Note to self: Stop reading the newspaper before blogging!

The latest news in Downed Cows. Ed Schafer, Secretary of Agriculture nominated by George W., responds to the suggestion that cows that cannot walk should be banned from slaughter. That he was chosen by Bush should tell you all you need to know about his politics. I did a little research and Schafer is surprisingly well-qualified, at least compared to most of Bush's other appointees.
He was Governor of North Dakota, a place where the constituency is actually more cow than human. On the flip side, his educational background is all Business, and he rose to prominence as President of his father's company, Gold Seal-- producer of cleaning products. Most tellingly, he's active in Americans For Prosperity, a grassroots organization dedicated to privitization and de-regulization. Ok, so he's a Republican. They're allowed. That doesn't necessarily make him evil. (I try to tell myself.) It's just a sign of the fierce distrust I have of the Bush administration that the first things I looked for were conspicuous corporate ties.

I guess what sits funny with me about Schafer is that he's the head of the USDA.

"[The purpose of the USDA] is to develop and execute policy on farming, agriculture, and food. It aims to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers, promote agricultural trade and production, work to assure food safety, protect natural resources, foster rural communities and end hunger, in America and abroad."

It seems to me like all he's concerned about is the "promote trade and production" part. There's that little nugget in there about food safety, too. Why is that less important? This guy was just confirmed a month ago, and so far he's developed the current Farm Bill and engaged in battle about how it's okay to kill possibly neurologically diseased cattle because " 'We believe that the food supply is safe,' " and "...current rules, when followed, were adequate. 'I don't think it's appropriate to have a 100% ban on down cows,' he said outside the hearing room, citing the costs to livestock producers."

That's the bottom line, as usual. Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society, who I automatically admire because his name isn't Ingrid Newkirk, said the downer cattle "are wallowing in manure; it's all over their hides." Sounds tasty, no?

In other news, Deborah Rice, an award-winning toxicologist, was removed from a group of experts researching a widely-used flame retardant after industry lobbyists complained that she was biased.

"Sonya Lunder, a senior analyst at the Environmental Working Group, called it 'deeply problematic from the public interest perspective' for the EPA to dismiss scientists who advocate protecting health while appointing those who promote industry views.

Lunder said it is unprecedented for the EPA to remove an expert for expressing concerns about the potential dangers of a chemical.

'It's a scary world if we create a precedent that says scientists involved in decision-making are perceived to be too biased,' she said."

Just making a point. I know that has nothing to do with heirloom tomatoes. But talk about a Downer!