Senator Sanders won't give up on GMO-labeling.
By louisehartmann
A week ago, the U.S. Senate voted down an amendment that would have required the labeling of genetically modified foods, but Senator Bernie Sanders said he's not giving up. In an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, Senator Sanders said, “I have not the slightest doubt that the momentum is with us. There are about 27 states in this country that are moving forward on the labeling of GMO food.”
As if to underscore the importance of Senator Sander's determination, just one day after that interview, Reuters reported that unapproved GMO wheat was discovered in Oregon. In that report, a Chicago-based commodities broker said the discovery would harm wheat sales from the Pacific Northwest, because the wheat would be denied the non-GMO stickers that buyers in other countries require.
Not only did that story illustrate the danger of GMOs contaminating our entire food supply, but it demonstrated that U.S. food producers are perfectly capable of abiding by labeling requirements. Apparently, food producers think consumers in other countries are entitled to know what's in the food they eat, yet continue to block Senator Bernie Sanders' efforts to ensure Americans have that same right.
Currently, lawmakers in Connecticut, New York, and Vermont are considering legislation to mandate GMO labeling. As more and more states call for the labeling of genetically modified foods, it's good to know that there are Senators fighting for every person's right to know what's in their food.
Comments
#2
Like I said before, I'm through with both political parties--Democrat and Republican. Green or Independent is the only way to vote from now on!!
#3
The wealthy will decide when they've had enough, when the peons like you and me, says they've had enough and not one day sooner. Think the French revolution, in terms of 21st century sensiblity, if we have any sensibilities left, by then. Scammers like them. will take from the passive, as long as they are allowed. So my question to you is, How long, is long?
#4
First time here.....help, I'm lost
#5
GMO's are stealth chemical warfare. All the pushers need to be charged with war crimes, and all those not taking a stand charged with misprision of felony.
#6
Petra g ~ Wonderful! Thank you for participating. Please specify what you wish to contribute. If you have any questions as to how to contribute please look at the subject below the comments entitled "More information about formatting options" located below all comments. Thanks for your contributions!!
#7
Bernie is truly America's senator. Too bad so many people don't realize it.
#8
Department of Ag says that there is no difference in nutritional value between Whole Wheat bread and enriched white bread but doctors and my wife believe Whole Wheat is best!
I marketers of bread are allowed to pr4omote their ingredients, even if thkey are minor constituents, then GMO should also be at least labelleld.
#9
Thom
I've differed from you quite often, but this is so very important. Deserving of all of your powers to put, spread the word of MONSANTO's greed, control and their destructive manners by using their big, deep pocketed money to screw farm owners! Their product to me is as destructive as any nuclear bomb! Please keep their nose to the pavement and attack them with every ounce of your mite and your team of investigators!!!! thank you man!!!
#10
Uhhhh, please, the next time, write before your twenty martoonies.....
#11
The American public suffers from mass stupidity...you know it and your your friend Papantonio's been courageous enough to refer to it openly, but nothing will be done because of who's controlling the airways.. (The producers of COM.com.). You guys are the best and thanks,
Tony Cohen, MD.
#12
Have you ever tasted a gmo peach or other produce. They are the most god awfull tasting things.
You cant even hold down one bite.
Regular milk/meats versus organic growth hormones steriods antibiotics,
I have cats from a country that doesnt use substitutes for real food and the cats wont eat out crap food, they can actually tell the difference and wont eat it. My own little test one day i did one day.
#13
That doesn't surprise me DOUGLAS M.
To add to your testiment, my brother did an experiment with a patt of Margerine and a pat of pure butter...The ants would not touch the margerine...They devoured the pure butter. Hmmm...Interesting Indeed!
Several years ago a friend of mine spent several months in S.E. Asia. Among the amazing places and new friendly faces he ranted on about the food, in particular the taste of raw peppers, onions, squash, beans, bananas, etc. He said the flavours were brighter and more tasty. This was do to standard Organic Farming techniques and the use of unadulterated seeds.
