NAIS—Where Are We
by Karin Bergener

“This is the dumbest idea anyone ever came up with,” is the initial reaction of most farmers on learning of NAIS. Most of us know the things we do every day—not tagging and tracking—keep our animals healthy. Unfortunately, this argument is not persuasive with city and suburban people who are far away from the land and how food is raised.

So we need to focus on arguments we can use to persuade these people. Why, exactly, are we against NAIS and how can we convince others of our view? Let's examine in detail each of the five categories into which arguments against NAIS may be grouped:

1. It’s not ethical or moral.
2. It’s not legal.
3. It’s not scientifically sound.
4. It’s not economically sound.
5. It won’t work.

So Where Are We?
Nothing about NAIS makes sense or is fair in any way. Having gone through the arguments, we’re back to “dumb idea,” but with more ammunition than we had at first. Go forth, educate and argue with your friends, relatives, and neighbors. Keep calling your legislators. It does work. It is working, as witnessed in Texas and Arizona. Keep raising a fuss.

Karin Bergener of Freedom, Ohio, is an attorney and a cofounder of the Liberty Ark Coalition dedicated to defeating NAIS. This article appeared in the Spring 2007 issue of Rural Heritage.