FOIA/USDA evidence is an emotional exercise. The evidence proves horses were treated brutally - routinely - even when horse slaughter was done under USDA supervision on US soil.
The opponents to the ban on horse slaughter are ignoring huge amounts of data - economic, criminal and veterinary evidence. Facts: 92% of horses slaughtered were in good condition, average age 5-7 years (source: USDA) Many experience dismemberment awake. Horse abuse and theft cases go DOWN when slaughter is banned. Foreign owned slaughter corporations used accounting tricks to avoid paying US taxes.
Horse slaughter is NOT about helping us solve the problem of irresponsible, puppy mill style breed farms like Ernie Paragallo's. Fact is, we need to ban slaughter to remove an easy out for abusers like Paragallo.
Horse slaughter is ONLY about meeting demand in Europe and Japan. Economic studies show the numbers slaughtered do not fluctuate on our economic trends here in America. They fluctuate 100% on foreign demand. Ignoring this fact leaves us woefully unprepared to face the upcoming changes cause by greed - selling contaminated food.
As consumers overseas learn how many drugs the US horse slaughter community sells-knowingly-in contaminated horse meat, drugs banned by the FDA and the EU from feedstock, cancer causing drugs like once a month wormers, we may see markets dry up overnight. Maybe other US agricultural exports along with them.
Now THAT will be an emotional argument.
The EU's zero tolerance passport tracking plan for drugs in livestock raised for food starts 7/1/09. Let's face facts - Slaughtering US horses is in the past. It's time to move on!
Reply to this