This paper examines the reception and regulation of antibiotics in animal agriculture in the United States and Europe. It finds two different cultural traditions. In the United States, a libertarian ethos, aided and abetted by big agriculture, hampers effective regulation. Authoritarianism in Europe promotes active and aggressive regulation. These two thrusts have something in common: both effectively obscure science and scientific debate. Policy on the two sides of the Atlantic reflects a priori assumptions rather than thorough scientific scrutiny. We assert that there is a larger moral here. Indeed, scientism as practiced and expertise generally lack the technological competence to define an objective course. Repeated dependence on the quest for scientific objectification to resolve public issues stands as nothing more than desperate and naive pipedreams of what science and expertise can establish; they can and do contribute precious little to the discussion. Cultural presumptions and contemporary economic imperatives have set and will continue to be the basis for “scientific” decision-making and “rational” governmental policy.

中文翻译：

---

“消费者恐怖分子”：美国和西欧的农业抗生素之争

本文考察了美国和欧洲动物农业中抗生素的接受和监管。它发现了两种不同的文化传统。在美国，在大型农业的帮助和怂恿下，自由主义精神阻碍了有效的监管。欧洲的威权主义提倡积极和积极的监管。这两个推力有一些共同点：都有效地掩盖了科学和科学辩论。大西洋两岸的政策反映了先验假设，而不是彻底的科学审查。我们断言，这里有一个更大的道德。事实上，实践中的科学主义和专业知识通常缺乏定义客观课程的技术能力。反复依赖寻求科学客观化来解决公共问题只不过是对科学和专业知识可以建立的绝望和天真的白日梦；他们能够而且确实对讨论做出了宝贵的贡献。文化假设和当代经济需求已经并将继续成为“科学”决策和“理性”政府政策的基础。