nationwide movement aims to ban controversial conditions

[rnrterp]

Factory farms are a necessary evil. If we all lived in the Garden of Eden they wouldn't exist. But we don't. Everyone on this thread has been talking about how this country requires them because of costs for food. If everyone in this country had their on farms with chickens and cows or pigs. There would still be factory farms because we feed the world, not just this country. It is there only way we can produce enough to provide for the entire world. So go ahead and get the regulations changed and watch the third world countries cease to exist because of starvation. For all of the TV ads, the other countries do get food. Also as stated, once the factory farms are gone the next step is to go after individual farmers. Remember first was the cigarettes and now they are after your sugar and salt. We used to be "THE LAND OF THE FREE".

 

[mom'sfolly]

Sorry, but we do not feed the world meat. If we feed the world, it is with grain. It could be argued that more grain would be available if factory farming went out the window.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

mom'sfolly :

Sorry, but we do not feed the world meat. If we feed the world, it is with grain. It could be argued that more grain would be available if factory farming went out the window.

That's true! Think about how much time, money and resources go into producing meat. It takes a lot of grain and farmland to produce a steak. Think how many people could be fed if we were not feeding produce to cattle and pigs. Many people don't kow this, but there is a grain called quinoa which is complete protien. Not only is quinoa high in protein, but the protein it supplies is complete protein, meaning that it includes all nine essential amino acids. Wouldn't it be nice if we grew enough of it to save the lives of those starving in other countries?​

 

[SilverPhoenix]

mom'sfolly :

Sorry, but we do not feed the world meat. If we feed the world, it is with grain. It could be argued that more grain would be available if factory farming went out the window.

This is most definitely true. So much grain goes into beef especially. People are starving to death all over the planet, and here people eat extremely wasteful beef when the grains could have gone to feed so, so many more people.

To those who disagreed with my points--well, we'll just have to agree to disagree. Perhaps it's because I'm an atheist and have a different moral structure than most people in our society, but to me it is not acceptable to just say "But Scripture says animals are here for our use!" and leave it at that. If animals were placed here specifically for people to use, then why is it they have nervous systems so similar to ours? Why is it they show similar reactions to pain, anger, fear, happiness, and so on? Why do they fight fervently for their lives if they get a chance? No, they are not human and should not be treated exactly as humans are, but I do believe to my very core that animals deserve at least the most basic of all rights. It's just different ideas of morality--no need to jump down my throat about it.

Katy, I know we have had our disagreements in the past, but I can tell by how you talk about them that you care about the welfare of the cattle you raise and are very knowledgeable about them. Remember, while I personally disagree with the killing of animals for food, I do know this is not my ideal world and I would always side with you over any factory farm or CAFO. We most likely agree on most things up to the actual killing of the cattle.

Kudos to you for striving to treat your cattle humanely to the best of your abilities.

 

[Ferrret]

The US is not the sole provider of food for the starving people in the world. Many other countries contribute, but not on the scale of the US. We have more land than most countries so we can provide more. I find it hard to think that we would ship pre-slaughtered beef, chicken, pork and turkey all over the world. We may ship live animals to people that need them, but food wise we send out grains such as wheat, rice and corn.

I have to disagree slightly with people in the US having more than enough to eat. We provide food to a starving world, and our own starving citizens. We provide animals for people in other countries, why not take many of the hungry people in our own country and teach them how to care for the animals? An impoverished family could eat well with a few laying hen's eggs and some basic grains. All they need is someone to show them how, and give them the set up to keep them.

Heck, if we got enough altruistic people together we could have small community run farms to feed the hungry in those areas. People who have little means could work on the farm and in payment get food for their family and possibly a place to live. It would expose more people to agriculture and the foundation of this country. Farmers are the most abundant and important people in the world and folks in this country have forgotten that.
Problem is not many will work together and keep the same ideal. People's differing ideas about how the animals should be kept, how the crops be raised and who gets what food would cause the who project to collapse. There would also be arguments about who pays to keep the farm running, because one or two people will always end up paying more than someone else and want to control the farm based on the "I pay more for it" mentality.

 

[gckiddhouse]

Quote:
Amen!

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Actually farmers account for less than 2% of the US population.

 

[Ferrret]

Katy, the US is not the world. I wasn't talking specifically about the US. Farmers exist all around the world in great abundance because much of the world is considered developing and not industrial like the US.

Farmers are the most abundant and important people in the world​

 

[redux]

I think what the scriptures say or don't say is irrelevant in a discussion about laws.

We do have separation of church and state in this country, so the scriptures don't figure into the decision.

 

[Katy]

Quote:

I realize the US isn't the world and personally I wish our government would quit acting like we are.

I posted that just to point out what a small percentage of the US population are farmers, but yet feed or contribute to feeding a lot of the world's hungry people. The statistics show that less than 1% actually claim farming as their occupation and less than 2% of the population actually live on farms. My husband and I are two of the less than 1% and I can tell you it is not a very good feeling to know that when I go to the polls and vote on agricultural issues my vote counts for basically nothing.