Cows again

since we don't have cows here (although before a typhoon wrecked the chicken houses, we did have a small broiler chicken business), I can't discuss the pros and cons.

But Freakonomics has a nice discussion here.

mp3

long and worth a read considering all the 'AIN'T IT AWFUL' propaganda out there they try to clarify the issue from all sides.

they also discuss veggie burgers. Since they use GMO heme, the radical greens don't like that either.

they also discuss big food investing in lab grown meat.

it comes down to two ways to see the problem:

The two poles are represented by what Mann calls, in his latest book, The Wizard and the Prophet. The prophet sees environmental destruction as a problem best addressed by restoring nature to its natural state. The wizard, meanwhile, believes that technology can address environmental dangers.

of course, being the prophet lets you feel self righteous and better than the scum of the earth who like hamburgers, and being a wizard means hard work, but never mind.