I-522, Labeling of GMO Products
Today's PDN (the print version, not the PDN website) has an article on the pros and cons of I-522, which would require labels on all foods containing GMOs. I'm guessing the PDN didn't put this article on their website because the comments would be through the roof and Monsanto doesn't want any free advertising for the Yes on 522 crowd (which is most of us).
California had a similar initiative last November which would have required all GMO products to be labeled. The initiative was way ahead in the polls until Monsanto spend a few bazillion jillion dollars on an ad blitz to scare Californians into voting against the initiative. It worked. Millions of California voters were brainwashed by Monsanto, went "DUUUHHH!!!" and obediently voted against the initiative. Let's hope Washington voters will be smarter and less gullible.
California had a similar initiative last November which would have required all GMO products to be labeled. The initiative was way ahead in the polls until Monsanto spend a few bazillion jillion dollars on an ad blitz to scare Californians into voting against the initiative. It worked. Millions of California voters were brainwashed by Monsanto, went "DUUUHHH!!!" and obediently voted against the initiative. Let's hope Washington voters will be smarter and less gullible.
posted by Tom Harper at 5:00 PM
32 Comments:
Oh hell, there has always been someone yapping about our food all my years. I don't get wrapped up in all of it, been eating all that shit for seventy years. It may kill, me, or a pissed off may, whatever. At my age I don't give a shit anymore.
I bet WA does better than CA. But our days are numbered as far as being "smarter". Progressives have had some victories here in WA, but there will be a backlash. And a big one!
The media is not helping. Even in Seattle. It's pitiful. This is anecdotal, but typical I think - two days ago, KOMO 4 had a report on how there are less town hall meetings by congresspeople now, because of the bad atmosphere. Whatever. Two day old CNN report, lovely.
This story isn't buried either. We are talking 5:01. If that. The report began with a canned clip of a certain senator, at a contemptuous town meeting, and it was not a clip showing how things were in the FUCKING PAST but was supposed to illustrate how things are now.
Who was the senator getting heckled at his town meeting? Arlen Specter. He has been out of office for almost THREE FUCKING YEARS and has been DEAD for a year.
Seriously, what percentage of "smart" people in Seattle will get good reporting about GMOs?
The Times I'm sure will put out a piece, but it will be too long, will leave out key concepts backed up by facts, and it will change few minds. Sort of similar to their big recent article on ocean acidification that did not mention population growth. The whole article sort of sucked, - great fodder for teabaggers. So typical of what gets shoved up our asses in the PNW that is supposed to be news.
I guess the chiropractor in PA who is the expert on microwave radiation/pseudoscience is out of town, and when he gets back, he can give the "paranoid" perspective and the PDN will write another article much more suitable for local internets consumption on GMOs, quote him several times, he being such an authority.
BTW - GMOs should be outlawed. Labeling is a smokescreen, and pisses off at least 60% of people, so all teabaggers would be for it, as it makes people trust gov't less, gives the "Nanny State" more power, etc. which, they actually like, when it's behavior that they prefer. For various reasons, libs and progressives are ALL for it! How can it hurt?
Seriously, we are setting up a regulatory system and bureaucracy for something that is POISON! No, it's like a virus and a poison, times ten!!!! (seriously, google " another heirloom corn farmer commits suicide"... :(
WHEN'S THAT CHIROPRACTOR GETTING BACK!!!??? I NEED INFORMATION!!!!
I support the labelling of food for one big reason. I want CHOICE.
I don't even need a whole bunch of scare science, or how bad Monsanto is. I want CHOICE.
If I want to eat GMO laced food items, I want the choice to do so.
If, for what ever reason, I want to know what is in the food I buy and eat, I want the CHOICE.
If people think GMO foods are safe, great and yummy, no problem.
This issue is only about letting people decide for themselves. Labels on food enable that.
Need some definitions here.
What PRECISELY is meant by the term, genetically modified?
Make no mistake, like Pandoras box, there will be no putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.
That shit will be EVERYWHERE if it's ANYWHERE.
It's inevitable.
No?
Fuck Monsanto and all who sail her.
BBC - Funny how people like you, who trust institutions so little, and are so religiously independent, trust Monsanto and the FDA with what you put in your body.
Where did your grammy get GMO corn? My family STILL complains about the Walmart closing down in St. Louis during the depression. GMO corn just doesn't taste like it used to, 70 years ago! Of course, that was pre-Roswell.
Tell us please, your stories about WW2 era GMO butter! I hear it was white, and had to add color. The story my relatives told, who came back from fighting and liberating in Europe, was that they crossed very fast breeding bunnies with cows, in Nazi Germany. The GIs brought this knowledge home, but because of patent litigation that went ON AND ON (liberals) it was 1960 till the color was genetically modified so that it looked normal again. Everyone knew it was the margarine mafia. What happened, was they hid all the yellow bunny rabbits from the geneticists.
Oh, heads up guys. Beer made from GMO rice, makes you gay. Part of China's population control deal. The "GMO rice virus" was first detected in Thailand in 1969 and in Louisiana in 1972. So, be careful. Or, drink up! At least, now we know, and the trend is towards labeling.
