My Vegan Vote: I Want To Elect A Different Government

I don't want to just cast a vote for who's to be the next prez... I want to elect a different government too. Let's face it - Vegan or not... Republican, Democrat, Independent, Libertarian or Green Party - Your tax dollars go to fund some things that just don't seem like they should.

As for me, I'm not at all happy about the USDA Market Access Program (MAP) that just recently helped establish a market for cow carcasses to Sri Lanka... Yeah, the country that's mainly Hindu and Buddhist, whose diet is primarily plant based. Nothing like tax dollars going to increase the "demand" for beef.

I'd also like a country that didn't purchase $170 million of pork, lamb, chicken, and catfish.  Or a military that buys 94 million lbs. of beef, 64 million lbs. of pork, and 500,000 lbs. of lamb each year. Actually a country (and a world) that has no need for a military sounds even better.

I'd cast a vote for a country that didn't hide information about antibiotic resistance as a result of growing "food" animals.

In addition, I also would vote for a country that doesn't suppress the idea of a "meatless Monday"... One that doesn't allow certain states to violate their own cruelty laws like Pa. does regarding it's horrendous pigeons killing festivals. I'd vote for a country that didn't kill wolves or coyotes to "protect" livestock. I'd  vote for a country that left it's wild horses alone!  I'd vote for a country that banned using animals in circuses. I'd vote for a country that didn't allow programs to "swim with the dolphins", with the tiger cubs or with the alligators. 

I'd vote for a country that didn't find it acceptable to put millions of beings in a position of drowning or burning to death. I'd vote for a country that didn't theatrically "pardon" one bird while promoting the evisceration of millions of others.  

I could go on much longer regarding the country I'd vote for... And certainly no one person will be the one to make much positive change for our animal friends.  So... this sort of sums up what I'm thinking about as I cast my vote tomorrow:

Well... Not really! But what other choice is there??? :/

HEALTH CARE or LIVESTOCK INSURANCE - WE CAN'T AFFORD BOTH

Oh the irony... as we are struggling to provide health care benefits for a nation of ailing, uninsured people... Parents with sick kids, single persons who can't afford a doctor, and elderly who must choose between medications and food. A crisis for sure. Yet, looky here at another kind of insurance. Since 1999 the Livestock Indemnity Program has been paying animal growers for losses incurred by natural disasters, blizzards, hurricanes, floods, disease, wildfire, extreme cold and heat... and every other threat you can imagine would affect any of these animals:

• cattle
• dairy cows
• buffalo
• catfish
• crawfish
• chickens
• deer
• ducks
• geese
• goats
• llamas
• alpacas
• reindeer
• sheep
• pigs
• turkeys

and rabbits...

Here's (sort of) what they are worth a piece. And what "proof" is required to make claims for livedeadstock? Well, there are papers to fill out (of course), and even third parties may apply... No shady deals here. R-i-g-h-t....

What reimbursements might be doled? Each "producer" may receive up to $80,000 in benefits. Unless your income exceeded $2.5 million in 3 years... Then (some) restrictions apply.

As far as I can tell... if you've got animal slaves and are in the carcass/murder industry... With a federal sugar-daddy... you probably aren't hurting for health insurance - one bit.