Don't forget who's the boss around here
It isn't often that we have such a clear comparison of results. Results so clear that it leaves no doubt that not only has there been no effort to improve the status quo, but there has been deliberate obstruction and malfeasance toward any improvement.
I'm talking about our corrupt and toxic food system. In 2008 many were hoping that at least some of the systemic faults of our health killing and Earth-killing food system would be addressed:
On April 29, 2008, the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production (PCIFAP) released the findings of a two-and-a half-year examination of the food animal industry to the nation. Their conclusion: The current system of raising animals posed unacceptable risks to public health and the environment. Five years later, an in-depth analysis by the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF) determined that instead of getting better, the problem has actually gotten worse since the commission released its seminal report, Putting Meat on the Table: Industrial Farm Animal Production in America.
Five years ago what we thought were problems that could be tweaked with some regulatory competence have now became a crisis with no remedies in sight.
The key finding is really held in the conclusion of the report and that is that across the boards regulatory and legislative efforts have failed and that in each area the problems have worsened. There is more concentration in the food animal industry now. There are fewer companies. Antibiotic resistance has grown worse with four fifths of all antibiotics in the U.S. being given to animals and not humans.
I think the main reason is the overwhelming influence and power of the animal ag industry. That was one of the things we said in the original report. At every turn you can see undue or over-influence by the industrial animal ag sector. Whether it’s affecting members of Congress, whether it’s denting and nearly breaking the regulatory process, or whether it’s too much influence over academics. Everywhere you look there’s too much influence by the industry.
It's always comes down to "follow the money" and the overwhelming influence of farm subsidies and unlimited money contributions to politicians which now have a juggernaut hold on our health and the health of our planet.
See Joan McCarter's diary for more discussion on farm subsidies.