Originally Posted by Libertine

Let me start of by saying that I am in fact not a republican (I'm actually in favour of a form of social liberalism somewhat similar to that of John Rawls, as described in A Theory of Justice, but I doubt you have any idea what that even means). I am also, at present, a vegetarian. (And no, I don't need to look up the meaning of hypocrisy, but that's just because, unlike you, I did finish high school.)

Now, it seems clear you didn't quite understand my argument, so let me reiterate it in a form that may be easier to understand for the likes of you. The laws we currently have concerning animal welfare are inadequate, and perpetuate a system which thrives on animal suffering. The bulk of this suffering is caused by mainstream, large scale factory farming, which is a fundamental part of contemporary meat production. Yet, in terms of animal cruelty, it is on par with such practices as force-feeding geese and clubbing baby seals to death for their fur.
For some odd reason, however, the bulk of public attention goes to these relatively uncommon practices, rather than the much more widespread animal suffering caused by factory farming. So, instead of focusing on the obvious huge problems to which people contribute directly through their own actions, they focus on the much smaller problems caused by the actions of a few.

That, my mentally challenged friend, is hypocrisy. An army of pots rioting over the blackness of a dozen kettles.