# You gotta love the stupidity of our government **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 30, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281 "2013-06-30T19:46:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/1 "2013-06-30T19:46:33Z")
[This speaks for itself](http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/06/29/hare-brained-usda-reportedly-orders-childrens-magician-to-produce-disaster-plan-for-his-rabbit/). ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/2 "2013-06-30T19:54:03Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > [This speaks for itself](http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/06/29/hare-brained-usda-reportedly-orders-childrens-magician-to-produce-disaster-plan-for-his-rabbit/). You’re delusional and angry because of the lies you’ve been told. Leave the social commentary to those of us that can think clearly. Please don’t kick me. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/3 "2013-06-30T19:55:00Z")
So no tolerance for a mistake which is inevitable in any agency of that size? [6 nuclear cruise missiles flown across country in launch position.](http://rense.com/general78/stupid.htm) Hopefully, that puts it in perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/4 "2013-06-30T19:57:19Z")
He probably expects the government to step in and deal with his livestock in a disaster, rather than have an emergency plan in place ahead of time. Damned Commie. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/5 "2013-06-30T20:26:44Z")
So…he’s an exhibitor of animals and has to, therefore, comply with, apparently, [this regulation](http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-12-31/pdf/2012-31422.pdf). Which I’m sure you’d like to blame on Obama, but which was actually instituted as a result of Katrina and was first proposed in October of 2008. And this regulation isn’t picking on magicians in particular, but rather “research facilities and dealers, exhibitors, intermediate handlers, and carriers”. I’m a bit surprised that there isn’t an exemption for exhibitors with, say, a single rabbit, but then again, it may not be such a totally bad idea for an act like Sigfried and Roy to have a disaster plan in place. Bottom line: If you use a rabbit in your act, it’s subject to the Animal Welfare Act. If an animal is subject to the AWA, you now are required to develop a contingency plan for emergencies and have it available in case you get inspected. This is apparently serious government overreach, because I can see why a responsible pet owner would be outraged at being told that they should spend a few minutes thinking about what to do with their pet in an emergency. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/6 "2013-06-30T20:27:41Z")
I fail to see the stupidity in requiring an entrepreneur whose business relies on the exploitation of a living animal, to have plans in place to ensure the safety of said animal. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/7 "2013-06-30T20:30:53Z")
(a) Place rabbit in hat. (b) Place hat on head. © Run. ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/8 "2013-06-30T20:33:35Z")
Every entity that “exhibits” mammals falls under regulation by the USDA, whether it be a zoo with hundreds of them or a squirrel used for classroom education or – apparently – a magician using a live mammal in his act. And all exhibitors, as a condition of their USDA license, are being required to formulate a disaster plan. This is a direct result of so many who had never given a thought to what they might do, until the day after being hit by a hurricane or other natural disaster. For a major exhibitor, the plan should detail a pre-disaster timeline, personnel assignments and responsibilities, equipment available for capture, confinement and transport, food availability and refrigeration contingencies, and much more. For a guy with a single bunny, the “plan” could be as simple as “I’m gonna grab his cage and my suitcase and drive to another state”. ETA: ninja’d by \*\*Finagle \*\*-- I type too slow. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/9 "2013-06-30T20:49:15Z")
Did you, by chance, notice the strategically placed word “reportedly”? And “…Now the … illusionist is saying the trick’s allegedly on him…” Did you notice the complete absence of any evidence? What do you think, he offered the evidence but _The Blaze_ withheld it out of deference to Obama? And _The Blaze_? Seriously? Shouldn’t you wait until its corroborated by a more reliable source, like _World Net Daily_ or the _Bat Boy Review_? ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/10 "2013-06-30T20:53:01Z")
