I also believe that animals are raised by people who care about them. How many of you are farmers? Those who are, fine, talk about the other guys. Those who aren’t–how would you know? Most of you have probably never even been on a farm, much less know the difference between raising an animal organically or not. I’ve spent a lot of time on farms, from small ones to huge, vertically integrated ones, and I have met a lot of people who really love agriculture.

When I can see some GC/MS data on “gases going into tissue” I will believe that. Since it doesn’t make an scientific sense, I’m not going to now.

Second… parsons, interesting article that brings up good points that don’t have any easy or obvious answers.

I went to my local farmer’s market. (deserts of eastern WA) Surprisingly, the produce I purchased was all organic and cheaper than at the grocery stores. Most of the produce offered is of different varieties than anything at the grocery stores. My kids and I bought enough fruits and veggies for the week to feed a family of 5 or more for less than $30.

That said, it’s because we love to cook and know what to do with what we bought. No one is going to buy something if they don’t know what to do with it or even what that something is. One point that I didn’t see mentioned in all the other threads although I think it was alluded to was that junk food is significantly cheaper than healthy food. Is there an easy answer? Is there anything that we as individuals or a collective can do to change this? Perhaps, perhaps not. We each should look at our local area and see how we can affect a positive change in our communities. Since we all seem to be foodies here, why not kill two birds with one stone? Shop at our local FM’s to the extent we are able and then donate that produce to the local food bank and/or soup kitchen? All of the talk is nothing but hot air if we are not moved to action.

And to keep this on topic, I firmly support local farmers and Virginia apple butter.

In the last 20 years, I’ve noticed an emergence of Farmer’s Markets and niche grocery stores that sell good stuff. It has increased rather than decreased. So I think that it is a growing trend and a positive thing for small growers even if the general population doesn’t patronize such places.

I think things are just getting started. About 40% of people in this country are likely to want to purchase better than average stuff in all categories. That’s a lot of pie.

Maybe voters won’t be as moved by this issue, but contributors will. Alice Waters has been tirelessly campaigning for sustainability and student nutrition, not only raising awareness but also cash for those who support this agenda. Michael Pollan has made an enormous impact, and new champions roll up their sleeves or roll coins in the coffers every day.

How did PBS become welfare for the rich? More accurate to say it is the atonement of the rich – for their endless pitching to the lowest common denominator because it’s cheaper and therefore more profitable. And contributing to PBS is a cheap way for them to mollify their consciences.

Food issues weren’t the most crucial element persuading me to vote straight Democratic in the ‘06 elections, but they were a big part of a polypiphany that was exacerbated by a grassroots email campaign by Consumers Union that inspired me to look up my incumbent Republicans’ voting records on consumer issues. Of course, doddering over Katrina had its effect, but the main thing I saw was that the problem in Washington isn’t gridlock, but the hammerlock that lobbyists have on our public servants.

And what if the Democrats don’t deliver? Well, have you ever taken a pair of pliers and tried to snap off a piece of metal? When something is stubborn, you have to twist it from one side to another until it snaps. It won’t be easy, but the alternative is to just let the malignant status quo grow, and I find that unacceptable.

And yes, Deacon, until the analog broadcast switch-off in 2009, here in the States, you can still get all your local affiliates, including PBS for free with an antenna on your roof or on the TV itself. Also, “free” technically menas that local PBS affiliates fall under the FCC’s must-carry category for cable and satellite providers.