By Kevin Williams
There's an eclectic mix of Amish in the News today, but much of it centers around regulation. Â The Amish are constantly pushing the boundaries of the legislative areas of American politics. Â I'm largely a "live and let live" kind of guy and that's why these stories bother me. Â Whether it's battling over horse poop, smoke alarms, or orange triangles on the backs of buggies I generally view these government skirmishes with the Amish unfavorably. Â This week there are disputes over a driveway in Wisconsin and orange triangles in New York. Â Read on!
AMISH CLINIC: Â A new clinic has opened up in western Wisconsin that caters largely to the Amish, who number some 2000 in the Cashton area. Â This clinic will hopefully be able to ferret out and treat genetic disorders that are found largely among the Amish. Â Click here to read more.
AMISH DRIVEWAY DISPUTE: Â If you read the whole article this just really seems childish and silly. Â Often I'll side with authorities on issues of plumbing and sanitation, but this seems like a childish schoolyard dispute. Â I'd be disappointed if I liked in the town of Fairchild, Wisconsin that my tax dollars were being wasted in such a way. Â You'll see what I mean when you read the article, click here to read about this "driveway dispute."
DUTCH WONDERLAND: Â It's a kitschy tourist stop, but Dutch Wonderland has carved out a place in Americana, capturing family fun in the heart of Amish country. A new picture book celebrates the park's role in Lancaster County's history. Click here to read more.
ORANGE TRIANGLES IN NEW YORK: Â With the Amish population growing every year in the sparsely populated "North Country" of far update New York, legislators want to revisit an exemption granted to the Amish years ago. Â The exemption allows Amish to opt out of displaying the orange "slow-moving vehicle" emblem on the back of their buggies. Â Click here to read more.
OPINION: Â The Watertown Daily News in New York's "North Country" weighs in on the orange triangle issue. Â See what the newspaper has to say about it here. Do you agree or disagree?
Leave a Reply