Sorry, Not trying to be combative, just trying to understand why you think that forcing people to do what you want through government regulation is a good thing.
I don’t see a philosophical difference between this and obamacare.
Well, it’s not forcing “people” to do anything. A corporation may be a “person”, but it is never one of the “people”.
And I have tried to make clear that it IS NOT my personal opinion that counts here, there are both PROS and CONS to gmo foods.
A corporation gets a “license” to do something. A “license” is government approval to do something that otherwise might be illegal. Corporations, by getting “licenses”, agree to the regulation of government.
For instance I as a people could not just start making tons of potato salad and selling it on the sidewalk. And we know why. Because I might kill a bunch of folks with food poisoning.
And I think most people would see and agree that those regulations are not only necessary, but reasonable. Corporations get licenses to make food not just for their families or their friends, but for MILLIONS of people, people who have all types of conditions and sensitivities.
Diabetics need to know about sugar. People with various allergies might need to know about peanuts or other items. People with high blood pressure need to know about salt content. The list goes on and on.
Remember - corporations DO NOT know you. They have no idea at all what your likes, dislikes, medical conditions or whatever are. They would, I am sure, rather not care at all, and at the same time willingly accept NO LIABILITY if you eat something you are sensitive to.
With that in mind, if they want to accept no liability, it is reasonable and even prudent to honestly state on the label what is in foods.
If it’s not bad, it can’t hurt.
If it’s a good thing, it will help!
I am old enough to vaguely remember talking with my mom about the introduction of margarine. When she was young, margarine came with a tab of food coloring in it so you could crush the tab, and that would turn the margarine from white to a more butter colored item. At that time it was ILLEGAL to sell margarine that was artificially colored to look like butter.
We’re talking 70, maybe 80 years ago!
And now what are we finding out?
Margarine is primarily hydrolyzed vegetable fats, created at high temperatures and pressures. A more modern name for margarines are the so called “trans-fats”.
And they are not very good for you!
So I don’t take anything at face value. Put the info out there and let the people decide.
Because someday, it might actually be part of peoples medical history (and be very relevant) to ask them “Have you ever eaten any GMO licorice?”
I read an article about the genes in BT actually jumping into the host DNA. I know enough about the subject that it scared the crap out of me!
In this case, the PAC that was started by the corporations (and the corporations admitted this in court) was originally started to HIDE THE NAMES OF THE DONORS from the public.
The fact that they feel they have something to hide should make any reasonable person ask wassup with that?
Genetic engineering is in it’s infancy. Yes, it could increase yields hugely. Yes, it could decrease cost.
But at the same time, it could pollute the gene pool - not just for this year, but FOREVER. It could even cause new diseases to emerge that have never been seen in the history of man.
So, sorry for calling you combative, but in my mind I am the conservative one, urging full disclosure and a very, very, very cautious approach.
;-)