Comments on: Locally Produced Food Doesn’t Make Problems Go Away

By: Slamfu

Slamfu — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:26:17 +0000

Local grown and organic is just another marketing gimmick. There may be some limited benifit for now, but eventually even that will go away as the gimmick grows to the level of current corporate farming techniques. Regulation is necessary to keep the businesses from cutting corners to make more money at the expense of public safety. Which big businesses have shown time and time again, without fail, they will do.

I'm a big fan of capitalism and the incredible amount of output it brings to the table, but I am also not naive about human nature and the drive to make the easy money. Good point btw about how deregulation can create capitalistic catastophes as well.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:10:40 +0000

You make a very good point that locally grown foods are not necessarily any safer. If all you're using as criteria is how many miles away the farm is, well, all you'll save is a bit of gas for the delivery truck. On the other hand, if you live in an area that has some small local farm stores or seasonal farmers' markets, then there's a good chance that the food you buy from them is better for you than the packaged junk in your local grocery store.

By: StockBoySF

StockBoySF — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 06:08:37 +0000

Bridget, I agree with you, some regulation is good.

But not only does regulation protect us from the excesses of unbridled corporatism (as you say), regulation gives us safe(r) food, cars, environmental protections (we've all seen how the automakers in Detroit are beating down the door to devise and implement new methods of protecting the environment on their own), etc.

Regulation has it's purpose and I agree with you, some regulation does go overboard.