In my opinion I say Screw Labeling!!!Instead we should demand better; BAN the practice and use of GMOs...STOP MEDDLEING WITH MOTHER NATURE!!! Anything else is a bad compromise...Diminishing Expectations.
#14
Quote Tonycohenster:The American public suffers from mass stupidity...you know it and your your friend Papantonio's been courageous enough to refer to it openly, but nothing will be done because of who's controlling the airways.
Interesting diagnosis Doctor. I must concur. It would also be this fact that is the root cause of all our problems as well. Could it be that a stupid electorate is worse than no electorate at all? It is interesting that you blame the airways for doing nothing about this situation. In my opinion, it is the airways who have caused this problem in the first place. Particularly TV. TV is the perfect device that lulls people--especially children--into a trance that makes their brains devoid of thought, and fixates their minds on glorified rubbish.
What treatment would you prescribe for this social ill? Separating the viewer from the box would be the ideal solution in my opinion. Banning all but educational programming during peak child viewing hours might be another approach. Unfortunately, such solutions would require such tight coordination between parents, children, airway controllers and their sponsors that I doubt we will see the light at the end of this tunnel any time soon. What a shame? The education of the masses would heal so many ills in our modern society. TV is the perfect means to accomplish that ends--if utilized properly.
#15
douglas m and MMmmNACHOS ~ That doesn't surprise me either. While growing up my father and I always worked our own garden at our house. The food we grew always seemed to taste better than the food from the store. When I was younger I thought that was just my imagination telling me that because of the sweet reward experienced when you create something with your own hands.
Recently, however, I traveled to Hawaii where I went on a road trip with several friends around the island of Oahu. Along the way were several roadside stands selling fresh Papaya, Pineapple, and Mangoes. We bought several bags along the way and ate them in the car. The taste was at least 3 X's sweeter and stronger than any such fruits I've ever purchased in the mainland. I couldn't believe the difference. These Papaya, Pineapple, and Mangoes tasted better than the sweetest candy.
It's no wonder we suffer in this country from so many catastrophic eating disorders when our fruits are so bland. If Monsanto is behind this phenomenon then perhaps they can also be held accountable legally, and financially, for all the health issues facing this nation as a result of poor diet and malnutrition? Certainly this is a reasonable course of action that deserves serious attention?
#16
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) has proposed legislation to repeal 'The Monsanto Protection Act' in an Amendment to the Senate Farm Bill. I urge all to sign his petition at:
#17
Obama reportedly backs Monsanto & urged the court to stay out of this case because it could have implications for patenting other products that can reproduce in fields likee nanotechnology & genetics.
#18
From my readings most of the commercial papaya in Hawaii is GMO. I hope small indepent farmers use NON-GMO seeds.
Like you, I too grew up with a full garden of vegies and berries. The taste of fresh picked is the best.
"Genetically modified papayas are approved for consumption both in the US and in Canada. Several Asian countries are currently developing transgenic papaya varieties resistant to local viral strains.
At this point, GM papayas are not approved in the EU. Until now, no application for approval has been submitted. Therefore, importing and marketing genetically modified papayas is not permitted in the EU."
http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/grocery_shopping/fruit_vegetables/14.gene...
Thank you Dannemarc...Yes, I'm still not sure how to access other topics and comment on them...I'll figure it out eventually.
#19
Petra G -- Not only papaya, I thought no GM products were allowed in the Eurozone. I remember in the Heathrow airport there was a restaurant that advertised they served no GM. When we were there in 2011, they no longer had that advertisement. That is when I was told there are no GM foods allowed in the Eurozone, so they no longer needed that advertisement.
#20
Petra g ~ You're most welcome! Feel free to comment on anything you wish. We are not myopic here.
