The Pig Amendement Or Good Intentions Gone Awry in Advice

Gypsywynd and I were discussing the Florida ballot. She thought our early voting was odd. I think it’s all about what you’re used to. I’m glad to shed the days of long lines and boring waits for the ease and comfort of mailing my vote in. Contrary to internet rumor, mail-in ballots ARE counted in EVERY election, not just “the close ones” (how does this ignorance continue?) and I like getting it over with early. I changed parties this year and felt downright renegade when I received my Democrat ballot! Then again, I’ve voted for a Democrat president for some time now. As in every election, I split my vote. Why vote out an effective, long time representative if he’s done a good job over the years just because he’s on the other side of the aisle?

Anyway, we were talking about how Amendment 1 in FL is cleverly worded to get people to vote for what they THINK is pro-solar but really hands a monopoly to big energy companies, cutting out ALL competition (including the small homeowner who just wants to rig his Mother Jones system up) and giving the power companies the ability to stop all solar energy attempts if they so choose. So voting NO leaves solar energy exploration open to all.

When we talked about how people were getting confused by what it meant, I happened to mention how well-intentioned people can end up voting exactly opposite of what they really want by not fully understanding exactly what was being said…much like the pregnant pig amendment.

Gypsywynd said she wanted to hear about the pregnant pig amendment. Then Shelyn said she wanted to hear about the pregnant pig amendment, so here it is:

A few years back, it became known that Florida farmers closely penned their pregnant pigs and animal rights activists cried out. When it came to be known that farmers were allowed by law to do this, the animal rights activists moved to change the law by introducing the pregnant pig amendment. Well, they didn’t call it “the pregnant pig amendment”, that’s my name for it, but it’s the one I remember it by.

Now, I usually explore each proposed amendment, and most often vote no, because I don’t like tacking on a bunch of extra rules. The constitution, I think, be it state or federal, should be a fluid document, capable of changing with the times. Pregnant pig rules are specific.

Anyway. I keep going off on tangents. I didn’t think I needed to explore the pregnant pig thing. I’d seen the pictures of slaughterhouse workers committing horrific acts. OF COURSE I want the mama pigs to roam freely! How DARE the farmers hold those pigs hostage, making them milk their babies and no room to turn around?

Except when I told my husband how I intended to vote, he looked at me funny. That was the moment when the farm boy explained to the girl from suburbia that if mama pigs weren’t tightly contained, they’d crush their babies. It seems the pens are set up with escape hatches for the babies and the mother pig entered and left at will (another reader with farming background might want to give a better description in my notes below). It completely changed my view of penning pregnant pigs.

So that’s my advice for the day, boys and girls: find out EXACTLY what you’re voting for and try to find opposing viewpoints. Consider carefully. Don’t be afraid to change your mind.

The amendment passed, by the way. And now baby pigs are once again at risk of being crushed. I’m not sure if the animal rights activists knew this. I’m still sort of mixed over what is right. I don’t want to be cruel to the mama pig but I don’t want to hurt the baby pigs, either. I’m glad I’m not a farmer. It would make me cry.