(I'm not debating the raw milk legalities, this is just an observation.)
Currently in Michigan, raw milk (meaning unpasteurized, unlicensed, farm direct
milk) is topping out at around $8.50/gallon. The customer also picks up the product and purchases a "cow share" which is essentially a fee for housing the cow and legal agreement that you won't sue the farmer if you/children get sick.
A milk producer selling his milk at commodity pricing (the only legal price he can get) sells his milk at about $1.50 a gallon, pays for being licensed, pays his farm cost for raising/housing animals and is held financially/legally responsible by everyone if his milk makes anyone sick or is tainted with antibiotics or growth hormones.
Why is it people are always willing to pay so much more for illegal goods?
We continually complain about pharmaceutical/large corporations/health institutions that are charging, what many consider, unfair pricing. We complain about cost of living for gas/electric, insurance etc. yet we are not complaining about the folks making money illegally with absolutely no responsibility if the outcome is negative? Except drug dealers. Is it because he's "the little guy" trying to make a buck? What about the other "little guys" that follow the law? (Our "little guys" licensing is currently about $1000 a year.)
I'm all about changing laws when they don't work. But becoming the catalyst for changing laws doesn't give anyone any right to partake in illegal activity or charge black market pricing. I would always prefer to be the one that follows the rules and challenges them based on knowledge, experience and respect. If I didn't, I think I would consider myself just a common criminal regardless of my justifications.
