Another reason why smaller government is often better…part 1,456,877

First, the government (Congress) came for the car manufacturers….and the Government-elect (Obama) is out to get the coal and electric industry.

Now, the government (EPA) is after your cheeseburgers and bacon:

For farmers, this stinks: Belching and gaseous cows and hogs could start costing them money if a federal proposal to charge fees for air-polluting animals becomes law.

Farmers so far are turning their noses up at the notion, which is one of several put forward by the Environmental Protection Agency after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that greenhouse gases emitted by belching and flatulence amounts to air pollution.

"This is one of the most ridiculous things the federal government has tried to do," said Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, an outspoken opponent of the proposal.

It would require farms or ranches with more than 25 dairy cows, 50 beef cattle or 200 hogs to pay an annual fee of about $175 for each dairy cow, $87.50 per head of beef cattle and $20 for each hog.

The executive vice president of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation, Ken Hamilton, estimated the fee would cost owners of a modest-sized cattle ranch $30,000 to $40,000 a year. He said he has talked to a number of livestock owners about the proposals, and "all have said if the fees were carried out, it would bankrupt them."

[snip]

Well, you can always count on one group to be in favor of less affordable food of which they disagree with – PETA:

The fee would cover the cost of a permit for the livestock operations. While farmers say it would drive them out of business, an organization supporting the proposal hopes it forces the farms and ranches to switch to healthier crops.

"It makes perfect sense if you are looking for ways to cut down on meat consumption and recoup environmental losses," said Bruce Friedrich, a spokesman in Washington for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

"We certainly support making factory farms pay their fair share," he said.

Once again, we see government making choices for us.  Another way of putting it is that with regulation, with laws, government can take away choices that otherwise we get to make for ourselves.  In this case, we no longer may have the chance to make the choice to have a steak or pasta – it may have been made for us.

Is this the kind of government that American needs?  Is this the kind of America you want?

Start telling your Senator and Congressman.  Don’t know who that is?  Let me know -> I get that info to you!