It's a dog's life.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

Poll question: It's a dog's life.

Disclaimer: I own three semi-huge dogs, all healthy, all in great shape, of various ages and breeds. They are dear to me.

Now, a couple of disconnected, seemingly unrelated points:

50,000 rapes and as many deaths have occured in Darfur.
over 100,000 vets are homeless, jobless in the US.
A Kansas factory manufactures dog and cat food using imported wheat products.
China, with its billions of people, exports wheat products to America.
Many thousands of cats and dogs have been injured, even killed by tainted food.
America spends more on feeding its pets than on feeding the homeless, the unemployed and the underemployed.
The FDA knew of the tainted food, but held off on news releases or recalls to protect industry.
Walk into specialty pet food stores, and you see literally dozens of competing foods, only to find out that most are manufactured by only three companies, and there is little difference between most of them.


If you think about these things for a bit, a couple of points begin to become clear.
First, our priorities need some re-evaluation. billions on pet food, zip for homeless vets - that is inhuman.
Second, this global economy, as designed by Team Bush, is killing our economy, destroying our pets, and supporting foreign industries in which we should be doing far better.
Third, Bush appointees will do everything to protect corporate interests and global trade healthy, even if it harms the US, our people, even our pets.

There is no major point I am making, but I am pissed off and had to vent. Please excuse the venting. A lot of tough issues, but a lot of tough emotional points, too. Here is the question:
Which issue is more important to you personally?

[existentialist]

1. Actually,

I do find all of your points to be related, and a very symptomatic group of points too.

Your rant is a good indicator of the sorts of related problems that this world faces.

You me be preaching to the choir here on DU, but at least you have a sympathetic choir.

[melody]

2. You assume a lot

I take care of my pets AND donate to the homeless (vets or not). The average American can do squat
to influence decisions in his/her own country -- what chance does he/she have in helping with Darfur?
Beyond which fact, one can have compassion for one's pets (for all animals) AND have compassion for
all other creatures as well. The whole assertion in your thesis overcooks the data.

[rosesaylavee]

3. I agree it is all very frustrating but are we

comparing apples to oranges? We of course can do better at taking care of our vets and sending relief to Darfur. I remember when we had a govt that would spend our taxes doing such things rather the heavier expectation be on individual Americans to carry the load. But do we have to choose between keeping pets and helping others? I don't think it has to be a one over the other.

I have a pet and very grateful I can afford to keep her fed well and healthy overall. Keeping a pet is a luxury. I don't keep track of what I give away to other causes to accurately compare that with her food/vet costs - but I would guess they are close to equal.

This administration has failed miserably at so many things, I find it sometimes hard to determine what is pissing me off more at any given point in the day. Good rant - hope it helped you get it out of your system!

[TahitiNut]

4. One of the more remarkable facts associated with this story ...

... is that China is a nation which suffered widespread famine and hardship periodically up until 60 years ago when the feudal system was usurped by Communism. Historically, for centuries, China could not feed itself! Now they're not only able to EXPORT food (for pets!!) to the U.S. but also to North Korea and other nations. Now, I'd be the first to point out that Chinese Communism is now looking a lot more like state corporatism than Marxism/Maoism, but the fact remains that a more socialist form of governance has done remarkably well in China.

[piedmont]

5. Although they do export corn, fish, and processed foodstuffs...

they import more food than they export. Check out the USDA's info page on China's ag import/export. http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/China/trade.htm

[TahitiNut]

7. Even there, the USDA notes that China is a net exporter to the tune of $10 billion/year,

China's trade pattern in agricultural commodities follows its comparative advantage: it tends to import land-intensive commodities (grains, soybeans, cotton) and export labor-intensive commodities (fish, fruits, vegetables, poultry, and processed agricultural goods). China is also a major exporter of corn. In 2004, China's agricultural exports totaled an estimated US$26 billion and its agricultural imports totaled US$16 billion. Most of its exports go to neighboring countries in Asia.

US$26 billion (exports) - US$16 billion (imports) = US$10 billion (net)

Q.E.D.

[piedmont]

8. I saw that, but monetary value of net food exports doesn't equal amount of food

As it says, China imports bulk grains, soybeans, and soybean oil, and exports labor-intensive, value-added food products. I would bet that, calorically, they are still a net importer of food.

[AndyTiedye]

6. During the Dark Ages, the Church Delcared It Sinful to Have Cats

Cats were considered a sign of witchcraft. Millions of cats were killed.
Then came the rats and the Bubonic Plague.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

9. now they claim it is sinful to have safe, protected sex,

and guess what will happen.

[uppityperson]

10. Sometimes it takes what may seem minor to bring about change.

People die and suffer due to the direct actions of the administration and others just shrug. Pets die and it affects them more directly and they make the leap to seeing that OUR food may not be safe and WTF IS going on. Sometimes it takes something minor, something that affects someone's daily routine to get them more involved. Sometimes the BIG issues are too big to deal with so they shut down and focus on what they (think) they have control over only to find out they are screwed there also.

I know what you mean and it is frustrating.