Food Inc. is such a compelling movie. I have watched it a couple times before and each time I walk away disgusted. It isn't simply the treatment of the animals but the treatment of the people. America -- in the international community -- presents itself as this country where those that want to can make something of themselves. Think of the American dream; someone who starts out with nothing, works hard and pulls themselves up by their boot-straps. Does that really happen anymore? Can the American dream be achieved with employment opportunities presented in Food Inc? Wikipedia says, "The average chicken farmer employed by multinational corporation such as Tyson makes about $18,000 a year. However in order to make company standards they have on average invested $300,000 per chicken house with continuing mandatory upgrades." If one of those chicken house were closed, a company could pay 7.5 employees $40,000 a year. Not to say that $40,000 is a truly livable wage but it would be an upgrade. In the Human Services program we talk about shopping your morals. In our culture money drives much of what we do, so where we shop truly can effect change. I personally refuse to shop at Walmart because of the way they choose to treat their employees. There are days were I know it would be easier go pick up some really cheap items there but I am willing to pay a little more to shop at a company that treats their employees properly. We've discussed before the idea of having connection to our food; this for me is another point where I can connect. I would much rather purchase something knowing that those people who have made it possible for me to buy are being compensated properly.
United States. Rule and Regulations and Statements of Procedure. Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2002. Print.
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It is noble for those who have the ability to choose better options when it comes to purchasing food from abusive companies to do so, however, those who earn less often to not have the ability to. Because of this, personal choices can only go so far. While the people who do make a conscious choice to try and rectify the system through their wallets, the fact remains that we as a people also have to act for those who have no other alternatives, or else the abusive system will perpetually continue.
ReplyDeleteIt's true, the way the employees are treated is often rather horrible, not unlike how some of the animals are treated. And it would be great if everyone could make that change, to buy products that refuse to play by the same rules as the food industry, but it is true that not everyone can pay for it. So I hope those who can will continue to do so, and maybe that will change things for the long run. I guess we will just have to see and have those who can to play their parts. Let's hope for the best.
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