Mad Cow USA - Could the Nightmare Happen Here? (online book)

[GURUving]

This book was published in 1997. Authors: Sheldon Rampton and John Stauber.

The book may be downloaded:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start=4&q=http://www.prwatch.org/books/mcusa.pdf&e=747

You will need adobe acrobat reader. It will take a few minutes to load on dial up. A worthy read. It may also be purchased at Amazon and other booksellers.

edit note: I put this in GD because I felt it relates to the possible current coverup by the USDA.

[Looiewu]

1. Don't get sucked in!

This whole thing is another example of hysteria being generated by the Media!! Newspapers, television, radio, and internet media are ALL conspiring to blow this completely out of proportion!

Bottom line: There is NO "Nightmare" of "Mad Cow Disease" here in the United States! So far, there has been ONE cow with a preliminary diagnosis. Testing is continuing.

If anything, this isolated incident proves that our system of inspections (although FAR from perfect) worked well!

Don't be a sheeple!

[GURUving]

2. I'm not overreacting

I am simply posting a link for information regarding this disease.

I ate a hamburger for lunch.

[Rainbowreflect]

3. They caught this one, does that mean that there are none

that got missed? I'm not hysterical, but I am concerned.

[are_we_united_yet]

8. I don't buy it!

I'm not overreacting either. Something will eventually kill me. But your premise supports the position of the Admin who are telling me Mad Cow only affects people if it is imported from other Countries (say Britain).

[Selwynn]

4. The "Nightmare" is a 140 deaths

I am very sorry for those deaths of course. I don't mean to make light of them, but the entire toll of mad cow disease across the world is 140 people. It's not exactly a "nightmare" end of the world scenario, its just another thing for American's to be pertetually afraid of.

[GURUving]

5. Apparently other countries are concerned also

As of now, Russia, Australia, Mexico, South Africa, Chile, and others have ceased imports.

[mahina]

6. the good news is

we have to change the way beef is produced and slaughtered. It's unsafe and inhumane as it is...read 'fast food nation' and you'll never eat another hamburger you don't chop yourself.
Labor practices are horrendous, the lines move too quickly for anything close to safety. The industry relies on cheap illegal Mexican labor so they don't have to pay attention to OSHA etc, just fire the injured person and threaten to report them to imigration. Whole illegal communities sprung up in rural midwest to work for these guys.
I had spagetti with meatballs for dinner...not gloating but my beef comes from a local farm, grass fed, not factory farmed. The producers come to the local farmers market with orders ahead for weeks.
We can turn this into a positive.

[Rainbowreflect]

9. We might not know for years.

It can take decades for symptoms to show up. There could be tens, hundreds, thousands or more people in the world that have this disease but do not know it. Or there could be none. This is just one of many reasons I will not eat any red meat again, ever.

[GURUving]

10. Probably veggie burgers for me

It's a difficult thing to give up red meat. It seems to be readily available everywhere, and relatively cheap. This gives added impetus to making the changes necessary to lower cholesterol.

[govegan]

7. Don't worry....it is all an illusion.....this can not happen here....

repeat after me.....

welfare ranching is good for all!!!!!

madcow cannot happen here.

degenerative disease is a genetic deformity.

we need disease to eliminate the weaklings.

madcow cannot happen here.

i trust the welfare ranchers to manage our lands.

i trust whatever testing they say is adequate.

madcow cannot happen here.

madcow in america is an illusion.

it cannot happen here.

where is my happy meal?