When we hear the plight against welfare in America, it is often the conservative right (mostly Republicans) complaining about giving hand outs to poor and needy people. In their minds, it is keeping poor people down, giving them no incentive to struggle out of their dilemma. Some liberally minded people in the Democratic Party agree. It was, afterall, President Clinton who signed into law the Welfare Reform act during the 1990's, something no Republican President could have done, though try as they did many times.
My pet peeve is not with this kind of welfare, but with the much larger abuse of taxpayer money, the welfare that never gets mentioned by the Government Media Complex, be they Democrat or Republican. I'm talking about (shhh!) Corporate Welfare.
Corporate Welfare is a disgrace. We give our tax money to companies to promote their products abroad. That is hardly a proper capitalistic practice. It shreks of socialism. And yet no one wants to talk about it. It is our little dirty secret. The largest lobby group in Washington is not the N.R.A., big as they are, but it is in fact the Meat and Dairy Board. They spend millions, if not billions, to pay off politicians to sell their product. The food pyramid is not derived from science, it is the result of political maneuvering.
Government subsidies are given to the meat industry, while the producers of vegetables are given none. Ever wonder why a hamburger only cost a dollar these days? Or even 50 cents at some places?? Without government subsidies, a pound of steak would cost over $90. No one would be able to afford that. And a hundred years ago, that was the case. Before the 20th century, no one but the rich could afford to eat meat, and so they lived on vegetables and grain with meat included only on special occasions. Heart disease (the number one killer today) was virtually unheard of. Cancer was very rare.
Last night I saw the documentary "Eating". It is available at beacondv.org. It covered this and other food practices in great depth. It said we already have the cure for cancer, and that it is called the immune system. When you eat meat and animal byproducts, you are weakening the immune system. When you eat a 100% plant based diet, you are strengthening the immune system.
It makes a lot of sense. See the video if you can.
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"There is no creator" - the Dalai Lama. These are words of common sense, and it tells me that "spirituality" has nothing in particular to do with a belief in the supernatural. But then, those of us who grew up in the seventies watching "Kung Fu" already knew that being a vegan, atheist who follows the path of the buddha can reach enlightenment.
All kidding aside, what does a vegetarian atheist have to say? Stick around and you'll find out! Politically I'm rather liberal, but I do like to listen to staunch conservative talk show host Michael (the 'Whiner') Savage so I'll probably be mentioning him from time to time in my weblogs. So for now, how about some talk of broccoli, carrots and peas? Recipe's anyone??
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"As mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government. I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberality."
- George Washington
"Maybe happiness is a fragment of existence, but with better packaging."
