I agree with almost everything you've said -- I'm concerned about the suffering caused to the animals in life above everything else as well -- but I have to point out that it's not safe to assume most livestock are killed in efficient and painless ways. Chickens as an entire group, for example, are not stunned for slaughter like other food animals are. But even for those that are supposed to be stunned, the procedure doesn't always go right, or it can be debatable how effective such procedures are in giving them the intended comfort. I've read terrible things that I will never forget.Menegrothx wrote:Most farm animals are killed in an efficient and painless way anyways. It's not the killing method that matters since the whole killing process only accounts for like 0.01% of their lifespans, it's that 99.99% spent in abysmal conditions one should care about. When you go out hunting you're killing animals that have lived free, natural lives. Naturally every one isn't able to do that, so untill synthetic meat becomes a reality, we're stuck with factory farming (I doubt that most humans have the will power to become vegetarians).
The factory farming industry by nature will be driven by frugality first, not compassion. It's a business. If they can find ways around costly ethical requirements -- loopholes which will also most likely promote a higher product supply to meet demand -- they will. So they don't get any of my money, and I simultaneously lessen the demand for their product by refusing to consume it. I need to do this to be at peace with my conscience.
Edit: Great post, cookie monster.
