As a young homesteader, I support Question 3. I decided not to move out of state, unlike many of my friends, because of Maine’s favorable environment for homesteaders who care deeply about their health and the health of their community. There is affordable land, tight-knit community, and raw milk for sale. And we passed the food sovereignty act! If we vote this into our constitution, it is another unequivocal win for the people.

The right to food is the most fundamental right and one that allows us freedom from structures that don’t have our best interest in mind.

But what about the animal welfare issue? Will this amendment create a legal excuse for those who abuse animals? Absolutely not. The opposition is employing their usual tactics of exaggerating, misleading, and distracting. Passing this amendment won’t nullify the current laws on the books. And what’s more, it clearly states: “as long as an individual does not commit trespassing, theft, poaching or other abuses of private property rights, public lands or natural resources in the harvesting, production or acquisition of food.”

Animals are considered private property, and this makes it very clear that you cannot abuse private property rights. For example, just because the constitution says we have a right to bear arms, does not mean we have a right to hurt people with those arms. And while we are on that subject, it’s crazy we have a right to bear arms, but we don’t have a right to food.

Vote yes on Question 3!

 

Lilyanna Sollberger

Isle au Haut

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