NEWSBYELISA CAMAHORT PAGE

The following guest post on Proposition 2 and the treatment of farm animals comes from Elisa Camahort Page, co-founder and COO of BlogHer Inc. and the keeper of seven blogs, including Veggie Goes Vegan and Elisa's Green Scene. Elisa is also a California resident and a vegan. -S. Ernst

Vote Yes On California's Proposition 2, even if you’re a vegan who wishes it did more!

I am a vegan, and by all accounts that means I represent about 1% of the U.S. population. However, about 63% of American households have pets and can be assumed to be fond of animals. On Wednesday, November 5, we will find out whether Californians are willing to afford the barest of creature comforts (to be able to lie down, turn around, and extend their limbs) to some, and only some, of the millions of creatures we humans confine for the purpose of food.

Don’t get me wrong: Whether Proposition 2 passes or not, the vast majority of food animals will continue to experience an existence that few of us would argue is comfortable and that most of us would agree is torturous. A few more square feet will not make happy animals. The passage of Prop 2 wouldn’t send me to eat a burger, or even an omelet. Proposition 2 is one of those pinky Band-Aids applied to a deep gash in our ethics.

But my path from becoming a vegetarian in 1989 to finally becoming a full vegan in 2006 has been based on two philosophies.

The first is this: Do what you can until you can do better.