While we are on the subject of "Food, Inc." the movie, and modern methods of food production (i.e. industrialized animal raising and slaughter) one of the ideas to consider is the complicity of the government in this system. The government allows, and as documented by Food, Inc., actively encourages and subsidizes this inhumane system of food production that is actually causing the epidemic of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, etc.
We thus have the paradox of the government trying to solve the "health care crisis" by providing health insurance to everyone (and increasing taxes to do it), but not seeing that it is the government's own actions in encouraging and supporting an incredibly unhealthy food production system, that is creating the epidemic of disease that is the true cause of the health care crisis!
It is actually the duty of the government to give all living entities protection. Animals are also citizens of the land in which they happen to be born, and they also have the right to continue their existence. Yet how far has our government gone from this ideal. Instead of giving protection to all living beings, they actually sanction and subsidize the system of animal production and slaughter. What is it that has made us think that animals exist merely for our eating pleasure, to satisfy our desire to taste flesh and blood?
The disturbance of the animal population by wholesale slaughter produces a catastrophic future reaction for the butcher, his land and his government. This is the law of karma, or "as you sow, so shall you reap". The plethora or serious disease is directly the result of the modern industrialized system of meat. Until this is changed we can only expect things to get worse.
So what can we do?
We can all understand, appreciate and act upon the reality that the single most important thing you can do for your health, the environment, and for the sake of the innocent animals is to adopt a vegetarian diet.
Love Life! Love animals, don't eat them.
Mark Fergusson