The Real Swine...

>>And yet people in charge take no notice, I wonder why? Could it be, because of money?<<

That's usually a key reason. However, power is also a factor; right now, for instance, the agrofactory industry is powerful enough to be of use to politicians. But if their constituents start screaming about it, the politicians will eventually conclude that agrofactories are more pain than gain, and quit supporting them.

>> Husband says it's coming to a point where people are going to have to grow all their own food, just to be sure that it's safe. <<

Sadly we're not at a point where that's possible. With the vast majority of our population crammed into urban areas, many people don't have access to anywhere they could grow food; and we've been losing survival skills, so fewer people even know how. These are things we could fix, but not instantly. I am encouraged by the revival of gardening in areas where people do have room for it, though.

I have lost much faith in food safety of commercial products. Until the last few years, I figured that commercial food wasn't really good for you, but probably would not make you sick quickly. After the last handful of widely assorted recalls, poisonings, and contaminations I'm beginning to see it as Russian roulette with a very large barrel.

>>I have no problem with that, and I have no problem buying local meat as well, but you can be sure the big meat industry will never relinquish their hold on the market.<<

Not willingly, anyway. There are scenarios that could destroy their market, or allow other options to outcompete them. I like to move in those directions when opportunity permits. And the swine flu is unpleasant, but it's a great opportunity to educate people about the real risks of factory farming at a time when they're impressionable.