"Thanks to farm subsidies, the fine collaboration between agribusiness and Congress, soy, corn and cattle became king. And chicken soon joined them on the throne. It was during this period that the cycle of dietary and planetary destruction began, the thing we're only realizing just now"
- Mark Bittman
About this Quote
This quote by Mark Bittman is describing the time period when farm aids were presented, enabling agribusiness to team up with Congress and produce a system of commercial farming. This system enabled soy, corn, and livestock to become the dominant crops and animals, with chicken soon joining them. This time period is now seen as the start of a cycle of dietary and planetary destruction, as the impacts of industrial farming are just now being realized. The commercial agriculture system has triggered a variety of ecological problems, such as soil erosion, water contamination, and the overuse of pesticides and fertilizers. It has actually also led to a decline in biodiversity, as well as a decrease in the nutritional value of food. The quote is a suggestion of the value of comprehending the effects of our actions and the need to make changes to protect our world.
"If the present Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which the people send one hundred and fifty lawyers, whose trade it is to question everything, yield nothing, and talk by the hour?"
"We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution"
"I am not liked as a President by the politicians in office, in the press, or in Congress. But I am content to abide the judgment the sober second thought of the people"
"Unauthorized access to computer systems is already a serious crime in a few states and is currently being addressed in many more state legislatures as well as Congress"
"The new Congress needs to move quickly to strengthen the Army and Marines - not to send more troops to Iraq - but to rebuild our capacity to meet national security threats globally"
