Please stop HR 875 and S 425

[conradpdx]

Tin foil hats are not attractive, no matter what "they" tell you.

 

[spook]

I appreciate the clarifying of these subjects, its interesting. er- not. But it is something that can affect us all as the ever loving powers that be in our political house, we voted in, not on qualifications, yet often times, the choice between bad and worse in that office.
Bad is often times better then worse.
conradpdx thank you very much for taking the time to discuss this, very interesting. Of course when we read these links, first thing many of us do is say "OMG its the Gov! Has to be all bad" and when we read it, we do so with crossed arms, refusing to read it with a clear mind and note certain words or phrases.
Like I said, thanks for taking your time to help out.
Kel

 

[beak]

I second that.

 

[waynesgarden]

I've seen posts elsewhere that this bill bans organic seeds, shuts down organic agriculture and prohibits backyard gardens and flocks.

I read the bill and haven't seen anything that remotely supports any of the fears.

If the bill prevents another Stewart Parnell of the Peanut Corporation of America or the like from deliberately sickening and killing another child again, then the bill is well worth supporting, as far as I'm concerned.

Wayne

 

[conradpdx]

Thanks for the kind words.

I guess starting my college career as a history major paid off (but after 1/2 a semester of lectures on the sugar cane industry of Hawaii in the 1800's I decided I didn't want to be that dull). Or perhaps the fact that if given the chance would watch C-SPAN all day (which proves that I really am that dull).

I wish that in school they still taught civics. Personally I think it's more important than history. Politics is confusing enough, especially since all the "experts" on it now are entertainers (From Rush to Franken-when he was on air) and ratings are more important than truth. And unfortunately Truth doesn't bring in the ratings. And it has a tendency to tick off people on both sides of the aisle.

Though in general I will say that most people that enter public service to so to do good things for the people they represent. After all most these people even before they run for office are more than qualified and have the personal connections to make more money in the private sector without all the personal ridicule and probing. And to assume that roughly 600 people (the House and Senate) from all over the country with different ideals, backgrounds, supporters, and agendas are out to get you is a bit of a stretch.

Especially if you consider that farmers markets and the organic food markets are rapidly growing. Farmers markets is the fastest growing aspect of the food industry right now. I know personally that in Oregon, that farmer Markets are helping to keep small towns business districts viable, and that in another month on any day of the week I can hit a farmers market within 5 miles of my house (and only goto the same one twice). I doubt very much that the two reps from Oregon that are cosponsoring this bill would support if it was to go against this trend. Both of them are good men, and do great work for us in Oregon. Our last big agribusiness guy (Gordon Smith ala Smith Frozen Foods) was defeated in the last election. I'd be more worried of dubious intent if his name was on such a bill.

 

[waynesgarden]

Even the OCA, a group that I find sometimes alarmist in their claims, concedes the fears being generated by some are over the top. They title their short article: "Internet Myth of the Week : Congress To Pass Bill That Will Outlaw Organic Farming?"

"This week, we received numerous calls and emails from OCA supporters who came across alarming YouTube videos and emails circulating on the internet that claimed a new food safety bill (HR 875) introduced in Congress would make "organic farming illegal." Although the Bill certainly has its shortcomings, it is an exaggeration to say that is a secret plot by Monsanto and the USDA to destroy the nation's alternative food and farming system."

While they don't support it in it's current version, they concede the intentions are well-meaning: "to address the out-of-control filth and contamination that are inherent in our industrialized, now globalized, 'profit-at-any-cost' food system."

As I've said here and elsewhere, there is too much real work that needs to be done. Wasting energy on the unsubstantiated fears of some, the hatred of anything our government does by a few, or the need for scare-mongering by the tin foil hat crowd saps energy that could be better used elsewhere.

Wayne