The Rhetoric of it All
“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, the great…has spoken.”
-The Wizard of Oz, 1939
It is understandably difficult to tackle why the majority of society does not question the authority in all its manifested forms. Social, political, capitalist, scientific, all areas which should always be investigated and questioned as science is not always absolute.
Therefore, we must always question the authority of those who we consider “authorities,” and most importantly look at their Intentions.
Ethics, Money and Control
Raised by the Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, is there a suggestion of financial influence by “agribusiness corporations that place profits ahead of the welfare of animals,” effectively reducing the power of the FDA or influencing it" (Washington Times)?
In 2010, it was discovered that farmers in the United Kingdom accidentally allowed cloned meat and milk from the offspring of cloned cows to reach United Kingdom markets (Malone). Thus arising in a new controversy over the technology since science and the government has indicated the science is safe and citizens are reacting out of ignorance. Did the government allow the release, or did the farmers purposely allow the products to reach markets?
The United States government via the FDA, seems to hold on to the values that government though science is entitled to make the best decisions for their populace. They hold, that the public’s response in refusing to purchase cloned food is "uninformed and emotional" (Shantin). This regardless of science producing a definitive, absolute guarantee that the foods are safe, rather opting for verbiage such as "virtually identical to products from conventional animals" (Shantin). As Shantin points out, “we may (or may not) be ‘uninformed and emotional,’ but we retain the right to make food choices. We do not live under a dictatorship, the FDA notwithstanding” (Shantin).
Meanwhile, in London, 2011, European Union talks and lawmakers failed to reach agreements on the labeling of cloned food. Why? Parliamentary representatives indicated “they were prepared to drop demands for a ban on food from descendants of cloned animals bred by conventional methods, as long as any such products were clearly labeled” (WSJ). The Council and the European Commission did not agree, citing the proposal by parliament would “be too costly and could create friction with trading partners like the U.S., which allow such foods” (WSJ). While the United Kingdom has changed its ethical position in favor of their citizens, the market refuses to comply with the labeling of cloned meat. Why is the United States, FDA refusing to follow in the footsteps of the United Kingdom? Is it financially based? According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “The Food Industry wields major influence in Washington and needs to be watched closely” (PI).
“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, the great…has spoken.”
-The Wizard of Oz, 1939
It is understandably difficult to tackle why the majority of society does not question the authority in all its manifested forms. Social, political, capitalist, scientific, all areas which should always be investigated and questioned as science is not always absolute.
Therefore, we must always question the authority of those who we consider “authorities,” and most importantly look at their Intentions.
Ethics, Money and Control
Raised by the Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, is there a suggestion of financial influence by “agribusiness corporations that place profits ahead of the welfare of animals,” effectively reducing the power of the FDA or influencing it" (Washington Times)?
In 2010, it was discovered that farmers in the United Kingdom accidentally allowed cloned meat and milk from the offspring of cloned cows to reach United Kingdom markets (Malone). Thus arising in a new controversy over the technology since science and the government has indicated the science is safe and citizens are reacting out of ignorance. Did the government allow the release, or did the farmers purposely allow the products to reach markets?
The United States government via the FDA, seems to hold on to the values that government though science is entitled to make the best decisions for their populace. They hold, that the public’s response in refusing to purchase cloned food is "uninformed and emotional" (Shantin). This regardless of science producing a definitive, absolute guarantee that the foods are safe, rather opting for verbiage such as "virtually identical to products from conventional animals" (Shantin). As Shantin points out, “we may (or may not) be ‘uninformed and emotional,’ but we retain the right to make food choices. We do not live under a dictatorship, the FDA notwithstanding” (Shantin).
Meanwhile, in London, 2011, European Union talks and lawmakers failed to reach agreements on the labeling of cloned food. Why? Parliamentary representatives indicated “they were prepared to drop demands for a ban on food from descendants of cloned animals bred by conventional methods, as long as any such products were clearly labeled” (WSJ). The Council and the European Commission did not agree, citing the proposal by parliament would “be too costly and could create friction with trading partners like the U.S., which allow such foods” (WSJ). While the United Kingdom has changed its ethical position in favor of their citizens, the market refuses to comply with the labeling of cloned meat. Why is the United States, FDA refusing to follow in the footsteps of the United Kingdom? Is it financially based? According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “The Food Industry wields major influence in Washington and needs to be watched closely” (PI).