Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Speak Easy Brand

Two women, both middling ages, both with too many children, meet. They meet in various places, most securely at each others homes, but more often in parking lots, at convenience stores, or even at wide places in the road. They get out of their modest nondescript vehicles and smile at each other. One inevitably in jeans, the other in a longish dress, both with long but tied back hair, neither in make-up.

Moving around their vehicles, they both get coolers out. They put their coolers down, and when they pick them up again, each is carrying the one the other brought.

The exchange is half done.

They talk a bit. Their hands come close together. The other exchange.

They get in their respective vehicles and drive off. Most often they even have some of their children with them, children who have full knowledge of the exchange being made.

Government regulation at work protecting the public health drives these women to these illegal measures in order to obtain decent, unpolluted, non-poisonous food for their families.

9 comments:

Walter Jeffries said...

It is very sad that the Gov-Biz is actually trying to force regulations on us, without legislation no less, that will make your scenerio a reality. NAIS is nasty Nazi stuff and that is only the tip of the iceberg.

CG said...

Walter, that IS the situation NOW. It is not *trying* to force regulations on us, the regulations are already there. You are already an outlaw.

NAIS is nothing but another Y2K, umm, "straw man" isn't right, "trojan horse" isn't quite it either, but something to divert your attention. Looks like it is working in your case.

Me, my cow already has a number. And my chickens and goats and bees are innumerable.

Which, btw, this state tried regulating bees some time back and gave up -- all the statutes repealed because #1 they couldn't do it and #2 there was no corporate money for them in it.

Madcap said...

So, what you're saying is my hair's too short to find what I'm looking for...or maybe I don't have enough kids. God knows my vehicle is certainly nondescript enough.

Yeah, that's what is already. However, a small positive note is that last summer, they finally arranged things so that farmers could make and sell their own wine from their own fruits, etc., and they can sell it from their own homes.

CG said...

Well, politically, what we advocate for is the repeal of just about ANY regulation at all. We've played with (that is, talked with our local officials about) a state law allowing any producer of anything to sell to the direct consumer of anything (that is, no middle man) without state interference. No go yet. But something like that is about the only bulk way to get around it.

And civil disobedience too of course, which is what those two women are really involved in.

When I sell bread (freshly ground whole grain sourdoughs), I do so quite legally under a proviso for small time producers. Of course, the inspectors say that isn't intended for me but when I'm willing to make them take me to court to enforce it, they somehow find others who are more easily intimidated to harrass. My eggs, likewise, are marked "unclassified" because that is what state law allows. So there often are loopholes, but when there aren't, like with milk and butter, well, it becomes like a drug deal gone sour (pun intended).

And also why NAIS won't fly in the end, at least the way the doom and gloomers think it will.

CG said...

oh mcm, I don't think anyone would hold short hair against you, but the Hammill wedge may be what is doing it. I just don't know. Take a few extra kids with you and see if that helps. Wear a jean jumper. Don't take anything actually palatable to eat with you (sawdust is a good main ingredient). See what happens then.

This is a joke for those who can't tell.

Madcap said...

People at the farmers market seem to be able to sell sausage and baked goods without any special permits. I've never seen any, anyway. But dairy is a real bugaboo. Jeepers.

Can't do much about the hair. It's frighteningly curly and falls about when it gets to be 6" long. We makes do with what we gets. I always fantasized about having hair down to my bum, but it just grows out instead of down, and I look like the Wild Woman of Borneo.

Madcap said...

Typo there. It should be "falls out", not "falls about". That too, I suppose. Seems to be a familial trait on my maternal side, though I can't complain too much because it's certainly thick and plentiful.

CG said...

And curly is nice too. Mines got lots of curl in it which basically means if it is short, it sticks out somewhere it shouldn't, and long it is frizzy. But I like it well enough, and maybe even more now with the silver shining in it.

About the farmer's markets and permits, you might not have to see them. Here they inspect kitchens. We live on the state line and one state will inspect (and approve) a home kitchen, and one state swears such is a danger to the public health.

The meat has to be killed and processed at an approved facility and transported in an approved manner (freezer that maintains a temp). That's both states here. But there is undoubtably more regulation that has driven most small meat processers out as there used to be dozens and now there are three or four we can get to, all a drive away.

The nanny state assumes we are not responsible for ourselves and it needs to take care of us from cradle to grave. Only when people actually take responsibility for themselves will far wide ranging things like the environment improve. But now I'm ranging too far in my comments, eh.

Joe Tornatore said...

what a different world but that is precisely why I read here.