Michigan Supports Meatout, Then Takes It Back

Michigan's Governor Granholm proclaimed March 20, 2010 "Michigan Meatout Day," to "encourage the residents of this state to choose not to eat meat." Granholm is not a vegetarian, but she appreciates the health benefits a diet based on vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. It was a bold statement for a Midwest governor. Unfortunately, it didn't last long.

The $750 million livestock industry in her state wasn't quite as appreciative of the gesture. The Republican-led (and, apparently, meat-loving) Senate passed a resolution urging Granholm to undo Meatout Day. The Michigan United Conservation Clubs, which represents hunters and fishermen, decided to declare Saturday — and every day — "Michigan Meat Eaters Day." It wasn't long until Granholm buckled under the pressure and decided, with an additional proclamation, that Saturday should be "Agriculture Day." Her spokeswoman assured everyone that no matter what the day was called, Michiganders were sure to be participating in carnivorous March Madness gatherings with "a lot of chicken wings and burgers."

What is so threatening about a single day promoting vegetarianism?

It makes sense that livestock farmers would worry about Meatout Day because people might notice how easy it is to reduce meat consumption and, even worse as far as they're concerned, some might decide they like a meat-free diet. Less demand means that their cruelty-over-quality way of raising animals in factory farms won't pay off anymore. The agriculture lobby is strong, so when Big Ag isn't happy, legislators worry about their bottom line (a.k.a. campaign support). I can only imagine that conservation clubs see a single day of vegetarianism as one small step for improved health, and one giant step for animal activists who want to take away their right to hunt.

The Farm Bureau further whined about Granholm's unbelievable nerve to discourage meat on National Agriculture Day. Sorry, Farm Bureau, but it's not all about you. Saturday also happens to be the Great American Meatout, and Michigan is not the first state to issue a proclamation in support of it. Over the years, more than 30 states and dozens of major U.S. cities have officially supported Meatout Day.

I live in Michigan, so I understand that under the current economy any threat to state industry is going to ruffle feathers. But haven't we learned from the auto industry that doing things the way they've been done isn't necessarily the way of the future? The old, destructive — not to mention inhumane — practices aren't sustainable for animal agriculture either.

The Michigan Farm Bureau called the Meatout proclamation "unconscionable and an insensitive slap in the face" to Michigan's livestock and dairy farmers, as well as an affront to the state's meat-eaters. With this level of protest, you wouldn't know that the Farm Bureau also represents the Michigan farmers who grow apples, potatoes, cherries, blueberries, tomatoes, corn, wheat, and other vegetarian fare. As Democratic Senator Liz Brater said, "Are not fruit, grains and vegetables a very important part of agriculture?"

Photo credit: law_keven