Confusion

I live in such a confused world. I undoubtedly reap the rewards of a capitalist, consumer society and yet when I turn my awareness to it, I do not like it. I guess that's called self loathing.

I don't like consuming the results of profit-inflating, environmentally unsustainable practices that food producers feel it necessary to use. I prefer to eat a balanced diet (that I eat too much of it is another issue entirely). I buy organic whenever such options present themselves, and I seek out those options. I eat meat in moderation, choose soy and whole grains, and prepare meals from scratch more frequently than not. Sounds good, doesn't it? But what difference does it make? I've done the above things for a long time but lately my actions have become more fashionable. As new "healthy" alternative products arrive at the store I buy them, as do others who are more gullible and less long-term minded. Buy. Through my dollars I encourage the proliferation of organic products (If you can't beat em, join em). Organic produce, dairy products, cereal, broth. Recently I purchased Prego brand's organic pasta sauce. I bought in to corporate America's takeover of organic. Argh! What's worse, that pasta sauce tasted so good, like the old days. I am happy that Prego made an organic sauce, but sad that its sweet smoothness allows people to feel they are eating more healthfully while consuming the same old junk food. Organic does not in itself make the food healthy for your body (though for the planet, more so, yes).

But does organic mean the same thing to corporate America as to a longstanding organic dairy coop? I highly doubt it. Should I care? Should you? Moral questions, I know. Anyway, check out some of the discussion on the questions of what is organic, who ought to decide, and what products can rightfully be labeled organic? If you are in any way interested in organic, you owe it to yourself to know what's going on.

The USDA definition as I recall had a struggle to begin with and has continued to be under threat of dilution. The Consumers Union wrote a piece on the organic labeling debate, including recent changes that allow shampoos and cosmetics to be "organic", undoubtedly for increased profit. Or here's a lighter news story version of the debate.

Profit. That's the word that gets me. There is no shame in wealth (repeat ten times). However, I think there is shame in ostentation, profit-minded manipulation, willful ignorance, and wanton disregard for workers and society. Of course, all of this is from my perspective. I imagine highly paid corporate CEOs and boards believe they are doing nothing wrong, therefore they feel no shame. They probably don't even think they are in any way overpaid. They work vey very hard to earn that money.

I'm losing logic now, head pounding, eyes blurred. The Corporation dvd has been on our shelf, waiting to be viewed, for weeks. (See the IMDB description/info.) We watched it this weekend, and now I know why I've been putting it off. It makes me angry. The "it": for-profit corporations have become first class citizens, de facto and officially, without expectations of practicing good citizenship. Hmm, that's not so different from the general population, now that I think about it. Argh. I'm understanding the allure of junk food and cheesy television right about now. Must be strong.... Apart from self righteousness, what does holding out do for me? Why is it about me at all? Argh! I live a confused life. Personal problem, I know.