Animal Safe Towns We grow up with things a certain way. And we come to assume this is the right way—that there’s nothing wrong with how we’re living. Yet, it’s obvious that in the context of animal issues, we’re slowly realizing that we’re on the wrong track. A recent news report discussed efforts in Washington state to reintroduce the grizzly bear. It was fascinating to hear the public, baldly expressing their fears. Humans would no longer be the top predator in the Cascade Mountains. That was the crux of their fear. It really helped me to understand why we’ve dispatched with so many species. Still, there are those of us who acknowledge that we’ve gone too far and lost too much as a result. All rights movements tend to have these characteristics, a kind of assumption that there’s no need to look any closer. Those who grew up with apartheid in South Africa, thought that was the normal order of things. Women shouldn’t have the vote. Blacks should be enslaved, or, at least, segregated out. And on and on. Animal Safe Towns is a way for society to start embracing what we’ve learned about animals. It’s a way to take concrete action and avoid the ‘us against them’ pitfalls of the movement. It’s a great approach for places that currently don’t have these businesses anyway. It is really saying, let’s allow people to make these choices at a town or city level. As an example, I live in Massachusetts. That was a conscious decision. I chose a highly regulated state because here, I can actually see the added services that higher taxes bring. (When you have high taxes, but don’t see any change in level of services, that’s what causes outcry.) Massachusetts values education, healthcare, conservation, etc. An area that has passed Animal Safe Town regulations could be more appealing to specific groups in America. It could actually lead to more development, of a different kind. As a final note, for a society that constantly champions ‘freedom, freedom, freedom’… it’s shocking that we don’t extend this value to animals. In general, animals are forced to live a trapped life, for the benefit of their human captors. They languish in cages, forced to endure tests, made to entertain us as our children gawk and learn their science “lessons.” Open the cages to the slaughterhouse. Open the cages to the lab. Open the cages at the pet store. Open the zoo cages. Aspects of the Initiative Pet stores will only be sited in this town, if they meet the following criteria: No live birds, amphibians, reptiles, rodents, fish or marine life in cages or tanks. (Some pet stores even put individual fish in small plastic bags of water, ready for sale, which is one of the worst practices.) Pet stores may operate primarily for food and supplies geared towards pets such as dogs and cats. Zoos are not allowed to open or operate in this town. Circuses, unless animal-free, are not allowed to open or operate in this town. No animal testing of any sort is allowed in this town. Factory farms, that is, large scale slaughterhouses, are not allowed to operate in this town. Small scale farming of under 25 animals is allowed for dairy only, not meat, and there must be a free range period of at least four hours per day. No leather or fur products can be made in this town. Roadkill will be monitored and recorded; signs (with the #’s) will be posted on roads with the highest kill as an awareness campaign. Before any repaving, this data must be reviewed and alternatives considered for moving roadways, lowering speed limits or creating wildlife corridors across the road. No live animals at the supermarket. Discussion One might say, this is simply NIMBY (Not In My BackYard), but I don’t think it is. It’s true that in the above scenario, meat would be shipped into a given town or city, that has adopted these regulations, and some of the local population would still eat it. However, the town has successfully started to put pressure on the industries that exploit animals, making it harder for them to site their facilities, and the town has gone on record. In the same way that some states legalized marijuana when the Federal Government was not there yet, this could start a groundswell movement. Communities could start to identify their values and attract like-minded individuals giving rise to new sectors of the economy such as meat alternatives, healthy living and plant-based foods generally. There would be pockets, throughout the U.S., of towns actually demonstrating that it is possible to lead a good life without interfering with animals. They don’t need to be trapped or caged or killed. Science would continue to make progress. People would be healthier. Animals could go about their lives. And folks could still have pets if they so choose. In short, freedom would be extended to all living beings, as much as possible. Related Initiatives: If a town is open to the idea of Animal Safe Towns, but wants to take a stepping stone approach, the town can begin by banning foie gras, veal and caviar. All municipal yards or dumps should have a managed compost heap that is turned mechanically at least 1x per week; this would allow for local businesses and consumers to utilize corn starch based "plastics." Every electric car charger in the U.S. that is newly built should have an outlet for charging e-bikes for people who are concerned about the power needs of riding around in a two ton vehicle. Out of the Box Policy Changes that America Needs: No Trade, No Aid The nuclear threat is quite real. We know this because nukes have been used in the past and many regions of the world continue to see intense conflict and war. A proactive treaty, with widespread support, would act as a deterrent. If a country uses nuclear weapons, all countries who have signed on will immediately cease all trade and aid with that country for 100 years. Less Obfuscation in the Tax Code Have you noticed that our tax code gets more complex each year as lobbyists descend on Capital Hill and insert their wanted provisions? I believe that one of the reasons for division and even class warfare in the U.S. is the feeling that the common man is not listened to anymore. Simplifying and removing all of these “gifts” for special interests is key. This is not an argument for a flat income tax rate, but I do think there is validity to the argument that social programs (perhaps new ones, to help the working poor, for instance) are the place for assistance, not the tax code. We need a tax code that renews a sense in the American people that things are fair. Here are just a few of the issues: If excise taxes are to offset the negative effects of carbon, for instance, why isn’t the money used for climate change initiatives? This money is used at the discretion of towns.Why are luxury items like yachts practically exempt from taxes? If we want to stabilize Social Security and Medicare, simply add 1% or 2% to the rates we pay. Why is this so hard to fathom? Plus, we should tax high earners (why is there a cap on this; after $168,600, they have no S.S. tax liability). If we strip away all of the garbage in our tax code, not only would we have a system that is understandable, that people believe is fair, but we send the message that our tax system will no longer be auctioned off to lobbyists. Whoever Wins the Popular Vote, Wins The Electoral College is a ridiculous system. If we are to truly count each vote equally, the popular vote should decide elections. Where you are from is beside the point. We’re all Americans. While universal income is likely a non-starter because of the cost, and disincentive for work, a supplemental income given to the working poor should appeal for both parties. Require 40 hours per week of work; and require recipients to make between 20k-30k per year, that is, the working poor. Then offer the benefit, which could be an extra 5k per year as an example. This creates an incentive for people to enter the workforce, work full time, take lower paying jobs (which we need) and takes the bite out of inflation for those on the edge.