In this week of election madness, there’s been a lot to celebrate. In my neighborhood, people danced, hugged and cried in the streets. I listened to Obama’s acceptance speech in a cab; the Kenyan driver brushed tears from his eyes and said “Now I can tell my children they can accomplish anything.”
Some results probably didn’t please you, but let’s chat about one that should: California Proposition 2 passed. Supported by the Humane Society, the ASPCA, and the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Prop. 2 sets standards for the treatment of farm animals. Calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs must have enough room to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs, and turn around freely. Sounds pretty basic, huh? But if you’ve read Fast Food Nation or seen videos of factory farming, you know that the comfort of animals is not part of the agri-business plan.
Ideas and initiatives often percolate in California before spreading to the rest of our fine country, and I hope that’s the case with Prop. 2 as well. Despite our reputation as a hippie-dippy land of beaches, blondes and sue-happy lawyers, we don’t always live up to ideals of dignity, so it’s nice to see the overwhelming support of an excellent law that addresses the dignity of animals … even the ones that taste great with a side of potatoes and toast.