More on Executive Orders

Following up on our thread the other day about executive orders, Linda posted a good op-ed article from Newsday giving both sides of the discussion.  I took away the point that it is not just about what President Obama is doing with executive orders - because in fact he's in the company of many other recent presidents both Democrat and Republican - it is whether the presidency is extending its powers beyond the reasonable balance expected using executive orders.  And that's a reasonable discussion to have, as long as it applies equally to presidents of BOTH parties and isn't just another way to carp about the guy who's in the hot seat this time if he's not your guy/gal.

Abraham Lincoln on Prosperity et al.

This makes me vaguely uncomfortable, but these are all good sentiments and it is hard to argue that Lincoln is wrong in this quote.  A lot of my neighbors feel this way.  So I'm sharing it!

Raw Milk Wars

Here's a topic that comes up for discussion fairly often here in our rural community - and one I'm personally interested in, having just acquired several Nubian goats and looking forward to fresh goat milk.  The fact that selling raw milk is against the law here in Ohio is often used as an example of how 'Big Government' is getting into the business of regulating small farmers right out of a living.  The ODA (Ohio Department of Agriculture) has been watchfully enforcing the law, even, according to some, to the point of entrapment.  This all takes on even more emotional freight when the farmer being set up is some poor Amish guy who got convinced to sell a couple of gallons off the farm, never thinking those hapless-looking tourists were really law enforcement agents in disguise.  Ohio is not alone in this - lots of states prohibit selling raw milk - so if you're interested in the topic, you could check here for your state laws.

Here in Ohio, if you're a raw milk person, not all is lost.  By court order, you can legally participate in what is called a 'herd share' - which means you enter into a contract with a farmer and for an agreed-upon fee, you get a share of whatever he/she produces.  This might even be better than outright licensing, as it does force the consumer to get to know their farmer and a lot of us feel that knowing where your food comes from is a better protection than Big Government can provide. Even if you live in a city, you can shop at farmers' markets, visit local farms, buy local.

Is raw milk a good idea?  A lot of people think it is, despite there being no definitive studies that prove benefits to health.  I know in the cheesemaking community, there is the view that pasteurization - especially at high temperatures - destroys enzymes and friendly bacteria that are important and beneficial to flavor in artisanal, farmstead cheeses.  On the negative side, it is clear that milk is an awfully good growth medium for microorganisms of all kinds, and the baddies can make you really sick.  Even Mother Jones magazine has weighed in, suggesting that whatever the benefits, raw milk is just not worth the risk. 

I find this an interesting issue, because if you are a 'blue' foodie or health nut, you might well be pro-raw milk.  You probably find it upsetting that it is legal in a lot of states to walk down the street carrying an automatic weapon, but not legal to sell raw milk. And if you're a 'red' consumer, this is just one more example of Big Government sticking its nose where it doesn't belong.  As a farmer (ok, I'm pretty much a micro-farmer!), I'm not sure what choice I will make on raw milk when my goats freshen.  But I like having the facts and the ability to choose! 

Rasmussen Survey

From pollster Rasmussen on the topic of 'executive orders':

President Obama made it clear in his State of the Union speech last night that he is prepared to take independent executive action if he can’t get Congress to work with him on some major issues, but voters strongly believe it’s better for the president to work with Congress than to go it alone. However, most also think it’s more important for Republicans in Congress to work with the president than to stand for what they believe.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey, taken the night before and the night of the president’s speech, finds that 69% of Likely U.S. Voters think it it better for the president to work with Congress on things he considers important. Just 27% believe it is better for the president to go around Congress if necessary to accomplish what he feels is important. 

You can find the detailed poll results here. 

Executive Orders

So, what - you ask - was the Facebook discussion about that prompted this blog?  Since the State of the Union address this week, there's been quite a bit of media discussion about 'executive orders'.  Lots of people around here seem to think this means that President Obama is circumventing the constitution, taking power to which the president is not entitled, and sidestepping the rightful lawmaking body - Congress - because it is politically convenient for him to do so.  My friend Brent posted this graph, admittedly from ultra-liberal news outlet, MSNBC, showing that all presidents in the 20th and 21st century have used executive orders extensively, and of them, President Obama has issued the fewest.  This is borne up by the article from Wikipedia on the topic of executive orders, which you can read here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_order .   My friend Linda countered with the idea that it is not just how many orders are issued, but what their content is.  So here - for those with the patience to read them - are the details on all the executive orders issued by the Obama White House .   I dunno, but I didn't see anything government-overthrowing on this list!  But I think both points are important - (1) let's be aware of the context before we pile on the criticism - and (2) let's look at the content of what is really behind the headlines before we get all hot and bothered. 

Isn't the real point of the 'executive orders' debate a power issue between Congress and the Executive branch?  The Wikipedia article lays this all out rather nicely.  But this current 'issue' is piddly-ass squabbling, in my opinion.  If the President REALLY wanted to lay down the gauntlet, he'd issue some executive orders on gun rights - now THAT would be a media firestorm, plus Constitutional issue worth watching!  Might get him impeached, though!    Linda and Brent - I still love you both!

Blue Girl in a Red Town

I'm starting this blog because of a discussion I had with some friends on Facebook today.  Lord knows, the last thing the world needs may be another blog, but seems to me there might be something here to talk about.

My Facebook friends are - to say the least - diverse.  Racially, ethnically, religiously, geographically, and politically.  I love them all!  And in today's divisive political climate, where you seem to HAVE to have a side, that makes it tough sometimes to talk.

Plus, I live now in a small town in Ohio.  Yes, it's a 'swing' state, but our town is decidedly 'red' - and I am decidedly 'blue'.  We moved here after living on both East and West coasts of the US - and we love it.  The weather could be better, but the community could not - ours is, for the most part, a warm loving community of people who look out for one another and help when somebody needs it.  It's just the way people are, whether they are Tea Party or socialist, whether they are Catholic or Buddhist or atheist.  We tend to put differences aside so we can live together in some measure of harmony.  Not always the worst thing.

But we also tend to avoid discussion to keep that harmony going.  Not sure that's a good thing.  Being in a distinct minority where I live, I'm constantly trying to understand my neighbors' views better - views that I sometimes find difficult and troubling.  So I'm hoping this blog might be a way to have some of those discussions - maybe help us all understand each others' points of view and encourage us all to look at our situations with objectivity and tolerance.  Peace!