As I was perusing Facebook, I came across an absurd group: "Cage Free Eggs at Harvard". Its not my intention to lambaste the iconoclastic, self righteous student movements. But boy are they an easy target. The group details a letter written to the Harvard University Dining Services opposed to caged chickens. The letter outlines two platitude inflated arguments
(1) Caging chickens is incredibly inhumane
(2) The density of caged chickens hurts the environment.

In response to "argument" 1:

The letter admits that a financial premium must be paid for uncaged chickens. This is where there is a philosophical void between the ivory and the real. Ultimately, I value human life over the life of other animals, period. Lets direct the cost premium towards another self righteous pop culture movement; genocide in Darfur. Cage the entire Avain Class of animals if it saves one human being!

In response to "argument" 2:

They argue that because of the high density of chickens, it releases high levels of ammonia. Which they add is in typically low income ares. This point is unsubstantiated, there arent caged chicken operations in Harlem, budy. Low income rural areas are also low density. So the effect on humans is diminished. The major problem with this argument is that it doesn't take into account the alternative; increase in agricultural land use, increased environmental tranpsortation cost, etc..

I am going to have myself some caged chicken eggs, sunny side up.