In the end, a hamburger’s journey helps illuminate something that speeches about economic sovereignty often hide: Meat is an agricultural product, but it is also an industrial commodity, a tool of trade policy and a global business. The steer is born in a pasture, but the price shaping its rancher’s livelihood can be decided in a meeting at the White House, in a negotiation between meatpackers or in a clash of interests in Congress.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

In Brazil, this influence finds a particularly favorable political environment. The so-called BBB caucus, an acronym for Boi, Bala e Bíblia (Beef, Bullets and Bible), broadly brings together lawmakers linked to agribusiness, public security and conservative religious agendas. It is not a formal party nor an entirely homogeneous bloc. Its members belong to different political parties and may disagree on specific issues, but they form important alliances when their interests converge.

The Beef caucus represents agribusiness interests, including the defense of rural property, the expansion of logistics infrastructure, the deregulation of certain environmental rules and the opening of markets.

The Bullets caucus gathers lawmakers identified with tougher criminal penalties and expanding the role of security forces.

The Bible caucus articulates conservative religious sectors around themes such as education, morals and civil rights.

The strength of the expression lies in its ability to show how economic interests, security agendas and moral causes can reinforce one another within Congress.

  • source