> [@CannyDan](#): > > Every entity that “exhibits” mammals falls under regulation by the USDA, whether it be a zoo with hundreds of them or a squirrel used for classroom education or – apparently – a magician using a live mammal in his act. And all exhibitors, as a condition of their USDA license, are being required to formulate a disaster plan. This is a direct result of so many who had never given a thought to what they might do, until the day after being hit by a hurricane or other natural disaster. So, this only applies to mammals? Maybe pulling an iguana out of a hat is going to become more popular among magicians now? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/11 "2013-06-30T20:53:27Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > And _The Blaze_? Seriously? Shouldn’t you wait until its corroborated by a more reliable source, like _World Net Daily_ or the _Bat Boy Review_? You’re not actually suggesting that the OP provide corroboration? He couldn’t even be bothered to say something about this, aside from “this speaks for itself.” It’s the laziest sort of posting. (And yes, I reported it for that reason.) ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/12 "2013-06-30T20:55:40Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > And _The Blaze_? Seriously? Shouldn’t you wait until its corroborated by a more reliable source, like _World Net Daily_ or the _Bat Boy Review_? The Blaze is reporting on an email from the magician to a blogger, Mr. Skeptic. What more could you ask for? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/13 "2013-06-30T20:59:29Z")
The regulations for animal safety apply to any business that uses animals in its business. And a magician using a rabbit in his act does qualify. Yes, it’s probably the extreme edge of the regulation but the law itself isn’t nonsensical and it’s the government’s job to enforce laws. This particular law was enacted in 1966 so it seems a little pointless to be getting worked up over it now. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/14 "2013-06-30T21:02:19Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Did you notice the complete absence of any evidence? What do you think, he offered the evidence but _The Blaze_ withheld it out of deference to Obama? > > And _The Blaze_? Seriously? Shouldn’t you wait until its corroborated by a more reliable source, like _World Net Daily_ or the _Bat Boy Review_? Ah, if you do some Googling, there’s a whole history of hysterical overreaction to the discovery that yes, if you’re a magician and have a rabbit in your act, you’re subject to the AWA. Because the Government is Big and Evil and Inefficient. Is it a waste of a USDA inspector’s time to be tracking down kiddy magicians? Probably yes. Is it any more of a bureaucratic imposition than requiring me to get a registration for my 8 foot inflatable Zodiac if I want to put a motor on it? No. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/15 "2013-06-30T21:08:05Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > So, this only applies to mammals? Maybe pulling an iguana out of a hat is going to become more popular among magicians now? Apparently section F deals with “general standards for warmblooded animals not otherwise specified”. So iguanas may be OK, but sadly [velociraptors](http://dinosaurs.about.com/od/dinosaurbasics/a/velofacts.htm) may be right out. ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/16 "2013-06-30T22:03:07Z")
USDA under the AWA has recently (2002, if I recall correctly) been given authority over birds and mice and rats, after a long campaign by animal rights activists. New regulations are being developed. However, since “migratory birds” and their possession has long been the province of US Fish & Wildlife Service under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, jurisdictional disagreements have slowed the rules development process. Activists continue their efforts to put reptiles and in fact all animals under the AWA. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/17 "2013-06-30T22:37:34Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > but sadly [velociraptors](http://dinosaurs.about.com/od/dinosaurbasics/a/velofacts.htm) may be right out. The accidental disembowelment insurance alone makes most magicians shy away from velociraptors. ---
**Author:** ![sylmar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@sylmar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sylmar)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/18 "2013-06-30T22:42:55Z")
So Clothahump, how much does Glen pay you for directing traffic to “The Blaze” with your generically labeled link? ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/19 "2013-06-30T23:46:36Z")
I have a disaster plan for all my household pets. I do this because I care about their welfare. I can however understand why some folks would need to be forced to think about the welfate of the animals in their possession. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281/20 "2013-07-01T00:31:08Z")
> [@madrabbitwoman](#): > > I have a disaster plan for all my household pets. I do this because I care about their welfare. I can however understand why some folks would need to be forced to think about the welfate of the animals in their possession. You’re mad woman! Mad I tell you! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gotta-love-the-stupidity-of-our-government/662281.md?page=2)