Subverting the Autobots

Today I followed an ad link telling me that big government was going to take over my eating habits. This was interesting to me, as I like to eat and don't like anyone interfering with the practice. The link led me to the following:

Keep Food Affordable

If you'd like to save the time of having to jump to the link, the basic gist is this:


The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to dictate how farmers conduct their business. They are on the verge of implementing a rule that will increase the costs for farmers and meat production. The extra costs will be passed down to consumers at the grocery store. This is despite the fact that these regulations were already voted down by Congress. Don't let this happen!

Next to this is an open comment form that will deliver your outrage to the USDA. 

I personally think the USDA is underfunded, if the e. coli infections of my eggs is any example, and that they act far below their potential given their mandate to protect what we eat.

So rather than choose one of their selected boilerplate comments, I wrote the following -- something like a note in a bottle to some anonymous USDA employee tasked with reviewing the comments:

The web site that provides this petition advertises widely. When following the link it offers almost no information on the content of the proposed rules, but simply uses scare tactics to get people to sign. I am all for any rules that increase food safety, even if I have to pay more for food in the process. My pocketbook will not mean a damn thing to me if I'm killed through the actions of a careless food producer. Ignore the "volume" of signatures on this petition drive. Look to content, whether it seems informed or repetitive, and then take the actions which best protect the American people. You're doing a great job.

Submitted to Docket ID: GIPSA-2010-PSP-0001-RULEMAKING

This was mailed back to me, using my name as the sender making it all the more spamilicious. 

You can play, too! I encourage you to add a bit of reason to the argument, and use the dime of this nearly anonymous web site to do it.