The Great Depression brought about a series of acts starting in 1933 concerning corporate welfare and agriculture policy (USDA). The Agriculture Act of 1949 is the permanent piece of legislation in effect today even though there are subsequent temporary laws that are put into place in order to keep current with the ever-changing economy. Once our current farm bill expires, it will revert back to the Agriculture Act of 1949 which is the permanent law concerning Agriculture subsidies (Caldwell, 2012).

Whether or not current agriculture policy (corporate welfare) has been successful depends on who you ask.  If you ask agri-business giants who make up 10% of the farms collecting subsidies, they received 75% of the $277.3 billion in subsidies during 1995 through 2011 (EWG). However, 62% of US farms did not collect any subsidies at all (EWG). So it appears that if you ask the majority farms, the policy controlling subsidies was not successful.  However, the subsidies are becoming the bread and butter for the 10% of farms in the US and they are fighting relentlessly by lobbying Capitol Hill in order to keep American tax money by pushing a new bill to override the Act of 1949.

Big interest corporations virtually control much of our government by being a huge participant in writing the very legislation they are lobbying for.  The argument that we hear time and again is that if it weren’t for our big business friends lobbying for their own welfare, the prices of milk, meat, and wheat would rise for consumers.  Of course this gets the average American shaking in their boots.  But what many of us don’t realize is that we are already paying these big businesses billions of dollars every year from our pockets in the first place!  More importantly, the products that would rise in price (e.g., dairy products, meat, and processed foods) are the very foods that are causing the epidemics of modern society (e.g., cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and global warming) and thus also bolstering the healthcare crisis (Campbell, 2006; Campbell et al., 2011; Robbins, 2011; IPCC).

Animal agriculture including the beef, chicken, dairy, and pork industries rely on lobbying in order to have control over their markets and make big money off of our tax dollars.  They also now have heinous control over our government.  Take for instance how the FDA conducted 50,000 inspections for food safety in 1972 but only conducted 9,164 in 2006 (Take Part, 2012). Perhaps this might have something to do with the fact that when Bush was in office, James F. Fitzgerald was the USDA chief of staff but was formerly the chief lobbyist for the Washington beef industry (Take Part, 2012). In addition, Lester M. Crawford, Jr. was the head of the FDA during the Bush administration but was formerly the Vice President of the National Food Processors Association (Take Part, 2012).

I feel that there needs to be legislation put into place as to regulating how big businesses can lobby for our tax money.  Due to the government becoming interweaved with corporate welfare and visa-versa, there needs to be a gradual decrease in the subsidies given out to big business interests and evened out to distribute funds to small produce farms and businesses to help bring produce prices down.  I would also back initiatives and campaigns in place to support fresh whole foods to low income communities. The country and the world would benefit in many ways (e.g., eliminating and/or decreasing the top killers in America, our healthcare costs, effects of global warming, deforestation, etc.) from greatly reducing the production and consumption of animal based and processed foods and replacing them with fresh produce and whole-foods (Campbell, 2006; Campbell et al., 2011; Robbins, 2011; IPCC).

-Kimberly Garrett

References:

Caldwell, J. (2012, October 1). Agriculture.com. Retrieved from http://www.agriculture.com/news/policy/farm-bill-lapses-whats-next_4-ar26646
Campbell, T. C. (2006). The China Study. Dallas: BenBella Books.
Campbell, T.C., Esselstyn, C.B. Jr., et al. (2011). Forks Over Knives. Virgin Films & Entertainment.
Environmental Working Group (EWG) - Farm Subsidies. The United States summary information. Retrieved from http://farm.ewg.org/region.php?fips=00000
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Reports. Retrieved from http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_and_data_reports.shtml#.UPN7xfLhfxk
Robbins, J. (2011). The Food Revolution. San Francisco: Conari Press.
USDA. Food distribution programs history and background. Retrieved from http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/aboutfd/history.htm
Take Part (2012). 18 Food Inc. facts everyone should know. Retrieved from www.takepart.com/photos/food-inc-facts/monsanto-in-1950

Animal protein is harmful to your health!  According to the World Health Organization, our protein requirement is 5-15% of total calorie consumption.  The US recommends 10% protein of total calorie intake.  However, the meat industry dangerously recommends 30% of protein from calories.  But get this, “Kwashiorkor” is the leading disease caused from inadequate protein intake.  Never heard of it?  Well that's because the number of Kwashiorkor cases in the US is ZERO (0).  More importantly, the primary diseases from eating too much protein are osteoporosis and kidney disease – which claims tens of millions of cases in the US.   Why are we so insistent on purposely inflicting diseases on ourselves in the name of health? Because the meat industry spends billions of dollars per year in advertising and releasing bogus health (marketing) reports with no actual scientific backing.  The name of the game for the meat industry is making money (billions) and not public health.

Essential Amino Acids.  To get a little more technical, the protein needed for human consumption is comprised of amino acids.  There are 9 essential amino acids that many people are concerned about getting enough of in order to maintain and build lean muscle mass. Vegetables, grains, and legumes proficiently provide all 9 essential amino acids.  Also, according to the American Dietetic Association, it is a myth that vegetarians must make specific combinations in order to build a “complete protein”.  This is a myth because scientific research has shown that combining certain foods are in fact not necessary at all, as long as vegetables, grains, and legumes are in your diet on a daily basis.

Protect against disease!  Keep in mind that all animal proteins are completely void of fiber! Whereas vegetables, legumes, and grains are loaded with not only fiber but protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants! Fiber is a powerhouse when it comes to fighting against certain cancers and other chronic illnesses. Not only are all animal proteins void of fiber, they are loaded with cholesterol and saturated fat when plant-based foods have ZERO cholesterol and rarely any saturated fat.

If you’re still concerned about protein, here are some excellent sources of protein-packed plant-based foods:

• Seitan – 4 oz = 24 grams of Protein

• Tofu – ½ cup = 20 grams of Protein

• Lentils – 1 cup = 18 grams of Protein

• Black beans – 1 cup = 15.2 grams of Protein

• Chickpeas – 1 cup = 14.5 grams of Protein

Think about how much protein is indicated above…now think about how an ounce of meat contains approximately 7 grams of protein but has zero fiber and about 50 mg of cholesterol! That is a recipe for cancer, heart/vascular disease, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.

An interesting fact: It is a fact that human DNA is more closely related to chimpanzees than the DNA of horses and donkeys (who can have offspring together).  Chimpanzees eat a 99% vegetarian diet.  The 1% is mostly comprised of insects.

- Kimberly Garrett

References:    
Campbell, T. C. (2006). The China Study. Dallas: BenBella Books
Robbins, J. (2011). The Food Revolution. San Francisco: Conari Press
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)
United States Department of Agriculture

Still concerned about protein? Check this short video out coming from a bodybuilder!