Surprisingly, my search continues. For a restaurant in a cattle-raising state that actually serves up a slice of the local steer. In Bozeman two nights ago, the menu boasted Angus Brand steaks. When I asked the server if the meat they used were Montana born, bred and slaughtered, she said, “You’re not the first person to ask that.” Then she added sheepishly. “Our steak comes from the Dakotas and Washington.”
Well I’ve been through one of the Dakotas, and no sign of Dakota steak there. And we’re in eastern Washington where Heather’s grandfather used to raise cattle. A perfect place to find Montana beef?
Without conducting any scientific research, I will conclude for now that it’s all about the food distribution network. I may be told by restaurants that it’s about controlling quality and consistency. That local producers can’t assure that, but I think that’s just a cop-out. Sysco and Wal-Mart have proven that the way to get to Carnegie Hall is distribution, distribution, and distribution. Wait…I mean – Oh you know what I mean.
Here at the end of all things, I regret not keeping closer count of all the Wal-Mart trucks we have passed, on the smallest, most remote highways. (Maybe they’re doing Independent America too.) It’s worth noting that not once did we see a Costco or K-Mart vehicle. Wal-Mart, as we know all too well, is King of the Road. Proud and Teamster-free.
Here’s my beef. My inability to find a local steak in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota or Wyoming has finally helped me understand the driving mission of Independent America. Left unchecked, corporate chain retail (and its powerful distribution network) can kill diversity, concentrate economic power and over-promote homogeneity. Our search for Mom & Pop was not some esoteric quest for an era come and gone. Fundamentally, it’s an inquiry into how economic diversity affects the quality of our democracy.
What? That weekly purchase of a dozen eggs from the Wal-Mart Supercenter can bring down the Republic? Talk to Reclaimdemocracy.org’s Jeff Milchen, which is what I did yesterday morning, and you will absolutely believe that your morning omelet might silence the many voices of freedom.
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