Level the economic playing field

Currently, the prices of animal products are being artificially lowered by a combination of factors, including:

1. government subsidies in the form of direct payments to farmers who grow food for animals to eat (plants grown for human consumption are not significantly subsidized)

2. government subsidies in the form of government purchases of animal products, which are then distributed to schools, which also prevents schools from affording healthier options.

3. animal exploitation, seen especially in battery cages for chickens, and confined animal feeding operations for pigs and cows. animals suffer through hormone and antibiotic treatments, living conditions which lead to antisocial behavior, and slaughterhouses that run at such a pace that animals are often conscious while their skin is ripped from their bodies.

Each of these factors pushes down the cost of animal products, creating the choice at the grocery store between:
1. "unhealthy, bad for the environment, and cheap" for meat
2. "healthy, a bit more expensive" for meat alternatives
3. "healthy, cheapest, difficult to prepare" for vegetables

We are making progress on reducing the animal exploitation factor, as laws in California and Michigan have banned some practices. Though there is a long way to go on this, as the operations will simply move to other places, although the cost will adjust some amount for the added transportation.

Subsidies are very significant, not just in the cost, but in creating social pressures to make unhealthy eating choices in children. We must put pressure on our representatives to end these subsidies. Only the least healthy and most environmentally destructive foods are being subsidized, and even those who choose not to eat them are footing the bill by paying taxes.

If the prices were more realistic, animal products would be an order of magnitude higher than their alternatives. People would choose vegetables, which would lower their price and increase quality and availability.

Works in progress

The last post I put here was a post I had accidentally posted to another one of my blogs, and when I moved it over here I accidentally posted it here (instead of saving as draft). Double oops. The post was not finished, and so lacked some of the context I would consider necessary for a public post. I've taken it down until I polish it up a bit.