Keeping people from starving is one thing, but I believe there is a lot more meat consumed in North America than is needed to prevent that. The cut-rate mass-production of meat has led to some horrible and inhumane conditions for animals. Some of what I've seen and read about is horrifying to me, and some extremely cruel conditions have come as a result of production cost-cutting. I think overabundant supply has led to gluttony. I am not against animals raised and slaughtered humanely to be consumed by humans, but that does tend to drive the price up. That's ok with me to some degree - I would consider it an anti-cruelty tax.
If I thought cutting back a little due to higher prices would quickly lead to malnutrition in our society, that would be a different story. But I think in general people could cut back quite a bit on meat consumption without experiencing real suffering.
I agree no impoverished child should go without proper nutrition, but society is smart to figure that out without meat being such a cruel commodity. I have faith that a good society can feed the children while at the same time cutting back on overall consumption so that meat production conditions aren't so over-stressed.
People should cut back on having children. The world is overpopulated and needs to be fed, plain and simple. I want more humane conditions as much as the next guy, but good luck feeding 7 billion people properly with free range or trying to convince people to eat less.
Ever notice how most of those books written by people advising us to eat a more local diet, are written by folks who can afford to shop at whole foods and pay $15 for a chicken?
That's what I always say.. Almost word for word.. Some one has to eat them LOL.. I guess I'll do the dirty work.. Just IMO, but we didn't get to where we are Today, by being Herbivores.. Besides, at the end(and beginning) of the day, animals taste too fucking good.
Props to you herbivores doing your part.
I think what pisses me off the most, is people who insist we were not meant to eat meat. The facts are that meat is very much a natural part of our diet. Maybe not in the amounts we are eating, as Satyrday points out, but choosing to forgo meat is a personal choice, not a natural one, that should be done with a Dr's consultation and proper supplementation. Especially vegans, and anyone who will not at the very least drink milk or eat eggs.
I also think it is a first world choice. My parents grew up dirt poor. They didn't snub their nose at the rare treat of a chicken or even a pig. And they ate all of it. My father still suffers health issues from a poor diet as a child.
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