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bmullins
Guest
In the previous topic we see that people are asking is it moral to hunt. Another question more pertinent to fluent society is: Is it moral to eat factory farmed foods?
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triumphguy
Guest
More and more I’m beginning to think it’s less and less moral to eat factory farmed food - and factory processed foods.
First: we are becoming more and more distanced from the process of creating, growing, caring for the food we eat.
Secondly: the type of factory farming we do places unnatural demands on food systems and the environment.
Thirdly: the animals in factory farms have all dignity as “created beings” robbed from them.
Fourthly: factory farms are becoming reservoirs for disease: where do you think the next bird flu pandemic is going to come from?
First: we are becoming more and more distanced from the process of creating, growing, caring for the food we eat.
Secondly: the type of factory farming we do places unnatural demands on food systems and the environment.
Thirdly: the animals in factory farms have all dignity as “created beings” robbed from them.
Fourthly: factory farms are becoming reservoirs for disease: where do you think the next bird flu pandemic is going to come from?
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Savior2012
Guest
This question makes me squirm, this is right up the amish tradition.
We need food for survival, families do the best they can to provide for them. Generally just from an economics perspective processed is cheaper.
We need food for survival, families do the best they can to provide for them. Generally just from an economics perspective processed is cheaper.
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triumphguy
Guest
I’m going to start growing my own Chickens. I’ve nearly finished the coop. Can’t get much more convenient than fresh eggs in your back yard.
Processed food is cheaper - in some ways - but it’s not better value I think.
Processed food is cheaper - in some ways - but it’s not better value I think.
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George_Stegmeir
Guest
I agree 100%. I do believe that bmullins’ question is purposely designed only to be provacative and elicit optimum response. I also believe triumphguys answer to be typical of those young people who are influenced by PETA activists and other propagandists.
Personally, I have very little patience with anti-hunters, anti-gun people and anyone else who wants to tamper or alter anything in our Constitutional Bill of Rights.
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bmullins
Guest
I just want to point out that this question has nothing to do with hunting, guns, or constitutional rights in anyway. It’s about factory farming in particular. It has nothing to do with PETA either, as it does not address animal rights. The question is specifically about factory farming.
You can be against factory farming and be perfectly comfortable with eating wild game, farm raised animals, or animals you raise for yourself.
You can be against factory farming and be perfectly comfortable with eating wild game, farm raised animals, or animals you raise for yourself.
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triumphguy
Guest
Nope. Sorry. I’m 50. Have three rifles. Hunter. So…
I just believe that factory farming is not good.
I’ve got no problem with grass fed beef etc.
I think the global companies who control most of our food supply, and the bio-chem companies like Monsanto are not acting in our best interest. I believe that **** food is too cheap, and good food is too expensive.
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Garyjohn2
Guest
Factory farming actually isn’t good. Yes, people need to eat. At the same time, people don’t need to eat nearly as much meat as they do. Couple that with the fact that people spend less of a percentage on their budget on food than at any other time in history we can see that factory farms aren’t necessary in the least.
That being said, I eat meat from factory farms. I guess I’m either quite skilled or conditioned to not really think about where it comes from. I’m on a pretty tight budget, but if I had to pay a little more for my protein, or eat a little less meat, or both, I’d still get by just fine. So would the vast majority of American people. I think it would be more moral too.
I don’t know if factory farms are “immoral” but they probably are if you really learn about them. They are definately “less moral.”
That being said, I eat meat from factory farms. I guess I’m either quite skilled or conditioned to not really think about where it comes from. I’m on a pretty tight budget, but if I had to pay a little more for my protein, or eat a little less meat, or both, I’d still get by just fine. So would the vast majority of American people. I think it would be more moral too.
I don’t know if factory farms are “immoral” but they probably are if you really learn about them. They are definately “less moral.”
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thistle
Guest
When I go to a supermarket to buy food I have no clue what happened before the food arrived there, nor do I do any research to find out prior to shopping and nor do I ever intend to do that.
I go to the supermarket, find what I want and buy it. End of story. No conscience problems.
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bmullins
Guest
Being unaware of a problem doesn’t make the problem go away. It might remove culpability of the person who purposely remains ignorant, but it doesn’t change the nature of factory farming itself. Either it is morally permissible or isn’t.
