Murder Cows

 

Dutch farmers are protesting, a protest that seems to be spreading across Europe. The Dutch government—and other European governments, in principle—are forcing farmers to cut their herds, due to the possible effect of cows on global warming. This makes many family farms uneconomical; family farming is always on a tight margin. In Europe, this can mean losing a farm that has been in the family not just for generations, but for centuries.

Given that global warming is a clear and present danger—a debatable claim—it still seems odd to press for this just now. Experts are warning we are on the verge of a general food shortage and possible famine, due to existing supply chain problems and the war in Ukraine. Why now?

It also seems unlikely that the main cause of global warming is European family farms. Are there really more cows in Europe now than a hundred, or five hundred, years ago? If so, might the projected decline in the European population solve the problem without such measures?

This is eerily reminiscent of the Canadian government’s insistence, recently, that all truckers had to be vaccinated against COVID. Even though ninety percent already were; even though they came in contact with virtually nobody in their jobs; even though we were facing severe supply chain disruptions.

Why are governments taking such radical actions that seem to be against the public interest?

It is not because of global warming, and it is not because of COVID; because different governments are appealing to different supposed emergencies. There has to be an ulterior motive. One they do not want to admit to.

Thomas Jefferson, inventor of liberal democracy, maintained that a liberal democracy, in order to survive, required independent freeholders—family farmers. If governments became oppressive, only independent freeholders had the resources to resist. Only they were not beholden to the system, surviving paycheck to paycheck. If necessary in order to organize opposition, they could survive for a time off the grid, outside the system, feeding themselves and their families. 

Add to them truckers; if one jurisdiction becomes oppressive, truckers can move with their livelihood elsewhere, even if necessary living in their truck. This continues in a way the tradition of the open west; a tradition of migration that may also historically have ensured American freedom. 

If governments are in open confrontation with these two groups, it means government wants to shut this option down. It means their intent is to terminate our ability to resist or change our government.