11-21-2010, 01:47 PM
I started this post after reading the comments about the new Burger King in Pahoa. I feel that the food topic is important enough that it deserves it’s own posting here. I value self sufficiency and I know that this island is well suited to supplying it’s own with food, power and building materials..
I encourage everyone to go to Netflix or wherever you get your videos and rent Food Inc. This is an important movie that goes beyond any left/right stereotyping. The current administration is just as slavish to the food industry as was the previous. The food lobby is very powerful. Although you may see hundreds a different brands an the grocery store shelves there are really only a few food corporations in the world that control it all. And they control Washington too. Burger King is just one more subsidiary of the food industry juggernaut.
I am a capitalist but you can take a good thing too far. We are being held hostage by these people that decide what additives are ok, what corners to cut and how much E.coli is acceptable. They even outlaw criticism!!!!! It’s hard to believe but check it out: http://www.madcowboy.com/01_BookOP.000.html : “Thirteen states, including Texas, have passed laws designed to silence and intimidate those who expose unsafe and unhealthy factory farm and slaughterhouse practices. These so-called "food disparagement" laws make it a crime to criticize food and how it is produced.” Oprah was sued for criticizing the beef industry on her show. She finally won the suit because she could afford the millions of dollars in lawyer fees.
I don’t mean to sound like an alarmist and I am not into giving the world something else to fear, but this time we actually can do something. You vote every time that you buy a product. Buy local. It makes a difference. I’m no purist either. I admit to eating junk food sometimes. I feel that french fries may be a gift from the gods. Local french fries would taste even better though.
I hope that anyone that feels compelled to criticize my comments will do so after actually watching Food Inc.
I encourage everyone to go to Netflix or wherever you get your videos and rent Food Inc. This is an important movie that goes beyond any left/right stereotyping. The current administration is just as slavish to the food industry as was the previous. The food lobby is very powerful. Although you may see hundreds a different brands an the grocery store shelves there are really only a few food corporations in the world that control it all. And they control Washington too. Burger King is just one more subsidiary of the food industry juggernaut.
I am a capitalist but you can take a good thing too far. We are being held hostage by these people that decide what additives are ok, what corners to cut and how much E.coli is acceptable. They even outlaw criticism!!!!! It’s hard to believe but check it out: http://www.madcowboy.com/01_BookOP.000.html : “Thirteen states, including Texas, have passed laws designed to silence and intimidate those who expose unsafe and unhealthy factory farm and slaughterhouse practices. These so-called "food disparagement" laws make it a crime to criticize food and how it is produced.” Oprah was sued for criticizing the beef industry on her show. She finally won the suit because she could afford the millions of dollars in lawyer fees.
I don’t mean to sound like an alarmist and I am not into giving the world something else to fear, but this time we actually can do something. You vote every time that you buy a product. Buy local. It makes a difference. I’m no purist either. I admit to eating junk food sometimes. I feel that french fries may be a gift from the gods. Local french fries would taste even better though.
I hope that anyone that feels compelled to criticize my comments will do so after actually watching Food Inc.