My last newsletter caused several people to write me with their thoughts. The subject was Initiative Petition – 3 (IP-3), which aims to criminalize the killing of animals for food or any other purpose in Oregon. Letters came in, both both pro and con, yet those defending IP-3 were the most surprising.
The typical claim was, “I’m a vegan so this wouldn’t bother me,” or, “I support this because I’m vegan.”
This assertion is terribly ill-considered even if you are a vegan. It misses the beauty of our system of self-governance by demanding absolute control by state actors. The issue is not whether it might be an idea that you personally support or a lifestyle you might prefer.
The issue is dictatorial power. It is about a group of activists running other peoples’ lives through an emotional appeal to the most powerful instrument of domination – state power…