[ok-sus] local food is a global issue

[Harlan Hentges]

6-26-09


News Conference: At the home of Herman Schumacher, Herreid, SD 


Statement of Mike Callicrate, fellow plaintiff in the Schumacher/Meatpacker
lawsuit


As I stand here today witnessing the seizure of Herman Schumacher's home by
our nation's biggest slaughterhouse, I am reminded of how far we have
strayed from the founding principles of our nation. Herman's ancestors fled
Russia over 100 years ago and settled not far from here, as Herman says, "in
the rocks and wind chill" of Zealand, ND.

They were forced from their farms and homes, first in Germany and then in
Russia. All they had was taken from them, as they fled the abuses of the
oppressive centrally planned economies and abject poverty of Europe.
Ironically, today, their children, including Herman, are fighting the same
abusive power and threats to their own freedom that they fled in Europe.

We condemn other nations for their lack of freedom and justice, their
dictators and their refusal to embrace the American way, while we ignore our
own big business thugs, including those on Wall Street, who are stealing
everything from the very people who have made their existence possible. Many
of us, like Herman, have trusted our time, labor and wealth to this economic
and social experiment called America, only to once again see all money and
power stolen from our hands and hoarded by a few. 

Tyson is one of these Wall Street thugs who can never get enough.
Facilitated by our own government, big business now possesses a centrally
planned political and economic system that is squeezing every last drop of
wealth and life from our own land and people as well as others around the
world.

We were supposed to follow a set of rules that would keep us free, laws that
would let fair markets distribute wealth among the many instead of
concentrating it among a few. Our founders were careful in designing a new
nation to serve us, the people, for the long term. Adjustments were made as
needed, such as legislation to break up the business trusts and monopolies
of 100 years ago, including the Packers and Stockyards Act, which was
intended to protect producers of livestock, like Herman Schumacher, against
the current meat cartel seeking to take over our food system.

I think that today is a defining moment in our history. Will we continue to
allow the big packers to steal our cattle, wiping out our independent
farmers and ranchers, while allowing big retailers to charge high prices to
consumers? Will we be allowed to grow our own food? Will we be allowed to
feed ourselves? Or will we be denied justice and return to the old days of
serfdom, feudalism and fascism? Will we allow a few powerful and greedy
corporations - with the help of our own political leaders and judges - to
destroy our representative form of government and circumvent our laws,
wearing out our land and our people? Will we let them assume total control
over our food supply, giving us a few remaining crumbs after they have taken
and eaten all they can?

Shouldn't we fight for the economic survival of the people who care for our
land and animals; the people who feed us; and the precious rural culture
they preserve? Wouldn't a safe, dependable and domestic food supply better
serve our needs - instead of a food system controlled by thieves, cheaters
and modern day robber barons who regard our farmers and ranchers as only a
cost to be reduced, worth less than the offal and grinding meat from the
livestock they slaughter?

President Obama in his press conference this week, in referring to those
fighting for their freedom in Iran, stated, "Those who stand up for justice
are always on the right side of history."

Our battle for justice today in Herreid, South Dakota is no less important. 

Mike Callicrate

St. Francis, KS

785-332-8218

 

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