Some traction has recently been noticed in pushing back against the vast overreach of the Dept of Labor and regulatory agencies. However, the issue is much bigger than just farming; Indeed these same rules and regulations pertain to just about every household chore that a child could be given. Including, but not limited to, running the dishwasher, garbage disposal, laundry machines, shop-vac or vacuum, or even standing on a 6′ ladder to change a lightbulb.
Given the fact that many of us parents provide common household chores as a method to teach responsibility, and earn an allowance, it would appear that now our children will have to claim ‘unemployment compensation’. They are being regulated out of their allowance. Sounds funny, but really it’s not.
Last year, Dept. Of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis proposed rules that would restrict family farm operations by prohibiting youth under the age of 18 from being near certain age animals without adult supervision, participating in common livestock practices such as vaccinating and hoof trimming, and handling most animals more than six months old.
In addition anyone under the age of 18 would be prohibited from operating farm machinery over 20 PTO horsepower; completing tasks at elevations over six feet high; and working at stockyards and grain and feed facilities. The language of the proposed rule is so specific it would even ban youth from operating a battery-powered screwdriver or a pressurized garden hose.
Consider the equipment on a small family farm they would no longer be allowed to use: A ladder, Power washer, Mechanical screwdriver, Log splitter, Mechanical Chipper, Mechanical Spreader, motorized Tiller, Chainsaw, Tree Trimmer, pneumatic Stapler, nail gun, Shop-Vac Vacuum, Hay Baler, Bale Stacker, Rope Ladder, fence puller, post digger, baling wire and barbed wire.
All of this is in addition to a minor not being allowed within 30 yards of any farm animal over 6 months old, (so much for my little pony) and many more…
“There is no better example of the vast overreach of government into the everyday lives of Americans than the Department of Labor’s proposed rule to regulate young people working on farms and ranches,” Sen. Moran said. “For generations, the contributions of young people have helped family farm and ranch operations survive and prosper. This proposal should alarm more than just rural America.
“If the federal government can regulate the relationship between parents and their children on their own family’s farm, there is virtually nothing off-limits when it comes to government intrusion into our lives.”
Do you think this is mere incompetence by Team Obama? Think again.
Who benefits?
Corporate agribusiness tied in with the Dept of Agriculture (for more understanding the politicization of Dept. of Agriculture see “Pigford”). Forced hiring lots of migrant labor. Tied in with the Democratic Party; And it simultaneously undercuts rural Americans who are hostile to the Democratic Party agenda. And it hurts the GOP. This is absolutely intentional.