There is something timeless about a steak dinner. A certain feeling of home in a bacon and egg breakfast or memories of a night out with a cheeseburger. An overwhelming amount of American pride lies in our affinity for food. The food business markets itself. Advertising, though abundant, holds nothing to the value of tradition. Through waves of fad diets and radical activism the steak dinner lives on. We must ask ourselves: do we truly appreciate where are food comes from? The factory farm is the unsung hero of our foodie culture, being an unstoppable influence on the economy and the politics of our nation.  Understanding the power of this market and how it fuels our economy is essential to keeping this tradition alive.

The meat and bones of factory farming is in the simple statistics. Factory farms and slaughterhouses have carefully taken into consideration the needs and well-being of their consumers. America in 2010 alone was able to slaughter 34.2 million cattle for beef production (“Cows” par.11). This ensures the average American is able to enjoy the great privilege of daily meat consumption.Through systems of controlled breeding and innovative antibiotics and hormones, cows now grow to unnaturally large sizes, allowing the farming business to maximize the economic benefit, and taste, of cattle (“What is” par. 5-7). Even those who opt out of eating meat help support the work of these farms through the consumption of dairy products. In 2008, 2.5 million of the 9.3 million cows expended for dairy were also utilized for beef production (“Cows” par. 1). The intertwined nature of these industries allow for the most possible profit and use from the animals. There is also much to be said about the 9 billion chickens utilized for meat production every year, which surely benefits the economy and the consumers (“Chickens” par. 9). The chickens, cows, and pigs slaughtered for their meat not only keep our citizens alive, but lets them enjoy the luxuries and decadence of fast food eateries. This industry’s understanding  that these animals are a tool for profit, and ultimately economic success, has allowed them to flourish. The consumers support is essential to keeping these farms alive so that we may all benefit from their success.

It is arguable that the generous work of these farms is creating an irreversible environmental impact. Yet, the damage done has only raised the awareness for environmental protection in our government, ultimately encouraging the involvement of the people and the need for change. Air pollution from factory farms can be traced back to the open-air systems of storing waste and methane gasses from the animals (“Factory Farming” par. 3-5). These farming practices, by contributing to the declining state of Earth’s climate, have been a direct contributor to our drive for innovation and need for environmentally friendly technologies. Animal agriculture has also pushed us to cultivate more of Earth’s land. The need for food to support livestock has allowed us to utilize “70 percent of land formerly supporting Amazon rainforests” (“Factory Farming” par. 7). Those who protest this so-called deforestation and environmental damage also advocate for factory farming culture through their support as consumers. Those enthusiastic to protest these problems owe the reason to fight to the factory farms, who have allowed the people to understand our impact as an inherently destructive race. Indulging in these products (meat, eggs, milk, fish, and a myriad of other delicious foods) allows us to continue in this cycle. By engaging with the potentially harmful effects of factory farming we can benefit from this surely unchangeable aspect of American culture.

Eventually, we must face the economic benefits of the health risks involved in the consumption of animal products. Animal products, especially those distributed by fast food industries, have been found to have a negative affects on our health. However, after years of consumption, individuals paying to receive medical treatment will ultimately assist the healthcare system. Studies conducted in England and Germany found that “vegetarians were about 40 percent less likely to develop cancer compared to meat eaters” (“Meat Consumption” par. 1). This implies that meat-eaters, the majority of the American culture, are 60% more likely to get cancer than their vegetarian counterparts, and 60% more likely to support the doctors and nurses of our country. Through the lengthy process and high cost of cancer treatment, the healthcare system will find themselves greatly in debt to the overall affect of factory farming on the health of American citizens.  It has also been observed by the Harvard School of Public Health that there is an “association with red meat consumption and increased risk of a shortened lifespan” (Melone par. 3). Those who consume more animal products will find themselves engaging with the healthcare system sooner than anyone else, and in this they contribute to the economic system that fuels our country. Many people will make their contribution to this economic success in the buying and consumption of these products. Their support to the industry allows factory farms, the health system, and the American economy to thrive.

America is a country apt to indulgence. Sometimes we must look at the intricacies of our actions, and in being so inclined to indulge we have learned to revel in the consequences. Animal agriculture is a powerhouse of money, for which we support wholeheartedly as a nation of proud consumers. The steak dinner is the American martyr of power. The rule is in the forks and knives and mouths of the paying customer. It is our job to defend the economic tradition of factory farming and help further the progress of a business we trust to keep ourselves and our families fed. The most significant political stance we have is to simply keep eating.


Works Cited
"Cows." Farm Sanctuary. Farm Sanctuary Inc, 2014. Web. 08 Feb. 2015.

"Chickens." Farm Sanctuary. Farm Sanctuary Inc, 2014. Web. 08 Feb. 2015.

“Factory Farming and the Environment." Farm Sanctuary. Farm Sanctuary Inc, 2014. Web. 08 Feb. 2015.

"Meat Consumption and Cancer Risk." Physician's Committee For Responsible Medicine. The Physician's Committee, n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2015.

Melone, Linda. "10 Reasons To Stop Eating Red Meat." Prevention. Rodale Inc, n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2015.

"What Is a Factory Farm?" ASPCA. ASPCA, 2015. Web. 07 Feb. 2015.