Would North Americans be better off if North Americans reduced their meat consumption by one-half?

[ZombieHorde]

By "North Americans", I mean adult humans who spend most of their time in North America.

For "better off," consider the following categories...

Physical health
Psychological/emotional health
The environment
North American cultures
The economy
Land use
Restaurant food choices

Obviously, some can not reduce their meat consumption by one-half because they don't eat meat.

This poll is about you and your opinion.

[MineralMan]

1. Maybe. So, how do you plan to convince them to do that?

Or were you thinking of doing it another way?

[ZombieHorde]

2. Education and hip celebrity endorsements. nt

[spin]

15. If the price of groceries keeps going up ...

the consumption of beef will drop.

[ecstatic]

3. I think sugar/bad carbs/HFCS are the problem, not meats nt

[ZombieHorde]

4. I agree North Americans would be better off if we reduced our sugar consumption by one-half. nt

[onehandle]

5. Both. nt

[Ohio Joe]

6. Yes... but I won't

I won't stop smoking or drinking either. I knowingly do things that are bad for me... because I like them.

[ZombieHorde]

7. I had leftover birthday cake and a can of Lemon Brisk Iced Tea for breakfast today.

I have healthier foods in my house, but we had a kid's birthday party yesterday, and I am feeling lazy today.

[Lorien]

8. Anyone who votes "no" is no better than a climate change or evolution denier:

http://www.mcspotlight.org/media/reports/beyond.html

[bbinacan]

11. I voted no

tough shit.

[azul]

9. I have this sickening feeling that karmic law

is adjudicated in factory farms.

More to the point of survival, reducing animal farming would be a quick and effective way to reduce planet cooking, and it would also reduce all kinds of other pollution and waste.

Alas, too many minds are closed regarding this dodgy subject.

[Gregorian]

10. There are several issues that are all confused with another that isn't mentioned.

And since none of them can be mentioned without causing turmoil, I'll just post to say that meat isn't the issue. How we farm it, and why we have to farm it that way are the symptoms of the issue. Hey, I'm getting more diplomatic about it these days. I doubt I offended anyone here.

And as an aside- read The Paleo Diet for Athletes. And then go and read the testimonials on the athletic forums.

[eilen]

20. Agreed +10000 :) nt

[Never Stop Dancin]

12. No

I don't see how it would make any difference.

[Lucian]

13. Abso-fucking-lutely.

We'd be saving a lot of water, our health would skyrocket for the better, and we wouldn't have to watch those insufferable "Hillshire Farms! Go meat!" commercials.

[Liberal_in_LA]

14. yes. definitely. Animals would be better off also

[BOG PERSON]

16. yes, if we cut our avg meat consumption by one-half

that would bring it down to the world average. and that would be better for everybody, including us.

[Nye Bevan]

17. We should eliminate meat, candy, soda, and tobacco.

We may not live longer, but it will seem like it.

( sorry I forgot who said this and am too lazy to look it up)

[Synicus Maximus]

24. and all fast and fried foods, alcohol and excessive salt

[Modern_Matthew]

18. No. The obesity epidemic would become a pandemic as people consumed more carbs. nt

[lumberjack_jeff]

19. Yes. By "yes" I mean I vote in the affirmative. I concur with your premise

I tend to believe that North Americans, which includes those of every ethnicity who live in the contiguous nations of Canada, Mexico and the United States. This assessment should not be construed to imply that the residents of Hawaii should as well. </disambiguation>

[eilen]

21. What to tell the Inuits?

Does this go for Polynesians as well? Will their fish consumption have to be decreased by 1/2?

[ZombieHorde]

22. I don't think the Inuits could sustain themselves if they reduced their meat consumption by

one-half.

[RebelOne]

23. I doubt that they would stop hunting animals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuit_diet. They hunt walrus, Ringed Seal, Bearded Seal, beluga whale, caribou, polar bear, muskoxen, birds (including their eggs) and fish. I think with all this slaughter of animals they would turn vegetarian.

[ZombieHorde]

25. The poll is not about vegetarianism, it's about a one-half reduction. nt

[Johonny]

26. I don't give a crap what the rest of North America does