One ongoing Bay State bone of contention is the strength, or relative lack thereof, of Massachusetts' home rule provisions. One local activist, for instance, who insists that Massachusetts towns and cities have more power than they know, recently said that she had been unable to work with an expert on passing local bylaws to control corporate behavior because he described Massachusetts's home rule as "medieval." Another local activist notes that yeah... we have home rule if the legislature says its ok, but all that cities and towns seem to do with it is changing elected positions to appointed positions.
So if the Local Food Rules campaign moves to Massachusetts, will it thrive? A lot depends on local conditions--for farmers with good access to slaughterhouses or that are comfortable with and able to make a living under existing food inspection rules, the impetus to pass a Local Food and Community Self Governance ordinance is lessened.
But if small farmers feel pressured by too many rules designed to benefit the industrial producers at the expense of local agriculture, we could see action in Massachusetts as well as Maine. It's up to the grassroots to decide!
So if the Local Food Rules campaign moves to Massachusetts, will it thrive? A lot depends on local conditions--for farmers with good access to slaughterhouses or that are comfortable with and able to make a living under existing food inspection rules, the impetus to pass a Local Food and Community Self Governance ordinance is lessened.
But if small farmers feel pressured by too many rules designed to benefit the industrial producers at the expense of local agriculture, we could see action in Massachusetts as well as Maine. It's up to the grassroots to decide!
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