Yes, Virginia, there is such a thing as Regulatory Capture where industry (like Big Food, Big Ag and Big Chemical) captures and controls the very governmental agencies (like the FDA and USDA) that are in charge of regulating them.  Then what happens?  Far too often these governmental regulators are then offered cushy, high-paid positions as a way for the industry to say, “thank you!” for assuring their profits were not harmed by regulations.

It appears this practice is continuing on in 2017 as industry insiders are reporting that USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has been offered a cushy gig with the US Dairy Export Council.  So what’s the big deal?   Well, as Mother Jones reports, “The USDA has long boosted Big Dairy…from maintaining a “food group” devoted to it in dietary guidelines, to buying milk products for federal nutrition programs…”

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Head of USDA May Take Cushy Big Dairy Job

Mother Jones

Agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack is rumored to be mulling a move to the US Dairy Export Council.

If the report turns out to be true, Vilsack’s new role will represent quite a swish through the revolving door separating government agencies and the industries they regulate…

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UPDATE:

So, yeah. It looks like Vilsack’s new gig will be making him annually somewhere in the $875,000.00 zip code. Moo.

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Vilsack’s new job: Promoting U.S. dairy trade

Politico