LTE: The role of government, Republicans vs. Democrats

In a Sunday 'Letter to the Editor' (LTE) in the SI Advance a writer touches upon the fundamental differences of the Republican and Democratic parties while reporting on the recent food stories of tainted pet food, disease causing fish and even connections to Chinese food and drug imports;

And it is not just imported foods that are receiving less scrutiny. Between 2003 and 2006, the Bush administration and the Republican-controlled Congress cut the budget of the agency responsible for inspecting domestic food-processing facilities by 37 percent. This has resulted in fewer inspections. It was recently announced that two U.S. companies sold feed used for livestock and farm-raised fish which was contaminated with the same chemical that was found in the pet food.

snip

If you believe that the government should not interfere in markets, that it is not the government's responsibility to protect consumers, then voting Republican would be in your best interest. However, if you believe that it is the role of government to protect the consumer, then voting for a Democrat would be in your best interest.

You can read the rest of the article at the SI Advance.