To everyone ~ Especially those who signed the petition to repeal The Monsanto Protection Act that I linked to above thank you as well. Since I posted the link the number of signatures climbed from 88% of what is needed to 91%. I feel confident that at this rate we will have enough signatures to put the Amendment up for a vote by Monday. If you haven't already, please sign the petition.
#21
"Bernie is truly America's senator. Too bad so many people don't realize it."
Fortunately, those of us living in Vermont realize how fortunate we are.
Unfortunately, most of Congress does not feel compelled to represent the will of the people. In spite of polls showing how 'We the People' believe regarding the issues, they vote their own will upon us. Servitude requires a frightened, uninformed, uneducated population. So far, they are right on schedule in creating such a citizenry.
In my opinion, many of opur country's problems could be solved with term limits.
#22
npartrick ~ You are sure right about Bernie Sanders. I hope he considers running for President. He's got my vote.
Quote npatrick:In my opinion, many of opur country's problems could be solved with term limits.
Here I couldn't disagree more. The very name "term limit" is an oxymoron; that, in practice would only help stack our representative bodies with Corporate Shills. We grant our representatives terms because that is their chance to prove themselves. The end of their term is our chance to replace them. If they prove themselves worthy continuously there is no reason not to re elect them. Tossing out a good representative just to toss out a bad representative who might get re elected because his electorate is full of idiots does not solve the problem. You lose a good representative and have to contend with the second bad choice of an electorate composed of idiots. Chances are you will get an equal or worse caliber representative from them due to the simple statistical fact that dishonest politicians outnumber honest politicians in nature. The chances are in your own State that you just sacrificed a Bernie Sanders for another two-faced Shill that you will be stuck with for another term. How many Bernie Sanders are there in Vermont? At the end of Bernie's last term there will be a long line of Corporate sponsered Shills waiting to take his place. Not only does Vermont stand to lose, but the rest of the country as well. No, my friend, "term limits" only benefit the interests of Corporate sponsors, not we the people. Preserve our right to knock these people out of office with our vote and their own performance. The only major reform we need to worry about is Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform. That is the reform that will solve many or our country's problems in my opinion.
#23
J, that is the best description I've read about this!!! I rarely agree with anything Thom says (but still like watching him, for cardiac development) As far as GMO's, Monsanto goes, I'm right there with him! Monsanto needs to go down! Along with their poisonous GMO'S they've been stealing farms in this country and in Canada for years!
#24
npatrick -- The factual evidence supports DAM with regards to term limits. California has had term limits for several years. It has resulted in a dysfunctional govt. The CA govt is partially recovering because of the redistricting proposition we passed.
I agree that comprehensive campaign reform is our only hope. Now the question is how do we get comprehensive campaign reform. We need some power to fight back against the 0.1%. My current thinking is the most likely weapon we have against the 0.1% are labor unions. The most probable way to get unions back in the power game is to have the "card check law" passed. When the democrats had the house, Nancy Pelosi was able to get the "card check law" passed. It was filibustered by the senate on a 40 to 59 vote.
The side effect of this line of reasoning is that, in spite of all their blemishes, we need to vote for democrats, not the green party or whatever.
#25
chuckle8 ~ I follow your reasoning. It will take great power to push campaign finance reform through the Government. Yet, I don't follow the reasoning that this can be accomplished only with Labor Unions and the "card check law." I realize it is a scenario of as to which should come first, the chicken or the egg.
In this case it would certainly seem easier to pass Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform with the full weight of an Unionized America. On the other hand, it seems that this reform would be equally possible through other grassroots organizations and groups. After all, we do out number the 1% by 100/1. It seems to me that if Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform was passed, certainly the "card check law" would naturally follow--along with every other serious legislation that we need.
Please pardon my naivete. I have never had the privilege of belonging to a labor union--although I've always wanted to. You probably know the ins and outs of the system better than I. If you could elaborate on why labor unions are so essentially significant in this process I would be happy to share that info every chance I get. Thanks! DAM
#26
Quote chuckle8:The side effect of this line of reasoning is that, in spite of all their blemishes, we need to vote for democrats, not the green party or whatever.