Because I want to know, if my beer is making me gay!
It doesn't help that Obama is hand in glove with Monsanto!
Oh, I'm all for labeling but I'm not going to get worked up about it all when others are doing it for me. I have more important things to do, like going camping this weekend.
A pall settles over rural America as Obamacare kicks in. You know them, the people out "here", and we are all so fortunate to have them as roll models, trust me - those who worked so hard for what they have. And it's all about ready to be taken away! It's like slavery!
Max has investments in Monsanto and worked for the CIA in Afghanistan. Or Ashlandistan.
Dale is an alien. The Most Qualified Alien, but still an alien.
I received this in an email:
Congress is considering a continuing resolution spending bill that includes the controversial Monsanto rider.
This rider effectively destroys judicial review and gives the biotech industry the power to decide which genetically modified (GMO) crops should be planted even when a court has found that there could be environmental damage or economic damage to farmers.
In recent years, courts have repeatedly found that the USDA has improperly approved a GMO crop and they have required further analysis of the impacts before commercial plantings could happen. The Monsanto rider would override that. The rider would force the USDA to allow GMOs to be planted even if a federal court rules that USDA hadn’t adequately considered the potential problems.
The proponents claim that the provision is needed to protect farmers, but that’s not true. No farmer has ever had his or her crops destroyed because of a court decision on GMOs. Every court to rule on these issues has carefully weighed the interests of farmers, as is already required by law.
This rider was part of last spring’s continuing resolution, which was in effect for six months; the continuing resolution that is now being considered would extend it another three months.
Tell your Representative and Senators to reject this provision in the upcoming spending bill. Please take action today!
TAKE ACTION #1
Contact both of your U.S. Senators, and urge them to oppose the Monsanto rider.
If you don't know who represents you, you can find out online at www.senate.gov or by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121
Below is a sample letter you can use for email, or as a script for a telephone call.
TAKE ACTION #2
Contact your U.S. Representative and urge him/her to oppose the Monsanto rider. If you don't know who represents you, you can find out online at www.house.gov or by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
SAMPLE LETTER:
I urge [Senator ____ or Representative _______] to oppose the inclusion of the Monsanto rider in the upcoming short-term FY 2014 Continuing Resolution (CR) spending bill. Please speak up for constituents by voicing your opposition to the rider to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee.
Though wrapped in a “farmer-friendly” package, this corporate welfare provision – section 735 in last year’s continuing resolution (H.R. 933) – is simply a biotech industry ploy to continue to sell GMO seeds even when a court of law has found they were approved by the USDA illegally. It is unnecessary and an unprecedented attack on the judicial review process, yet it was quietly slipped into last spring’s continuing resolution without congressional debate, hearings, or input from any of the relevant committees.
Continuing this provision in the new FY 2014 Continuing Resolution is the wrong thing to do.
This provision effectively guts judicial review, allowing companies to continue selling biotech seeds even if a court finds that the USDA should not have approved the seeds for planting. The provision forces USDA to immediately approve any request by the industry for continued planting. The USDA has a duty to protect the interests of all farmers and the environment, not just the biotech industry–the Monsanto rider undermines that responsibility.
The provision is completely unnecessary. No farmer has ever had his or her crops destroyed. Every court to rule on these issues has carefully weighed the interests of farmers, as is already required by law.
I strongly oppose the “Monsanto protection act” and urge you to demand that it not be included in the upcoming short-term FY14 Continuing Resolution (CR) spending bill.
[Name]
[Address]
So anyone else inviting your neighbors over for popcorn and Dateline? I was going to, but all my neighbors are ASSHOLES, ha ha.
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/man-drives-bulldozer-neighbors-house-20319652
I like the "WHERE THE FUCK ARE THE COPS" screamed at the end of the bulldozer video. This video has not been released before. Twas saved for the 20/20 report. Which I thought was good. Made my jaw drop the entire time. It was funny, but not too funny, and treated our community with respect. Except for the brief part where the reporter got to see what it was like, and how much fun it was, to bulldoze a house. Made me wonder how others would find it also fun to get high on meth, stalk and murder registered sex offenders. Sorry...
Interesting having a real journalist in town. Seemed everyone interviewed and pictured was eager to tell their stories.
And the troll STILL has a hard on for Max, is still jealous of him, months after he left this loser town. I'd tell the troll to get a life, but that obviously isn't possible. Max got on with his life. The troll has no life to get on with.
Other than his continued (anonymous) online presence. Pathetic. Just like Port Angeles.
Anonymous 6:41 -- I personally have a hard-on for you. Please don't spread your stupid opinions about what a loser town this is, pathetic, etc. -- if you don't like it here, do us all a favor and leave. Failing that, STFU.
Just sayin'.
Yes, Port Angeles really did look pretty pathetic on the ABC 20/20 show, last night.
The producers of the show could have made the community look a lot worse, but, they didn't have to. The people did well enough to make Port Angeles look like "Hillbillyville", all by themselves.
