Imo, it looks like PETA is overstepping bounds again.

link (http://www.click2houston.com/health/17979047/detail.html)

PETA: Make Meat Eaters Pay Bigger Premiums
Animals Rights Group Approaches Blue Cross Blue Shield

Posted: 7:11 am CST November 14, 2008

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals called on Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont to raise health insurance premiums for people who eat meat and lower the premiums for vegetarians, Plattsburgh, Vt., television station WPTZ reported.

Video: Charge Meat Eaters More?

In a letter sent Monday to Bill Milnes Jr., president of Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Vermont, PETA Executive Director Tracy Reiman urged Blue Cross to raise rates on meat eaters because, she said, heart disease, diabetes and other leading killer diseases have been conclusively linked to the consumption of meat and other animal products.

"Given the latest news about the effects of E. coli on meat-eaters -- and the mountain of evidence linking meat consumption to some of our nation's deadliest diseases -- this change will benefit Blue Cross Blue Shield's bottom line while also helping to ensure that your policyholders don't flat line," Reiman wrote.

Reiman went on to point to recent reports of an E. coli outbreak in Vermont. In October, a Vermont slaughterhouse recalled a ton of ground beef after 10 cases of E. coli were traced to meat from Vermont Livestock Slaughter & Processing in Ferrisburg. The recall was voluntary.

Earlier in the month, three people were diagnosed with E. coli in Orleans County. Health officials attributed those cases to raw milk as the source.

"As you might know, E. Coli grows in the intestines of many farmed animals. Slaughterhouses are filthy places, and when animals are eviscerated, feces often spray in every direction," Reiman wrote.

She goes on to claim that vegetarians are less prone to heart disease, certain types of cancer, diabetes and obesity.

"By giving your policy holders a financial incentive to go vegetarian -- and penalizing those whose meat-based diets fuel our nation's worst health problems -- Blue Cross Blue Shield could save millions of dollars in the long run," Reiman wrote.

But it doesn't appear that Blue Cross will be taking PETA's suggestion any time soon.

"Under Vermont law, we would not be allowed to vary rates based on the dietary and nutritional habits of various members," said Kevin Goddard, Blue Cross's vice president of external affairs. He said that Blue Cross is always looking to have the healthiest members possible, but "we have no information one way or the other if vegetarians are more healthy."

In September, PETA made headlines in Vermont and across the nation for asking Ben & Jerry's ice cream to use human breast milk in its ice cream instead of cow milk.

"We applaud PETA's novel approach to bringing attention to an issue, but we believe a mother's milk is best used for her child," a representative for Ben & Jerry's said at the time.

Distributed by Internet Broadcasting.

yeah, cut some slack for those who lavish their bodies with junk food and alcohol. meat is the only thing that can ruin anyone's health.

note to PETA - quit trying to enforce your pussified standards on the economy. you fail at life.

PETA is an organization of f****** idiots, and if not downright disturbing, utterly laughable and pathetic.

Only the Oakland Raiders are a more pathetic-looking organization than PETA.

Hey guys, slow down. PETA is NOT some pathetic organization filled with a bunch of "f***ing idiots". It's a great organization with great intentions in mind; giving a voice to those without voices. Unfortunately, in the type of society that we live in, you pretty much have to forceful to get your voice heard, and the only way to be get your voice heard is through money. I do agree that some of their tactics are borderline, but they're just trying to get their point across. I'm not a vegetarian, I love steak, but I do care about animal rights and I give props to a corporation that's main goal is to care about animals.

I happen to love animals; I don't even kill spiders, for God's sake, but this PETA organization really is borderline--psychotic that is.

Well that's good, I was just hoping you guys weren't against animal rights or something!

Not at all. In fact, on Election Day, here in California, our state Prop.2--I voted yes on that, which called for treating farm animals humanely, so they, for example, wouldn't be in crowded, filthy conditions in tiny cages where they couldn't move around or turn around and stretch--just so the farmers could make more profit.

There are all kinds of links on PETA, but to make a long story short--if you do a search on PETA you will find that their zeal and outrageous stunts to gain attention just turn off people.

I read a few years ago where PETA objected to some race car driver drinking a glass of milk after winning a race (apparently a tradition). PETA, it seems, objected on two counts: First, the mere fact that the driver was drinking milk was offensive to them. Secondly, car racing is a sport (in their mind) populated by men of Northern European descent, and they supposedly have the enzyme to digest milk, so they were being somehow racist toward Blacks, Hispanics and Asians--who do not have this enzyme and can therefore not digest milk. I don't have the details and I don't know whether I'm totally accurate in my details, (maybe another SO member knows the story better than I) but that was basically it.

That's why I reacted the way I did. I just think it's so bizarre.

Meat eaters: Make fanatical Peta members shut the **** up!!

Meat eaters: Make Peta shut the **** up

I love meat, and I hate the way PETA makes meat-eaters sound like monsters!

You aren't always what you eat!

I love meat, and I hate the way PETA makes meat-eaters sound like monsters!