There was a time where I would agree with that. However after seeing Senators King and Sanders--both Independents--in action over every other impotent Democratic representative in Congress expressing disdain over such issues as the AUMF expansion by the Pentagon and The Monsanto Protection Act, I have to wonder and question this reasoning.
We are not robots, we are voters. There is no better time to capitalize on the gross failures of the Democratic party elects and pressure the party to change in the future if we do not vote for third party candidates now. The worst thing that will happen is the third party will lose. But at the same time they will cost the Democratic party crucial votes and force them to listen to the electorate in the future or pay the price. You are right that we need to apply a powerful force to our elected officials to cause change. The best way to do that is at the ballot box by casting your vote for anyone other that any Democrat that has let us down repeatedly. Any vote for a third party candidate, or even a Republican, can send that message to the Democratic party. We have had it!
#27
DAM you make a very good point...I'll expand on it.
First voting isn't so much about "parties". More so it's about exercising our Democratic Rights and sending a message as to what We the People want; which in a nut shell is leadership that protects and enforces our Constitution...Is representative of We the People, and protects our Liberties and Civil Rights, (in general our wellbeing).
Unfortunatly we are seeing less and less "good leaders" from either side. Hence why sooooooo many people, Left and Right, feel they are NOT being represented by their party; more registered Republicans and Democrats voted for a 3rd party during this last election than every before. And even though that didn't get much - if any - attention from mainstream media...Career politicians got the memo.
What We the People need to do now is our homework and make sure we show up for the mid-term elections...The message we send will prime the 2016 elections.
Keep in mind for 2016; Rocky Anderson of the Justice party, and Jill Stein of the Green Party. And yes DAM, B. Sanders is great leader and a true representative of the American People...He listens, and he is our bull horn. And though I would vote for him if he ran for President (as an Independent), I am not sure he would be able to continue to live up to his reputation, but that is me just being synical after 40 years of being anally raped by the Corporate hijacking of the U.S. Government.
namasté
#28
MMmmNACHOS ~ I looked up both Jill and Rocky and they both would make outstanding Presidents. Personally I had to lean a little more toward Rocky because of his bureaucratic experience serving already two terms as the Mayor of Salt Lake City. However, If I were to dig deeper, his political, anti-war activism, dedication to investigating the Bush Administration for war crimes and closing Gitmo, his ability to lower carbon emissions in Salt Lake City by 31%, and his overall commitment to the environment, human rights, and the Constitution would win my vote easily. After hearing his statement to the judiciary committee in 2008 concerning Impeachment proceedings against the Bush Administration he won my heart. Rocky Anderson of the Justice Party. I won't soon forget that name.
#29
at-a-boy!!! You did your home work. Now share the info with your friends, familey, and co-workers.
I also found Jill Stein to be a good choice for President. I actually campaigned for Rocky Anderson in my town. For 4 straight months all I did was talk to people about Rocky Anderson. I even had a 5 min conversation with a volunteer for the Obama campaign about why I was going to caste my vote for Rocky Anderson. Of course he did as instructed and tried to scare me by saying that a vote like that would just be in favor of Mitt Romney. I of course replyed by saying that I wasn't concerned with such nonsense rehtoric and that either way (Obama or Romney) we would end up with just another Wall St. puppet. BY that point I just calmly hung up the phone and went back to masterbating!
#30
mNachos -- When you say more voters voted for a 3rd party than ever before, where are you getting that number? Ross Perot received a lot of votes. As a percentage of the number of voters that voted (the % is the thing that counts not the number of votes) surely Teddy Roosevelt and his bullmoose party must have had the highest for any 3rd party.