And yes, I agree that the end was bad. Saying the idea of destroying other peoples' property was attractive and fun, and then renting a little 'dozer to smash up a derelict single-wide was just wrong. Unless you're a hillbilly.
Just watched this show on a channel I get: MHZ. Very heavy duty. They are still cleaning out the cluster bombs the US dropped during the Viet-Nam war, all these years later, and have to date cleared less than 1% of the affected areas. Say it will take "thousands of years" to complete the job, at their current rate. People are afraid to work their fields, for fear of getting blown up.
Why isn't the US sending in the Army to clear what they dropped on Laos?
"Surviving Cluster Bombs in Laos
During the Vietnam War, the United States air force bombarded Laos with a huge volume of cluster bombs. The bombing, which lasted for almost 10 years, aimed to destroy North Vietnamese Army supply routes. Some of these deadly submunitions failed to explode and remain buried in the ground. According to the Laos government, roughly 50,000 people have been struck by the leftover explosives, from which 20,000 were fortunate enough to survive, but left with lost limbs and other severe injuries.
In this episode of Asia Insight, we follow a group of young Laotians who are offering encouragement and support, and trying to guide the cluster bomb survivors back on the path to an independent life.
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/tv/asiainsight/
Yikes!
"The Lao PDR is, per capita, the most heavily bombed country in the world. Throughout the Second Indochina War (1964-1973) more than 580,000 bombing missions (or a bombing mission every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day, for 9 years) and wide ranging ground battles, led to over 2 million tons of ordnance being dropped on Laos. Over 270 million cluster munitions were used, of which there an estimated 80 million malfunctioned and remanined live and buried in the Lao landscape after the war's end."
"Please don't spread your stupid opinions about what a loser town this is, pathetic, etc. -- if you don't like it here, do us all a favor and leave. Failing that, STFU."
Ah, yes. The freedom of speech we all hold so dear.
American values?
http://tinyurl.com/loymywj
Bifoot sighting map. Western WA looks like Florida. Big surprise. Just wait a few years! It's our destiny and we are closer than people think. Jefferson Co. - "sightings galore", lol.
Mania Dead-ender! :P
" I personally have a hard-on for you. Please don't spread your stupid opinions about what a loser town this is, pathetic, etc. -- if you don't like it here, do us all a favor and leave. Failing that, STFU."
See? That first sentence is why we need labeling on GMO rice beer...
Anon 10:24 AM, September 21, 2013...Looks like someone slept in and then got up on the grumpy side of the bed. Awww...What's the matter? Up late watching 20/20 displaying all of the inbred, redneck "charm" of Port Angeles?
FACT: It's a loser town, and always will be. No one seriously disputes that. So go back to sleep.
The future of Washington State, and probably Oregon and CA too, is similar to the south specifically Texas, what happened after LBJ and the bills he signed. White people in the PNW, and there are a lot of them here, percentage wise, are conservative and becoming more conservative. Our "progressive west coast" future is in the hands of immigrant cultures. We will end up a red state in half a decade, unless there is an immigrant explosion here, which is not likely. Numbers are growing, but not fast enough. Regardless, in ten years, Texas (and of course California, if there is any doubt) will be more progressive than Washington. Just ask the Pope! His comments today, about worshiping money, and how fucked we are, made me cry. My wife points out it could be the Budweiser.
Talk about Loser Town Port Angeles.
I have to fly out of Seattle, and call Kenmore. Round trip quote from Port Angeles and back? $250!!
My flight across the country is less than that!
I can fly 3,000 miles for less than it costs to fly 50 miles from Port Angeles!
And they wonder why Port Angeles is not competitive. I have to relocate.
Anon 10:24 AM ----
Those tall trees at Lincoln Park are the reason for the high fares on Kenmore Air.
Yes, Kenmore priced themeselves out of my range. It is a great idea; a shuttle flight to connect Port Angeles to Seattle. But with the prices they are charging, it is no wonder so few use that service.
Reminds me of when I went to get the transmission of my truck looked at, as it was having some kind of intermittant elecrical problem. I stopped by one shop in Port Angeles that specializes in automotive electrical fault finding. Seemed like a logical place for the problem at hand. No, I was told, they don't "do" transmissions.
So I head over to one of the transmission repair shops. No, I was told, they don't "do" transmissions of the type in my truck. Their computers don't hook up to them.
No one would even bother looking for what likely turned out to be a bad connection on a solinoid, which I found myself.
I read in todays' PDN that the Port Angeles finance guy says Port Angeles needs to get more businesses to move here. As if THAT hasn't been tried before!
He says the city finances are "at the limit", in part because of that silly sewer tank at Rayonier the City is now paying people NOT to hook up to!
Crazy town. No wonder any business with any smarts stays away.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN INTERESTING.
Are you loving that Obamacare?
Obamacare doesn't apply to us old farts.
Wait until you're on a limited income, and get sick. Obamacare is going to look wonderful.
The alternative? Lose everything you own to medical costs. You think this is not true?
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