You aren't always what you eat!

Exactly! Most of our ancestors going back thousands of years were meat eaters. I just got done eating a big hamburger for dinner, and have absolutely no remorse. Some animals were put on this earth for our consumption, and it's nothing to be ashamed of, despite what many over the top animal activists try to make us think.

uh....no. peta keeps trying to push the line farther & farther & it's just not looking good for them.

Generally speaking I love what PETA does. It's those cuckoo members that try to take their cause to the extreme who drive me crazy.

Only the Oakland Raiders are a more pathetic-looking organization than PETA.

:lol:

At least PETA can plead the 'insanity defense'. The Raiders can't plead any defense, but mostly no offense either!

Generally speaking I love what PETA does. It's those cuckoo members that try to take their cause to the extreme who drive me crazy.

i agree. don't get me wrong; i'm glad that they are very passionate about the animals & want to help them. i was a vegetarian for a very long time & can relate. but as with any group, there's always those extremists who go above & beyond & just drive everyone crazy, while giving the others in the group a bad name.

Hey guys, slow down. PETA is NOT some pathetic organization filled with a bunch of "f***ing idiots". It's a great organization with great intentions in mind; giving a voice to those without voices. Unfortunately, in the type of society that we live in, you pretty much have to forceful to get your voice heard, and the only way to be get your voice heard is through money. I do agree that some of their tactics are borderline, but they're just trying to get their point across. I'm not a vegetarian, I love steak, but I do care about animal rights and I give props to a corporation that's main goal is to care about animals.
i don't mean to sound like i'm against their cause; i'm certainly in favor of ethical animal treatment. just seems to me that PETA goes way beyond spreading awareness and into the realms of attempting to force other people to live by their standards. this health insurance thing was clearly an attempt to manipulate people into giving up meat. when i (and i can probably speak for most) say bad things about PETA, i'm only referring to the administration who tries to pull off this kind of stuff, rather than those who are simply members of the organization.

i don't mean to sound like i'm against their cause; i'm certainly in favor of ethical animal treatment. just seems to me that PETA goes way beyond spreading awareness and into the realms of attempting to force other people to live by their standards. this health insurance thing was clearly an attempt to manipulate people into giving up meat. when i (and i can probably speak for most) say bad things about PETA, i'm only referring to the administration who tries to pull off this kind of stuff, rather than those who are simply members of the organization.

My sentiments exactly!! Well said!! :thumbsup:

i don't mean to sound like i'm against their cause; i'm certainly in favor of ethical animal treatment. just seems to me that PETA goes way beyond spreading awareness and into the realms of attempting to force other people to live by their standards. this health insurance thing was clearly an attempt to manipulate people into giving up meat. when i (and i can probably speak for most) say bad things about PETA, i'm only referring to the administration who tries to pull off this kind of stuff, rather than those who are simply members of the organization.


The whole 'throwing red paint' thing offsets some of the good things they do.

I remember when PETA tried to make people drink booze instead of milk. Does anyone else remember when they tried to do that?

I remember when PETA tried to make people drink booze instead of milk. Does anyone else remember when they tried to do that?

There slogan was probably: Why hurt a cow when there are millions of people on the road everyday who you could kill. ohno:

There slogan was probably: Why hurt a cow when there are millions of people on the road everyday who you could killed. ohno:

That's no reason to make people drink booze. Tea would probably have been a better alternative.

Well that's good, I was just hoping you guys weren't against animal rights or something!



Oh geez - NOT at all! I'm a very active member of the SPCA for my province, not only financially, but volunteering. I've written to my member of parliament and the prime minister about strengthing animal cruelty laws and punishments.

I'm also all for Greenpeace. They have tough tactics also, but draw the line.

I compare it to Martin Luther King (Greenpeace) and Malcolm X (PETA). You will get more attention and credibility if you take passive aggressive actions - not the tactics that PETA use.

And we have nothing against your buddy (Veggietarian). Its the organization as a whole. And they take it to lengths that are ridiculous (i.e. thinking that milking a cow is cruelty - they HAVE to be milked to be kept healthy - ask any farmer).


It's gotten to the point now that when I hear a PETA protest on the news I just laugh at them. They've gone SO over the top that people don't even take them seriously and they're nothing more than a pain in the ass blocking the street with their theatrical stunts while people are just trying to get to work to make a living. Find better ways of conveying your message and we might start listening to you PETA. ;)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081115/ap_on_en_mo/eu_france_people_lohan

I hope Lindsay sues these gutless PETA idiots!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081115/ap_on_en_mo/eu_france_people_lohan

I hope Lindsay sues these gutless PETA idiots!


Yah, I just was reading that myself. Unfortunately she can't because this time it was just flour they used so no permanent damage was done.

To me, if PETA really wanted to help, they'd use their time more wisely fundraising than dousing people as they head into a club. It looks to me that most of them don't even have jobs - they're too busy pulling these silly stunts that do nothing other than alienate them from the mainstream.

