Thursday, February 12, 2009

It's time to boycott Georgia

Here's CNN, on the congressional investigation into a Georgia peanut plant accused of knowingly covering up a salmonella outbreak:

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The president of a peanut company and a plant manager accused of knowingly distributing contaminated food refused to answer questions posed by members of Congress on Wednesday, citing their Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination.

The testimony of Stewart Parnell, president of the Peanut Corp. of America, and Sammy Lightsey, manager of the company's Blakely, Georgia, plant, before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee lasted less than 10 minutes.


Remember the good old days before trucking was de-regulated in the 1980's? It used to be more difficult and expensive to ship products across state lines into Texas. Back then, we didn't have to worry as much about contaminated peanut butter being shipped in from Georgia.

This salmonella outbreak is the legacy of "Free Trade". A loss of lives, a loss of jobs, and a loss of income for Texans. Do you think we'd have this problem with peanut butter if it had to be produced in Texas, with Texas inspectors reviewing the peanuts through every step of the peanut butter process? Wouldn't you be willing to pay more, just to know that your peanut butter was from Texas peanuts, grown by Texans, buttered by Texans, and inspected by our own Texas bureaucrats?

Because of Georgia's obvious Quality Control problems, don't you think it's time to boycott all Georgia products?

No?

Well think about that next time you read something like this.

6 comments:

TarrantLibertyGuy said...

Well, first, Peanut Corp of America has a Plainview, TX plant that it just pre-emptively shuttered until the TX peanut inspection agency and FDA inspect it. I'm sure it's perfect-o since if from Texas.

Anonymous said...

Hi there,
You know the saying-man does not live by bread alone, every once in awhile he must have a little peanut butter.

I agree any-one who manufactures food products and so irresponsible they cause sickness and death ought to be held accountable.

Your wonderful article you wrote yesterday was re-printed on my octogenariansblog.com to-day.
Titled, "you can!t get any better than this from another blogger"

Thanks
Anne Cleveland

Anonymous said...

As long as the boycott ends before college football begins. Can't make any promises after that. (Go Dawgs!)

The Whited Sepulchre said...

Anne,
I had several regulars call or email me about what you wrote back.

I wish you lived closer to Texas; you would be a great speaker at one of our Libertarian meetups.

Stephen,
A perverse GPS system took me through Athens Georgia and the U of G campus a few months ago. Nice place, esp. for those who get a kick out of fraternity/sorority decadence.
There is some MONEY in that town.

TarrantLibertyGuy said...

Alot of great music came/comes from Athens...B-52's, REM, Matthew Sweet, Drive By Truckers, and a handful of guys who were with The Allman Bros.

But back to Peanut butter... I just bought some at the store. Ta-Dow!

Elaine said...

Where's Jimmy Carter, Peanut Farmer, when you need him?