the pig was slaughtered in the past, before I walked into the store or decided what I'm eating this week. everyone involved was paid before all that, too.
They wouldn't kill, or even raise the pig if they didn't count on the money down the chain. We indirectly but surely pay for pigs to be created / killed, for our consumption.
It's fine if you don't care about that or accept it as your standards, that's your choice and fair in our current social context. Just realize the economics behind it.
Yes, but they only pay those people if they expect to make a profit by selling the end product to you. You are one of the people who make it worthwhile to set up a chain of payments like that.
If they do not expect you (or other people) to buy the meat, they won't pay those people to raise / kill the pigs.
Whether it's you this time or someone else doesn't matter. As long as there is a demand by end consumers they will continue. If no-one buys it they stop, it's that simple.
You're part of the group that enables this dynamic and your money goes to paying those people. It's fine if you like meat, just don't deny this basic logic.
I believe if I didn't buy meat, it would continue to be made, and in ever-increasing quantities. my purchases have no impact whatsoever on whether any animal is bred, raised, or slaughtered.
No you're not, but to dismiss that your actions still have influence on other people/systems is short-sighted.
Once more, it's fine if you eat meat. You don't have to consciously manage other people's expectations. But just know that you automatically do. Buying meat is supporting the future production of meat, that's all.
Yeah, by everyone that buys meat. It's simple. If we all stop buying it now they're gonna run out and stop producing meat.
The meat you buy today pays the meat that enters the store later.