Dear Future President:

I have a question for you, one that you’ve probably never been asked since you became president. When was the last time you had a delicious burger, smothered in cheese and smushed between two sesame seed buns? Pretty recently right? Now let me ask a follow up question: when was the last time you had a heart attack? If you haven't had one yet, you should know that it is bound to happen. You, like many Americans, might be oblivious to the fact that the food that you are putting into your mouth is slowly killing you, and the environment. I believe that it is your job as President to encourage healthy eating habits in America that might hopefully lower the rate of obesity. By joining with other health organizations, you would be able to be a spokesperson for the environment and help end the deforestation.

As President, I am sure that the ending of the consumption of animal products is one of the last things on your mind. But, also as president, it is your job to be aware of something like the meat industry, which is affecting both the rich, the poor, and everyone in between. It is your job to understand that the diet that most Americans are on is slowly killing them. According to USC News: “Middle-aged people who eat lots of proteins from animal sources — including meat, milk and cheese — are also more susceptible to early death in general.” Excess protein leads to obesity because it clogs a person arteries and makes them gain weight faster. The average American eats 100 grams of protein a day. That is nearly twice as much as leading dieticians recommend. The American people are dying because they are not aware that by eating meat, cheese and other animal products they are effectively poisoning themselves. The few that are aware are using the excuse, “But meat tastes good”. Yes, meat does taste good. But you know what else tastes good? Chocolate, candy, and soda, and we have already come to the conclusion that these are bad for human consumption, so why is it so hard for us to say the same for meat? Furthermore, many Americans are not aware that there is a legal amount of fecal matter that is allowed in your beef that comes from the poor conditions the animals are forced to live in.

Animal products don’t only destroy a person's health, they are also damaging to those who have never come close to eating a burger. The meat industry is taking away food from people who need it and giving it to cows in order to feed the upper class. Time Magazine, which has been proven time and time again to be a reliable source, mentioned that, “1.3 billion tons of grain are consumed by farm animals each year,”. Why is it that the American food industry is willing to endorse a system that uses 1.3 billions tons of grain to fatten up animals that they are then going to turn around and eat, while some parts of the world are starving. Why not take out the middleman, the farm animals? Why not take some of that 1.3 billion tons of grain and feed it to people who are starving as they watch livestock eat food that could save them. Not only is the meat industry taking away resources for less fortunate people they are also contributing to deforestation and desertification. They are polluting the limited amount of freshwater that our world has by not controlling the runoff and other forms of pollution from the mass slaughter houses around the world. I suggest stronger regulation of the slaughterhouse across the world to make sure that their run off is not polluting our water and make these rules punishable with high fines or the possibility of the slaughterhouse being shut down.

According to the US National Library of Medicine, “More than 2 in 3 adults are considered to be overweight or obese”. This statement directly affects my world and the people around me. If two thirds of people are overweight or obese that means that two thirds of the people I know are more likely to get heart disease and die early deaths. I fear for the safety of my own children in a world that is falling apart thanks to the production of food that will in turn destroy my children's health. In my own life I have witness the effect that obliviousness has on a person's health and mental well being. In the United States we have whole TV shows dedicated to showing just how terrible a person's life can be when they become obese. Such examples are Biggest Loser, My Six Hundred Pound Life or Shedding for the Wedding.

I have pled my case. This debate has been around for a long time and has circled through the minds of many politicians, who were unable to make any change. This could be because of our nation's inability to get anything done without a person in a position of power holding our hand. I am calling upon you to help us. Do not throw away your shot to make a difference in the lives of millions of people. For the health of our country I beg you to help end this madness that is killing our nation's people and the environment. The consumption of animal products affects the rate of obesity in America, the environment through pollution, and it takes away food from people who need it more than the cows do. It is your job to help raise awareness and be a spokesperson alongside the thousands of other organizations that are currently fighting to have a healthier United States and a healthier world. I am not asking for the whole country to stop eating meat. While that would be nice, and might even save our environment, I am willing to admit that that ideal is unrealistic. Perhaps you could speak out against the corrupt slaughterhouses that don’t regulate their waste properly, or you could call for a change in the regulated amount of feces or excess protein in the average American burger.

Sincerely,

Abby

Works Cited

"Overweight and Obesity Statistics." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2012. Web. 23 Oct. 2016. <https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/Pages/overweight-obesity-statistics.aspx>.

Walsh, Bryan. "The Triple Whopper Environmental Impact of Global Meat Production | TIME.com." Time. Time, 16 Dec. 2013. Web. 23 Oct. 2016. <http://science.time.com/2013/12/16/the-triple-whopper-environmental-impact-of-global-meat-production/>.

Wu, Suzanne. "Meat and Cheese May Be as Bad as Smoking." USC News. N.p., 4 Mar. 2014. Web. 23 Oct. 2016. <https://news.usc.edu/59199/meat-and-cheese-may-be-as-bad-for-you-as-smoking/>