GMO debate: Salatin vs. Mercola [November 7th]

[Occam's Banana]

http://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/free-market-vs-government-decree-on-the-gmo-issue/

Free Market vs. Government Decree on the GMO Issue

On November 7 in Atlanta, the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund will host a debate between famed farmer Joel Salatin (http://karendecoster.com/?s=salatin) and Dr. Joseph Mercola on the GMO labeling question. Anarcho Salatin takes the viewpoint that government should not mandate GMO labeling in spite of the fact that the entire GMO industry is built upon a house of corporatocracy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporatocracy). Mercola argues that government is needed to mandate the wishes of the majority. Go Salatin! The event is listed here (http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/news_wp/?page_id=7105).

Here is a preview. [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0usNI4kmFMk ]


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0usNI4kmFMk

[better-dead-than-fed]

Salatin takes the viewpoint that... the entire GMO industry is built upon a house of corporatocracy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporatocracy).http://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/free-market-vs-government-decree-on-the-gmo-issue/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporatocracy :


Corporatocracy... is a term used as an economic and political system controlled by corporations or corporate interests.

I'm not convinced that is what we have, because if a politician can be bought by money, I don't see why he would prefer a corporations' money over money from individuals, sole proprietorships, partnerships, and LLC's?

From what I have seen, the GMO industry is a consequence of agricultural subsidies (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agricultural_policy_of_the_United_States), which would be attractive to everyone who wants the government to be in the business of providing food for people.

[Working Poor]

I am with Joe on this one...

[ClydeCoulter]

Sounds like a waste of time, but it's theirs, not mine :)

Some good principle applied only at the right time to be used against another is falsehood. Attack the problem, then good principled solutions are available.

[donnay]

Government is already involved in mandating labels. But people who buy their groceries in a store have no idea what is in the products they are consuming. Ideally, if people want to avoid GMO's they need to either grow their own or buy from trusted local farmers and ranchers. But that is not always fool-proof or doable for a large majority of the people in the country. Monsanto and the other Big Agra businesses are calling the shots along with Big pHARMa. I think the only way to stop this, is by making people aware of the dangers of GMO.

This is a labeling issue. One where the giants do not want transparency. I think companies that want to inform people should voluntarily label their foods. However, the problem is that the giants are trying to stop this practice and using government to enforce it.

The solutions are not as easily desired as some may think. I agree, asking a corrupt government to simply enforce truthful labelings is the only way around this, for now. But making people aware of the deception and boycotting companies who will not comply with the people's wishes may be the alternative way to tackle it.

[better-dead-than-fed]

Here's the best solution. No Big Government intervention nor mandatory labeling needed.

http://i41.tinypic.com/rsdf8w.jpg (http://www.nongmoproject.org/)
http://www.nongmoproject.org/

Yes, products are allowed to label themselves as Non-GMO, voluntarily.


people who buy their groceries in a store have no idea what is in the products they are consuming. Ideally, if people want to avoid GMO's they need to either grow their own or buy from trusted local farmers and ranchers.

Or use the service that FrankRep noted?


I think companies that want to inform people should voluntarily label their foods. However, the problem is that the giants are trying to stop this practice and using government to enforce it.

As closely as I have followed Monsanto threads, I have seen rumors but no evidence that anyone is really being stopped from voluntarily labeling their products. If there's evidence, people could post it. Or just yell at me for wanting to see evidence, like usually happens.

[erowe1]

Government is already involved in mandating labels.

So we have this problem caused by government intervention. And the way to solve it is with more government intervention?

[angelatc]

Libertarians advocating for government labeling - LOL!

They're no better than the rest of us when it comes to selective hypocrisy. Mention supporting a flat tax instead of an income tax and you'll get thrashed mercilessly because "the income tax should be abolished and replace with nothing!!!"

Which is much different than "the government is already taxing us, so why not at least make it more equitable?"

But gay marriage? Food labeling? Well, that's certainly a job for BIG GOVERNMENT!

[donnay]

Or use the service that FrankRep noted?



As closely as I have followed Monsanto threads, I have seen rumors but no evidence that anyone is really being stopped from voluntarily labeling their products. If there's evidence, people could post it. Or just yell at me for wanting to see evidence, like usually happens.


Yeah verified Non-GMO is great--no arguments, until states start helping the Biotech companies like this...

Oregon passes the “Monsanto Protection Act”
http://benswann.com/oregon-passes-the-monsanto-protection-act/

[donnay]

So we have this problem caused by government intervention. And the way to solve it is with more government intervention?

And what is your solution?

[erowe1]

Libertarians advocating for government labeling - LOL!

The cynical side of me wants them to get their way, so that later on, the next time the rest of us call for the abolishment of the FDA, we can listen to them defend it and tell us how important it is to have them telling us what is GMO.

[angelatc]

The cynical side of me wants them to get their way, so that later on, the next time the rest of us call for the abolishment of the FDA, we can listen to them defend it and tell us how important it is to have them telling us what is GMO.

I amended my post - I'm saving this for their resistance to supporting a flat tax over the income tax. I mean, the government is already involved in taxing us....right?

And don't get me started about how evil special interest groups are.

[mike123]

"The federal government lacks constitutional authority to mandate labeling of products containing genetically-modified food. Furthermore, those who do not wish to consume genetically-modified products should be leery of federally-mandated labeling because history shows that federal regulatory agencies are susceptible to 'capture,' where the regulators end up serving the interest of the business they are supposed to control. In the case of labeling, federal agencies could redefine the meaning of 'modified' to allow genetically-engineered food on the market without fully-informing consumers of the presence of genetically- engineered ingredients. Instead of federal regulation, consumers should demand that manufactures provide full information and refuse to buy those products that are not fully labeled. Once producers see there is a demand for non-genetically-engineered products they will act to fulfill that demand. Of course, makers of genetically-engineered food should be held legally responsible if they fraudulently market their products or harm anyone."
Feb. 26, 2008 Ron Paul (http://2012election.procon.org/view.source.election.php?sourceID=11140)