Must See Film Requires Clear Mind and New Critique!

FOOD INC: A Must See Film. Viewing doesn't require a strong stomach; it does require a clear mind. Beautifully colorful cinematic illustrations of the industrialization of agriculture, the enormous investment in capital goods (factories, equipment, technology, infrastructure), and vast government subsidies for the cheapest, most unhealthy products. Shortcomings: Use of the phrase “increased efficiency” with no objective analysis or understanding of what that term means in an industrialized capitalist system. That is, in our economic system, “efficiency” refers to increased rates of profit achieved through the most ruthless exploitation and destruction of all inputs (labor, land, plant and animal life). The filmmakers do note that the cost to the nation/world as a whole for industrialized agriculture is greater than the benefit (particularly the heavy use of oil). Yet there are frequent, unexplained props to Walmart and Stonybrook for their use of industrially produced “organic” products. And the tragically sad advice to farmers who want to fight Monsanto's control of all seeds, "Just roll over; do whatever you have to to save your skin."

Yes, there is a lot left out of this extremely creative and mesmerizing film. But, if we listen and look hard, and think outside of the box within which the story is told, the information presented is useful to understanding the process of increased capital expansion and accumulation in general.

Mary Lynn Cramer has a background in economics and social work, and her critiques of current economic crisis can be seen on this website a/w/a at Counterpunch.org