I have no problem with people who are vegetarians (or even vegans) but I do have a real problem with arguments like this one that, effectively, call all meat eaters horrible people.
Yes, most livestock in this country is poorly treated, and we should stop that, and yes the reasoning is perfectly legitimate, but the result of reading this article is, for most people: nothing. Those who are either already vegetarians or are already engaging in cruelty minimizing practices (and, if the latter, spending way more on their meat selections) will agree. Everyone else, well, they may not like the conditions but the argument isn't new, and the tone is not one that is going to convince them to change.
The problem comes down to: meat tastes good, and poor conditions mean cheaper meat. We really have evolved to like meat, so giving it up is not easy. On top of that most people are going to get the less expensive option...especially for things like chicken which don't have the [wagyu]/prime/choice/select grade cachet that beef has. Humanely raised chicken is a lot more expensive (like 3-7 times the price). Now if humane standards were required, there is a very good chance that the price of humanely raised chicken would come down somewhat (though it would still be higher than current). That would be fine, and those things are proceeding.
Meat should cost more than it does and we should eat less than we do. Calling [most] meat eaters assholes (effectively) may even be true but it isn't going to get them on your side.
Point out the bad conditions and work to change them: good. Convince higher income people to go for [expensive] humane options: good. Write yet another "Everyone should be vegetarian (or vegan) because meat is cruel/murder" article: fuck off!
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