Pig farmer Scott Phillips and University of Missouri agriculture professor George Jesse defend factory farming conditions where large sows live their entire lives in 2-by-7 foot slatted-floor cages, unable to even turn around (10/30, A-1, “Factory farms under fire”). They say it keeps them safe, protected and out of the elements.
I’d be willing to put farmer Phillips and Jesse in cages about the size of a vertical coffin. Their confinement would be roomier than a sow’s, because they could at least turn around.
The benefits, of course, would be numerous. They wouldn’t have to worry about paying bills or taxes, shopping, having accidents, maintaining vehicles or homes, encountering criminals, getting robo-calls from politicians or even dealing with plumbers. A slatted floor would drain any waste into an open tank just below their feet.
Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, huh guys? Surely you deserve a life as safe and protected as some pigs.
Talis Bergmanis
Fairway
Good line from the Simpsons.
"Homer: Wait a minute wait a minute wait a minute. Lisa honey, are you saying you're never going to eat any animal again? What about bacon?
Lisa: No.
Homer: Ham?
Lisa: No.
Homer: Pork chops?
Lisa: Dad! Those all come from the same animal!
Homer: [Chuckles] Yeah, right Lisa. A wonderful, magical animal."
A little off topic, but still worth a Monday Morning laugh.
Posted by: T. Hanson | November 03, 2008 at 07:41 AM