Re: Some Hard Truths for Ethical Vegetarians

Derek wrote:
<..>
> Do these animals die to feed them, or is the real hard
> truth something different to that? The real hard truth is
> that animals killed in agriculture aren't killed to ensure
> people can continue eating veg, because other methods
> can be and are used which doesn't kill any at all. The
> hard truth is that they are intentionally killed to maximize
> profits, so to claim they are killed for any other reason
> is false.

Your justification is valid *only* if you buy produce which is grown and 
harvested in a more humane manner. Such methods DO exist, whether you 
grow your own or have someone else grow it for you. Your failure to 
support smaller-scale agriculture, or to grow your own, does not excuse 
you since you search for the lowest price rather than the most humanely 
grown produce. That is the choice you have made, so the blood is on your 
own hands.

> The truth is that no animals die to feed me, as you
> claim. They die to increase the farmer's profits.

No, they die because you're (a) too lazy to grow your own food, and/or 
(b) too cheap to pay the full price of what humanely-grown food costs to 
produce.

> > Anyone who eats food that is grown
> > using mechanical plows and harvesting machines must
> > accept partial responsibility for the large numbers (no
> > hard figures are available) of animals who die beneath or
> > within these machines, or who die from pesticide and
> > chemical fertilizer poisoning.
>
> While accepting responsibility for the deaths of these
> animals caused by farmers, would you also accept
> responsibility in the same casual manner and continue
> to buy from producers if it were other rights bearers,
> namely children, being killed to produce your food, or
> would your indignation at such mass rights violations
> morally compel you to find other another source for
> your food?

It hasn't stopped you, killer.