What's in a Label?

                I don’t think this story will ever make the national news, even though the issue effects  every man, woman and child in America. I wouldn’t have a clue about it if my son and daughter-in-law weren’t farmers and committed to the principles of naturally grown, pesticide and chemical free crop management. I listen to son John’s description of caring for the soil, using natural unmodified seeds and pest control that balances nature without poisoning it, and wonder why farmers would do anything else.

                Well, there’s lots of reason why not and I don’t plan to go into them. I just want to share two things with you.

                The first is a website I came across that I think is very informative if you wonder what I’m writing about  or are concerned about consuming genetically modified organisms  (GMOs) in your food (along with other goodies like Bt, Roundup, hormones and antibiotics). Visit www.earthopensource.com... and that’s all I’m going to say about that.

                Here’s the news you won’t hear. Because California uses initiatives to make laws rather than rely on legislators to introduce them, the regulation to make food producers add “GMO” or “Non-GMO” to food labels is currently up for vote by the people of California.  According to the polls, the majority of Americans, when given the choice, would choose NOT to consume food with GMO ingredients.  Agribusiness in America uses GMOs in food production so much that adding GMO on labels would be devastating to the industry. If California approves GMO labeling, making labels to comply with the new regulation for the California market alone would be prohibitive; most likely the labels will be uniform across America. And how will that affect sales in the U.S.?

                You would think Big Brother would be behind this labeling movement. It seems to me, Big Brother is into banning things (as in New York City vs  giant Coke beverages) and not into  truth in labeling so Americans (who apparently are too stupid to decide anything on their own) can choose not to become lab rats for big business and decide for themselves what to consume.

                Here’s your power. First, if you think I’m on a rant and just full of it, ignore me. But if you wish to have choice about what you put in your body, download the free app from Apple:  ShopNoGMO or visit  www.nonGMOshopping to download the shopping guides .

                Law of supply and demand rules - despite lobbyists, legislators, or courts. In the end, you get what you are willing to buy. You rule!

Robo-Virus and Ma Bell

It’s the mean season.  We face two months of political sound bites, mudslinging and skewed facts (better known as lies). It would be a miracle if we could vote a government into office capable of agreeing on anything – even what to order for lunch would be a good start. Oh, I forgot to add, without the lunch costing 1.5 billion dollars.

I hear each candidate claim he will create more jobs.  Just exactly how does Executive power create jobs?  Will the President wave the flag three times over the Lincoln Memorial and force Kodak to hire 200 workers?  

Some people know which candidate will get their vote. Others are still working through the hype. Personally, I dread the coming robo calls. Why do people who are supposedly bright enough to solve America’s problems (?) think these nuisances would tip the balance in their favor? Let’s see - in the last four days Candidate A has interrupted my dinnertime three times, assuming I will listen to a recording of political drivel while my ground beef burns. Yes! I want to vote for that man!

As I turn my phone on to stop the ringing  so I can turn it off immediately,  my only satisfaction is that whoever that candidate  was, he or she  just wasted more of his money  than my time. And if I fail to check caller ID and accidentally respond, like Pavlov’s dog to a ringing phone, the robo call will certainly make me reconsider voting for that candidate.

Because here is my question: since everyone knows the public hates these things, why would a person who wants my vote invade my home with aggravating, electronic drivel?  If the candidates claim it’s not them, but their campaigns initiating these calls, I wonder why they do not have control over their own campaigns. Choosing to implement robo calls on your behalf tells me you are not listening to the American public and have no intention of doing so in the future.  If you can’t control your campaign’s decisions, why should I believe you are capable of leading what is euphemistically called the free world?

My dream candidate would not make claims but would describe methods. My candidate would not snipe at his or her opposition in mind numbing sound bites that insult my intelligence.  My candidate will say to the electorate: I agree robo calls are a nuisance and you will not receive any on my behalf.

 Can I vote for you twice?