USDA Agricultural Survey scheduled for 2012-13 is strictly voluntary

[opsec]

http://farmwars.info/?p=7702

I can't paste the article here because it's copywrite protected. The basic idea is that the USDA considers anybody who grows over $1000 worth of produce, be it vegetable or animal in nature is considered a "farm" regardless of whether they actually sell anything or not. The important fact to know is that this is voluntary and in spite of the weasle wording used, has no force of law behind it. Those of you who have a garden of any size owe it to yourself to spend 10 minutes reading the article.

[spacecase0]

I wonder about how they will actually use the info they get,
is it for regulations to be set in the future,
or are they just wondering if they can just put all the farmers in jail ?

[Atash Hagmahani]

"Successive approximation". You push people closer and closer to what you want them to do, little by little.

That's where the concept of the "Fabian Society" came from. Fabius Maximus used reputedly used it as a military tactic.

Spacecase, it appears that intense regulation of ALL aspects of not only food PRODUCTION, but also of food sales and distribution, is going to be regulated to a more totalitarian degree than we are used to.

I think this has been planned for a very long time; it simply took a long time to implement.

New Zealand has been at the forefront of an international movement to regulate food production and distribution. Someone mentioned some far-reaching legislation recently put into place there. Generally speaking, it seems to be the English-speaking countries that have gone the furthest the fasted, however, France has had draconian regulation regarding what farmers are ALLOWED to grow--you are NOT allowed to grow ANY crop that is not listed on the white list--AND you have to pay a royalty to the registered owners of the variety. In France, there is no such thing as "open source seed"--the whole concept has been outlawed.

French laws are impacting the whole EU, because of the "integrated economy".

[Mike]

Well, I've received my second notice:

U.S. Census of Agriculture Report Enclosed.  Your Response is Required By Law.  Overdue: Return within 10 days.



The government requires me to participate in this agricultural census because I am a part owner of some swamp land.  It grew cranberries in the 1920s.

[Mike]

"As a reminder, your response in the National Agricultural Classification Survey is required by federal law.

[Mike]

Here are instructions for taking the survey online, which will save taxpayers money.  I don't think I'll be doing that!

One needs a survey code to get into the system.  No code, no entry.  So I've made all pages of the questionaire available to the public.

My objection is not, "Poor me.  I have to waste another few minutes pacifying a government agency." 

My objection is that this  1) It is not a legitimate use of taxpayer money.  2) The government lacks the authority to mandate anyone to answer these questions.

Hubert Hamer must be held accountable.

[Mike]

[Atash Hagmahani]

Mike...

Buddy...

I understand your desire to take a principled stand...

Now are we going to need to post bail or something? Should you be sending us your lawyer's contact information? Probably next-of-kin's too?

The problem with civil disobedience is that unless it hits front-page news--which it never does anymore (riots are not civil disobedience)--it serves no purpose. Especially if you don't live to fight another day.

"They win this round"
Padme Amidala

I'd better contact you offline to talk about this...

[Mike]

@ Atash,

No worries my friend.  I'm not taking a principled stand.  It's just that I am irresponsible.

I am going to fill out the questionaire.

*****
You might remember that I was selected for the "pre-census."

I didn't comply at first, partly out of principle and partly out of irresponsibility.  Eventually they assigned me a pre-census case worker who came to my home, gpsed it and told me who she was and that she had questions for me.

It turned out that my pre-census case worker was the mom of one of my son's classmates.  So I straightened right up and answered as conscientiously as I could.

****
This crazy agricultural survey is more an example of what the government should not be doing than anything else.  I am just about ready to look for a pen so I can fill it out.

Mike

ps Thanks for your concern.