Forum Archive Index - January 2004

[Capitalist <capitalist@paradise.net.nz>]

Yes, net-copping puts people off posting. As do "I'm SO offended cry-babies" which Woody and Duncan are not. Here's something about Mad Cow:

The media  are attempting to stir up hysteria about Mad Cow. Today they breathlessly report that a third herd had been quarantined. Oh my god- end of the world. Beef is not safe! Bush sided with agribusiness. Profit over food safety! WE ARE ALL GONNA DIE!!

Just to keep this in perspective, let's review some facts:

1.) One or two cows have  been discovered to have been infected. Compare that to the 183,000 cases  in the United Kingdom.

2.) The cow(s)  were slaughtered in a manner in which the dangerous portions of the animal (the spinal tissue, brain matter, etc.) were separated from the edible portion of the beef. No one is claiming otherwise.

3.) A 'quarantined' herd does not mean it is infected- the herds are only being quarantined because they had some animals that were shipped from Canada with the infected animal.

There is simply no need for hysteria, and pretending that the government, the beef industry, the Bush administration, or whoever the scapegoat du jour is somehow failed  is absurd.

Personally, I would have eaten beef tonight if I had not cooked so much damn ham over New Years.