One of the more frustrating topics we cover here is the National Rifle Association’s remarkable ability to convince Republican lawmakers to routinely vote against the will of their own supporters. Most recently, the NRA has financially coerced Republicans to vote against expanded background checks in spite of supermajority support by Republican voters and, believe it or not, actual NRA members. On top of that, the NRA has convinced the congressional Republicans to sponsor legislation that would block President Obama’s efforts to ban the sale and distribution of ivory inside the United States, thus protecting African elephant populations.
But it looks like Iowa-based corporate pig farmers and the Iowa Pork Producers Association have gathered the strength to wield similar power. Make up your own jokes as we segue from pork products to Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ). This is one of those stories where a fat joke might be deserved given how wimpy, tone-deaf and, ultimately, cruel Christie’s latest veto threat truly is.
Before we continue, I should also preface that, yes, I’m going to be a Debbie Downer for all of you liberals who festoon your Twitter and Facebook feeds with posts exulting in the glory of all things bacon in spite of the meat industry’s grotesque abuses of undocumented workers and, worse, its super-colossal greenhouse gas production, outpacing both transportation and industrial emissions. Sorry, but unless you’re buying carbon offsets, your gratuitous worship of bacon and other factory meats is part of the problem.
Those of you who are still reading at this point may or may not be aware of the fact that nearly all factory pig farms use a contraption called a “gestation crate” or “sow stall.” It’s a narrow, medieval enclosure where sows are kept almost immobile, literally unable to turn around, lay down or generally move. Consequently, sows are perpetually terrified, exhibiting repetitive behavior such as gnawing on the metal crate bars while obviously suffering from elevated stress hormones. Corporate pig growers insist this is the best way to guarantee fertilization and successful pregnancies, but experts and many food service companies have refuted such claims and categorically denounced the practice for what it is: cruel and unusual. But Americans need their bacon, so whatever.
Enter Chris Christie… CONTINUE READING