Gluttonous Factory Farms
The American life is full of consuming food in the best, quickest and most convenient way. Generally most people do not want to wait for their food, causing the creation of the fast food companies to become a booming industry. In this case, the big corporations have taken advantage of the lifestyle of average Americans. The businesses have relied on the overwhelming consumption of meat and strongly benefited from the production of the food. A non-profit organization called Sustainable Table, which supports family farms, states that, “the food industry has become dominated by a handful of giant corporations which benefit from government policies that favor large-scale production” (Family Farms). In other words, the powerful government has taken control over the food industry through the substantial production and few companies.
Although it is true that the big businesses of the food industry help the quick production of food, it does not necessarily follow the proper guidelines for manufacturing meat and decreases the stable economic environment for the typical American lifestyle. The companies can create many problems with their process and greediness, which the government does not stop from occurring. On the other hand, family farms would produce healthy and nutritious meat with a strong middle class. Factory farms manufacture meat at a greater production rate which fits the average American lifestyle however, what is at stake is the nourishment of the meat and the economic system. My stance is that we should support the family farms because it will create the most beneficial outcome.
As society grew and urban areas began to dominate the standard way of living, family farms decreased while the big corporations took over. Sustainable Table also states, “there are now nearly five million fewer farms in the U.S. than there were in the 1930's” (Family Farms). This means that the money goes toward the companies and the people in power, instead of spreading the money throughout the middle class Americans. The few and big businesses have created a great shift in the separation between lower and upper class, making the middle class decrease in numbers. This causes an unstable environment throughout the country because there is no longer a balance.
The big corporations have been tied into the government making the food industry hide behind a curtain that is dropped between them and us (Food Inc.). The government also controls the rules and regulations for production of food. However, since the government is closely involved with the major companies they can easily make necessary changes with minimal effort or damage. The big corporations tie in with the government which make them capable of finding loopholes within the Food and Drug Administration because of the people working in the inside. On the other hand, the small family farms do not have strong connections with the government and corporations, making it harder for them to get out of difficult problems they encounter.
A couple problems with the major companies are the mistreatment of animals and the process in which the meat is produced. The family farms are able to produce fresh and healthy food, while the corporations pump chemicals and other dangerous pesticides into the animals. Also the factory farm animals endure harsh and poor living conditions. Some of the examples of the tough situations the animals suffer are tight living spaces and limited natural light. Additionally, the animals may be living in their own manure and have other hazardous surroundings causing the possibility of unhealthy meat. Since the corporations process of production for meat is poor and harmful it can cause unforeseen health problems for Americans. Although the production of the meat can be detrimental to humans, the dominations of the big corporations have made it nearly impossible to fix, because of the full control.
My awareness of the factory farms and big businesses came about while watching the movie, Food Inc. The movie opened my eyes to the corruption and power the corporations hold, as well as the division between the American people and the major companies. In addition, the movie has made me conscious of the production of the meat which can be dangerous and unsanitary for human consumption. My position on this issue is that we should rely more heavily on the family farms because there are more positive outcomes than the factory farms and big businesses.
"Family Farms." Sustainable Table. (2007): Print. <http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/familyfarms/>.
The American life is full of consuming food in the best, quickest and most convenient way. Generally most people do not want to wait for their food, causing the creation of the fast food companies to become a booming industry. In this case, the big corporations have taken advantage of the lifestyle of average Americans. The businesses have relied on the overwhelming consumption of meat and strongly benefited from the production of the food. A non-profit organization called Sustainable Table, which supports family farms, states that, “the food industry has become dominated by a handful of giant corporations which benefit from government policies that favor large-scale production” (Family Farms). In other words, the powerful government has taken control over the food industry through the substantial production and few companies.
Although it is true that the big businesses of the food industry help the quick production of food, it does not necessarily follow the proper guidelines for manufacturing meat and decreases the stable economic environment for the typical American lifestyle. The companies can create many problems with their process and greediness, which the government does not stop from occurring. On the other hand, family farms would produce healthy and nutritious meat with a strong middle class. Factory farms manufacture meat at a greater production rate which fits the average American lifestyle however, what is at stake is the nourishment of the meat and the economic system. My stance is that we should support the family farms because it will create the most beneficial outcome.
As society grew and urban areas began to dominate the standard way of living, family farms decreased while the big corporations took over. Sustainable Table also states, “there are now nearly five million fewer farms in the U.S. than there were in the 1930's” (Family Farms). This means that the money goes toward the companies and the people in power, instead of spreading the money throughout the middle class Americans. The few and big businesses have created a great shift in the separation between lower and upper class, making the middle class decrease in numbers. This causes an unstable environment throughout the country because there is no longer a balance.
The big corporations have been tied into the government making the food industry hide behind a curtain that is dropped between them and us (Food Inc.). The government also controls the rules and regulations for production of food. However, since the government is closely involved with the major companies they can easily make necessary changes with minimal effort or damage. The big corporations tie in with the government which make them capable of finding loopholes within the Food and Drug Administration because of the people working in the inside. On the other hand, the small family farms do not have strong connections with the government and corporations, making it harder for them to get out of difficult problems they encounter.
A couple problems with the major companies are the mistreatment of animals and the process in which the meat is produced. The family farms are able to produce fresh and healthy food, while the corporations pump chemicals and other dangerous pesticides into the animals. Also the factory farm animals endure harsh and poor living conditions. Some of the examples of the tough situations the animals suffer are tight living spaces and limited natural light. Additionally, the animals may be living in their own manure and have other hazardous surroundings causing the possibility of unhealthy meat. Since the corporations process of production for meat is poor and harmful it can cause unforeseen health problems for Americans. Although the production of the meat can be detrimental to humans, the dominations of the big corporations have made it nearly impossible to fix, because of the full control.
My awareness of the factory farms and big businesses came about while watching the movie, Food Inc. The movie opened my eyes to the corruption and power the corporations hold, as well as the division between the American people and the major companies. In addition, the movie has made me conscious of the production of the meat which can be dangerous and unsanitary for human consumption. My position on this issue is that we should rely more heavily on the family farms because there are more positive outcomes than the factory farms and big businesses.
"Family Farms." Sustainable Table. (2007): Print. <http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/familyfarms/>.