Eventually, someone will sue PETA and they'll have to cease these dumb stunts.

Oh geez - NOT at all! I'm a very active member of the SPCA for my province, not only financially, but volunteering. I've written to my member of parliament and the prime minister about strengthing animal cruelty laws and punishments.

I'm also all for Greenpeace. They have tough tactics also, but draw the line.

I compare it to Martin Luther King (Greenpeace) and Malcolm X (PETA). You will get more attention and credibility if you take passive aggressive actions - not the tactics that PETA use.

And we have nothing against your buddy (Veggietarian). Its the organization as a whole. And they take it to lengths that are ridiculous (i.e. thinking that milking a cow is cruelty - they HAVE to be milked to be kept healthy - ask any farmer).


It's gotten to the point now that when I hear a PETA protest on the news I just laugh at them. They've gone SO over the top that people don't even take them seriously and they're nothing more than a pain in the ass blocking the street with their theatrical stunts while people are just trying to get to work to make a living. Find better ways of conveying your message and we might start listening to you PETA. ;)

Well-said! :)

Only the Oakland Raiders are a more pathetic-looking organization than PETA.
:clap :rofl: Game, set, match to FSU!!!

PETA should ask all the grocery stores to give them discounts because they don't eat all those horrible, vile products we meat eaters do.

What a bunch of whiners. Stop asking for special treatment.

I also remember when PETA sent letters to Iraq/Afghanistan to plead with the military to stop using "camel bombs".

A war technique that they use is strapping bombs on camels and sending the camels loose in the direction of enemy camps. When the camels get close they detonate the bombs.

They said in their letters to leave the animals out of human wars.

they should raise the premiums for PETA members because of the much greater likelihood that someone will beat their ass fo being annoying.

P.S. - no animals were harmed or taken advantage of in the production of this post.

:rofl: Big time FAIL.

I'd love to rub some of these weirdos' faces in a giant raw steak. Just for lulz.

I'd like to know also if some of these vegetarians that are sooooo healthy are also, idk, SMOKERS. ??? Heavy drinkers?? Have any kind of hereditary condition that would cause them illness?? Last time I checked, eating only veggies was not the golden ticket to immortality.

I also remember when PETA sent letters to Iraq/Afghanistan to plead with the military to stop using "camel bombs".

A war technique that they use is strapping bombs on camels and sending the camels loose in the direction of enemy camps. When the camels get close they detonate the bombs.

They said in their letters to leave the animals out of human wars.


While I'm NOT thrilled at all at that practice, (that's the first I've heard of it) it's still ridiculous what PETA does and expects results.

Yah, like everyone in the military is going to lay down their guns for PETA and risk their ass getting courtmartialled for it!!

This is the sort of thing that makes them nothing more than a joke.

While I'm NOT thrilled at all at that practice, (that's the first I've heard of it) it's still ridiculous what PETA does and expects results.

Yah, like everyone in the military is going to lay down their guns for PETA and risk their ass getting courtmartialled for it!!

This is the sort of thing that makes them nothing more than a joke.

It's war; nothing is pleasant about it.

I might not have made it clear but it was the Arabs who were doing it, not the US military.

It's war; nothing is pleasant about it.

I might not have made it clear but it was the Arabs who were doing it, not the US military.



Good to hear!! ;) It really didn't sound like something the U.S. military would do.

I remember when PETA tried to make people drink booze instead of milk. Does anyone else remember when they tried to do that?
I remember that. I think the campain was targeted at collage kids. I belive it was around the time the "Got Milk" thing started, and the geniuses at Peta started Got Beer. :rolleyes: I know that MADD really went after them for it.

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_9725577

They just don't know when to quit!

I don't know if anyone else agrees with me but to me I find PETA to be the equivalent of the Islamic Radicals to the vegan movement. Them and the ALF. There are better ways to make your statements and to get your word out there than by what they are doing.

You have the peaceful vegans/vegetarians who do not try to intrude on everyone's life and make a public scene everywhere they go. Then you have PETA who act like crazies and try to dictate to everyone how to live by their standards.

Not all animal rights/vegan people agree with PETA and it is a mistake to think that they "lead" the movement.

I don't know if anyone else agrees with me but to me I find PETA to be the equivalent of the Islamic Radicals to the vegan movement. Them and the ALF. There are better ways to make your statements and to get your word out there than by what they are doing.

You have the peaceful vegans/vegetarians who do not try to intrude on everyone's life and make a public scene everywhere they go. Then you have PETA who act like crazies and try to dictate to everyone how to live by their standards.

Not all animal rights/vegan people agree with PETA and it is a mistake to think that they "lead" the movement.


Yep - see my post a while back comparing them with Malcolm X's tactics to Martin Luther King's.

Notice how King's Dream has just recently come true? That's the RIGHT way of getting change - not by PETA's methods.

Penn & Teller BS - PETA parts 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsHUBEfBNMo) 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4Eo4KtBJFc) 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXjwDqz4gWM) (coarse language)