The Humane Society of the United States wants to keep you from eating meat, drinking milk, wearing leather, and scrambling eggs. Backed by a radical anti-agriculture, vegan agenda, the organization is working to become “the NRA of the Animal Rights movement.” In the business, science, and lifestyle of family farming, we use the term animal welfare or animal care, because that’s where we put our emphasis: on making sure our animals are well cared for, and that their welfare is at the forefront of our practices.

HSUS, on the other hand, uses the term “rights,” which gives you the picture of where they place their emphasis: on limiting your rights.

By using ballot initiatives in states like Florida, Arizona, and most recently in California, this radical organization is forcing pork, poultry, and veal producers out of business. Proposition 2, which passed in California last November, will eliminate the state’s pork, poultry, and veal business in the next six years. Why such a lengthy phase-out? Think politically for a moment, because that’s what the HSUS leadership is doing… By delaying the implementation of this radical piece of legislation, HSUS has six years to end modern livestock production in states like Ohio before Americans can truly see the effects of their vote.

When the first poultry operations go out of business in California, and thousands of workers lose their jobs, and the price of eggs doubles or triples, voters will begin to understand the consequences of their actions. Today, however, California voters are convinced they were simply standing up to save the animals from the evil farmer.

You can accomplish a lot in six years, particularly under false pretenses. That’s where the op-ed I referenced in the title of this post comes in. My dear friend Jack Fisher, Executive Vice President of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, gives you the true story of HSUS, and how they, despite their best marketing efforts to the contrary, have nothing to do with your local humane shelter or animal rescue.

Let me repeat that in case you don’t take the time to click through to Jack’s excellent assessment of the situation: HSUS, the Humane Society of the United States, has NOTHING to do with your local Humane Shelter.

Read the article, become more informed, and make sure your friends and family are aware: HSUS and their activist allies are out to insure that you lose the freedom to consume and enjoy meat, dairy, poultry, and any animal derived products.