The right to be saddled.

I've grown used to political "astroturfing", with groups donning names like Freedomworks pretending not to be the creations of corporations. They claim to be groups of just regular folk working for their rights, but are merely beards for corporate interests. Fighting for a corporation's right to decide what rights you have isn't limited to issues like the environment or health care- it's extended to the formula vs. milk debate.

To me, the debate seems settled: human milk is the best food for human babies, and instead of trying to make a pale imitation of such universally available, public health and welfare efforts ought to be focused on getting the Real McCoy to as many babies as possible. Formula's great for the moms who need it, but that's a much smaller group than the number of moms who buy and use formula- the rest are of moms who are pressed into formula feeding by work policies and/or cultural superstitions that make breastfeeding or pumping difficult.

Formula companies have decided to jump on the astroturfing bandwagon and make sure that those policies and superstitions that make breastfeeding and pumping difficult never go away. Websites like "Moms Feeding Freedom" have sprung up looking for moms that want to "fight" for their "right" to be targeted by aggressive marketing campaigns.  The site also features bugaboo stories about breastfeeding and tutorials on preparing formula, all while claiming to promote freedom of choice for mothers of infants. Yeah. The freedom to choose the brand of formula that will boost their market shares, most likely.

They've also targeted general parenting sites like Babble, with the same sort of rubbish. I can respect the desire to make lots of money- it's the American way, after all. But instead of being content with filling the need that is out there, they created a need where none existed, and sought to eliminate any competition, not by having a better product, but by making any other choice either impossible or unthinkable. Instead of healthy competition, you have a group of people who profit off of the sickness and death of children. And because they are wealthy, it's OK.

I may have the right to be saddled and ridden by corporate interests, but I'd rather not be taken for that sort of ride. And neither should any of you.