| The role of the USDA was originally to promote the products of the animal agriculture industry. Over fifty years ago, the USDA began promoting the so-called four basic food groups, with meat and dairy products in the number one and two spots on the list. Financed by the meat and dairy industry and backed by nutritional scientists on the payroll of the meat and dairy industry, this promotion ignored science. | |
| … | |
| Our government spends over $20 Billion on price supports that benefit the dairy, beef, and veal industries. This money is given to farmers to artificially reduce the cost of crops used to feed cows, thereby helping to reduce the prices we pay for dairy foods, fowl, and meat. Fruits and vegetables grown primarily for human consumption are specifically excluded from USDA price supports. [Emphasis is mine. — KMAB] | |
| Out of one pocket, we pay billions of our tax dollars to support the production of expensive, disease-causing foods. Out of the other pocket, we pay medical bills that are too high because our overweight population consumes too much of these rich, disease-causing foods. Our tax dollars are actually used to make our society sicker and keep our health insurance costs high. | |
| — Joel Fuhrman, M.D. From his book: “Eat To Live“ |
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| . | |
| On This Day In: | |
| 2012 | Historically Unacceptable |
| 2011 | Niners Are NFC West Division Champions!! |
| The Essence Of Leadership | |
Your Tax Dollars At Work
December 6, 2013 by kmabarrett
6 Responses
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It is certainly unacceptable, but other than the election of better people (by this I refer to people who have the ability and the will to think), what can we do? Time will run out on us one day and it will be too late for such a decision. In the meantime all I can see to do is to tolerate the situation that is ours. If there is a better way let me know.
Great post! I have 25 more pounds to lose and I thank you for info like this!
MHA,
Thanks for the comment / question!
I don’t know that there are “easy” ways to a better way…
I would start by phasing out tax subsidies to meat products and for all food production corporations over a certain equity – say, $100 million dollars. I don’t know what the percentage is of “small” farmers with equity above or below that amount, but I’d reckon it is a small percentage. I would not wish to harm a “family” farm. But I doubt there are many of them left (proportionately, not absolutely). I would allow and or increase tax subsidies for what the doctor suggests “fruit and vegetables grown specifically for human consumption”. For example: apples for eating – yes, apples for apple juice or hard apple cider no. Clearly there would be questions. Example: apple sauce is for human consumption, but then we could refer back to the corporate equity solution. The law would have to specifically bar subsidiary companies and corporations. Otherwise, the sharpies would divide up the big corporations into smaller ones to stay just below the limit.
I think there are a number of ways to solve the issues at the federal and state level – but it would be a process, not a single solution that we’re done with once and for all. There is no “silver bullet”.
Well, Andy, keep at it! You’ll get there!!
More lies and greed. People pay the price.
True. Pardon the pun but it would be marginally more palatable if we were only paying for it with our health. To think we’re paying for our own poisoning with our tax support (too) is particularly unsavory.