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grandfather
Guest
Maybe Moses forgot the 11th commandment.
Jesus filled in the blank. It doesn’t matter.
Monsanto may be an immoral company. That does not make the person who is hungry and needs to eat immoral. That person had nothing to do with the production of food. It is eat what is available or starve.
I grow a good deal of my own food. I get very little from the grocery. I do this, because it tastes better and is healthier, not because going to the gorcery store is sinful. Good grief!
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bmullins
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My problem with the logic being presented is that it opens up to all kinds of abuse. Should we buy gas from a company that we know is spilling tons of toxic fuel into the plains in Africa? Should we buy clothing from a company that uses slave labor and child labor? Should we eat at a restaurant that has a brothel upstairs?
It is one thing to be ignorant out of ignorance. The person who is completely unaware that factory farming is a bad thing is free of any conscience associated with it, that I agree with. It’s the attitude of I don’t know, and I don’t care, and I’m not going to find out… that disturbs me.
So maybe the question should have been phrased: Is factory farming morally acceptable?
It is one thing to be ignorant out of ignorance. The person who is completely unaware that factory farming is a bad thing is free of any conscience associated with it, that I agree with. It’s the attitude of I don’t know, and I don’t care, and I’m not going to find out… that disturbs me.
So maybe the question should have been phrased: Is factory farming morally acceptable?
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dandingo
Guest
I am adamantly opposed to mass-produced meats and processed foods, mostly because of what it has done and is doing to the health of the entire human race. To find out how bad this stuff really is, though, is to delve into books and literature that are commonly considered propaganda but the masses. It isn’t until one, such as me, contracts a rare disease that has no cure, do we really discover the benefits of fresh food in its natural state.
I believe the government to be the biggest contributor to the way our food is produced. Raw milk, for instance, is arguably the most nutritious food on our planet and yet our government does their best to make it ILLEGAL to purchase.
For the record, I am a meat-eater but do so only when the meat is free range and/or grass-fed. I will not eat an animal that was force-fed its own by-product and foods that God did not intend for them to eat or animals that are couped up their entire lives.
In conclusion, it’s only immoral when the consumer has full knowledge of what they are doing. Most people have no clue as to what they’re consuming, or like another poster said, is financially strapped.
I believe the government to be the biggest contributor to the way our food is produced. Raw milk, for instance, is arguably the most nutritious food on our planet and yet our government does their best to make it ILLEGAL to purchase.
For the record, I am a meat-eater but do so only when the meat is free range and/or grass-fed. I will not eat an animal that was force-fed its own by-product and foods that God did not intend for them to eat or animals that are couped up their entire lives.
In conclusion, it’s only immoral when the consumer has full knowledge of what they are doing. Most people have no clue as to what they’re consuming, or like another poster said, is financially strapped.
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triumphguy
Guest
I recommend this book: Folks, This Ain’t Normal: A Farmer’s Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World by Joel Salatin.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512LVRLVEwL.SS500.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512LVRLVEwL.SS500.jpg
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Debora123
Guest
I’m not sure I’d word it as being “immoral to eat factory farmed food.”
I do think that if we are aware of the poor treatment of animals who are factory farmed, we do have a moral obligation to try to buy organic meats instead… if we can.
Many people are ignorant of the horror stories associated with factory farms, and so I wouldn’t say they are culpable of any sin in that case.
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Debora123
Guest
True, but it is unhealthy and harmful to the body as well. We do have somewhat of an obligation to try to raise our families to be healthy.
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Debora123
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thistle
Guest
Why?
Do you really think everyone should research every company that produces food or whatever to see how it was reared, killed or manufactured?
People have to eat, drink and wear clothes. They have no obligation other than to buy these things and nobody has the right to judge them.
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Debora123
Guest
ignorance is bliss
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bmullins
Guest
Not to mention the environmental damage that we are finding is being wrought to feed demand. A good percentage of the rain forest destruction the past few decades has been directly linked to factory farming. Simply looking at a CAFO from the sky let’s us see how the concentrated animals destroy the immediate environment not to counting any sort of runoff damage and water table damage.
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