The American economy operates on the supply and demand business model. If you start a business and it fails, you go out of business. The fundamental concepts of economics, however, do not apply to industries that donate millions of dollars to politicians, no matter how pernicious.

Last week, Tom Vilsack, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, authorized the USDA to purchase $20 million of unsold cheese with your tax dollars. It is a common practice for the U.S. government to bail out animal agriculture with your money rather than allowing consumer demand, in this case, a higher demand for plant-based cheese and plant-based dairy products, to shift markets and force companies to adjust their business model.

Please read the USDA’s press release below and contact them via this form to express your opinion.

Here is the feedback I emailed to the Secretary. I encourage you to send an original note but here is a sample message you can copy and paste if you do not want to write your own: “Please stop bailing out the cruel animal-based cheese industry with my tax dollars. Allow consumer demand to dictate the success or failure of companies in the market. Please also stop lying by suggesting that you are providing people with a healthy source of protein when animal-based cheese is unhealthy and leads to diseases. Represent the will of the citizens you represent, not simply the ruthless corporations that fund your campaigns. I will hold you accountable with my vote and my voice as an American citizen!”