#31
DAM and nachos -- I hate to pick on you dreamers, but I have to agree with Obama worker about how scary and how permanent a Romney administration would be. You do realize with the tax holiday and the low capital gains tax it would have put an extra 4 or 5 trillion into the hands of the 0.1%. With that kind of money they could buy elections from now to forever. The failure of the recall in WI of S. Walker shows what can happen when you outspend your opponent at least 16 to 1. Even Thom was buying the BS excuses. Thom was saying Grey Davis was recalled from office for some illiegal activity; the only thing he did was to try to solve CA deficit problem by tripling the auto registration fee.
With 90% of the people for a background check vs the "no 4 trillion funded" NRA, We the People lost. That is why I call you dreamers. On the other hand the wimpy democrats were able to pass the "card check law" amongst several others that would have helped. Just get democrats in both houses and work from that advantage point.
#32
Yes CHUCKLES, Peroit did in fact receive a lot of votes...He also was aloted a spot in the debates...A vantage that was not offered to Jill Stein or Rocky Anderson, even though both were registered and on the ballet in 27 states. Jill Stein was actually arrested when she and her running mate attempted to enter the auditorium for the second round of debates for President.
You "may" be right about the # & % of votes comparabley, but it is certainly very very close.
However, besides trivial info...My point was that traditional Republicans and Democrats are getting fed up with their parties and those thart are being appointed to run certain government agencies.
I don't disagree with your fear of Romney...BUT as long as Wall St is running the show it does not matter who is President and what party they are from. So pull your head out of the Donkeys ass...The reality is that Voters need to stop blindly voting based on "Party" and start voting based on Standards & Principles; principles that are for the betterment of ALL of society. Standards that improve the quality of life for those less fortunate. Standards that protect our wellbeing and see to it that no American citizen is cast out as a burden for being ill, elderly, or poor.
#33
US Citizen:
Term: a fixed or limited period for which something is intend to last. I must suggest term limit is not an oxymoron. By definition it is a redundancy.
I did not mean to suggest one term to be set as the limit, but I do believe never ending membership in the business of 'representing' the voters is a not good idea.
I agree we should give those elected a chance to prove themselves. Re-elect them if fitting. Unfortunately we re-elect most every one. Regardless. Kinda likens sending a criminal to prison where they can hone their craft, to be trained by skilled inmates.
Want to take the possibility of electing corporate shills out to the picture? Take corporate money out of elections. On this we agree. 100%
How many Bernie Sanders are there in Vermont? Many. A lot of people with tons of common sense reside in this tiny state.
In an ideal world, we could remove the deadbeats, based on their performance, via the vote. However, we as a populous are lazy and uninformed. If we could remove the useless and self centered, the halls of Congress would be very empty. I am troubled by the lack of caring about where this country is headed. I do not have the answers.
But as with GMO labeling, I truly believe we have a right to know what we are eating and breathing, and we need the complete truth to make intelligent decisions. This did start as a discussion regarding GMO labeling, we are in total agreement. We would probably agree on so many other issues as well. Keep searching for answers as will I. Be well
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Over thirty years ago Americans were sold a politico/economic theory which stated that if we let the rich get richer then they would shower wealth on us little folks due to the rich's obvious ability to do well. They would share with the rest of us because they play well with others and as G. W. Bush said, 'make the pie higher.' I guess a rising pie floats all forks. Nevertheless, since that time there was one of the greatest transfers of wealth in the history of Earth from a healthy middle class to the wealthy. The middle class has been hit hard and even a few of those that voted for 'voodoo economics' may have begun to suspect they were scammed. The wealthy even wish to be excepted from the taxes necessary to provide for the commons which they use even more than us little folks. They would insist on a regressive system of taxation to take from those on the edge of collapse economically. My question for the reader is, when will the wealthy decide to reverse our state of affairs? As Senator Elizabeth Warren said, 'the game is rigged.' As C. Krob says, 'if it ain't working, try something else.'