Adopted
Resolutions for
a Stronger America
The
National Grange is the nation's oldest national agricultural organization,
with grassroots units established in 3,600 local communities in 37 states.
Its 300,000 members provide service to agriculture and rural areas on
a wide variety of issues, including economic development, education,
family endeavors, and legislation designed to assure a strong and viable
Rural America. It was formed in the years following the American
Civil
War to unite private citizens in improving the economic and social position
of the nation's farm population. Over the past 137 years, it has evolved
to include non-farm rural families and communities.
The
Grange is also a fraternal order known as the Order of Patrons of Husbandry,
hence the "P of H" on the organization's logo. Founding members
determined that a fraternal organization would be best able to combine
loyalty and democratic ideals to provide service to others. The National
Grange was one of the first formal groups to admit women to membership
on the basis of equality with men. It remains so today.
The
11-story landmark National Grange headquarters building in Washington,
D.C. was dedicated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on June 29, 1960,
and is the only private edifice in a federal block across from the White
House. It serves as a non-governmental headquarters for agricultural
and rural families. A professional staff administers policies established
annually by democratic Grange processes at local, county, and state
levels.
National
Grange Headquarters Building • 1616 H St. NW • Washington,
DC 20006. Built in 1957 - The original headquarters was located on Lafayette
Park.
Each
year, a listing of more than 1,400 issues of concern is published and
distributed by the National Grange.
Grange
Resolution
Subject:
H. J. Res. 27- To Withdraw the United States From the World Trade Organization
(WTO) Agreement.
Whereas:
The World Trade Organization (WTO) was approved by the United States
Congress and our U.S. President in the year 1995, which illegally ceded
part of our sovereignty as a Nation to this organization. The (WTO)
panel consists of a 148 nation global body, headquartered in Geneva,
Switzerland.
Whereas:
During the month of September, 2004, a three-member (WTO) panel ruled
that a number of U.S. Government assistance programs for the farmers
in the cotton industry are prohibited export subsidies, that has caused
significant suppression of world cotton prices during the years 1999
through 2002, which has lead to a levy of punitive fines and taxes against
the U.S.A. These rulings are enforced by the (WTO) through trade sanctions
against the U.S.A.
Whereas:
The United States still has some tariffs in place that protect the U.S.
steel companies and some other industries. Because of these tariffs,
the (WTO) made a ruling November 26, 2004, that the U.S. must pay punitive
taxes until Congress repeals these tariff laws.
Whereas:
The United States Constitution does not allow U.S. policies to be decided
by an international bureaucracy which requires that our central government
manage free trade according to the dictates of the World Trade Organization
(WTO).
Whereas:
The United States Constitution assigns to Congress all powers of regulating
commerce with foreign nations plus imposing taxes and tariffs. There
is no provision in the United States Constitution that allows Congress
to delegate this power to any other element of our federal government
nor to a foreign multilateral bureaucracy such as the (WTO).
Whereas:
The American colonists fought a war with England rather than allow a
distant parliament to claim power to impose taxes, etc. on us without
our consent. The (WTO) an emerging global trade regime is imposing punitive
taxes against the United States without the consent of the American
people.
Therefore
be it resolved: That the Oregon State Grange, in order to save
the sovereignty of the United States and our economic destiny, requests
that the United States Congress support the passage of H.J. Res. 27,
which will withdraw the United States from the World Trade Organization.
This resolution was drafted
by William D. Waggoner, Master. Mr. Waggoner can be reached at 1920
Thompson Creek Rd., Selma, Oregon 97538.
This resolution adopted
by the Deer Creek Grange # 371 at its regular meeting held on May 9,
2005.
This resolution was also
adopted by the Oregon State Grange at its 132nd Annual Session held
at Reedsport, Oregon, the week of June 20-24, 2005.