General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIMPORTANT - Monsanto Teams Up with Congress to Shred the Constitution
<snip> Without any hearings on the matter, the Senate included language that would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to essentially ignore any court ruling that would otherwise halt the planting of new genetically engineered crops. Here is how Capital Press explains it:
The rider pertains to transgenic crops that have been deregulated by the USDA but then had that approval overturned by a judge a scenario that has occurred with genetically engineered alfalfa and sugar beets.
In such a situation, the agency shall immediately issue permits or a partial deregulation order that would temporarily allow farmers to continue growing and selling the crop until USDA is done re-evaluating its environmental effects, according to the rider.
Why is this such a big deal? The court system is often our last hope, with Congress, the White House, and regulatory agencies deep inside industrys pocket. Several legal challenges have resulted in court decisions overturning USDAs approval of new GMO crops, for example, sugar beets.
- -
Senator Jon Testers best attempts to stop the so-called biotech rider, the measure was pushed through. (Industry had tried to get a similar measure passed more than once last year.) Tester minced no words in an article in yesterdays POLITICO about this and other industry power grabs such as weakening small farmer protections:
These provisions are giveaways, pure and simple, and will be a boon worth millions of dollars to a handful of the biggest corporations in this country. They deserve no place in this bill. We simply have got to do better on both policy and process.
--------
Full article at - http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2013/03/monsanto-teams-up-with-congress-to-shred-the-constitution/#.UVGSYb3cjZk
Please sign:
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/sign/stop_the_monsanto_protection_act_seize_congress/?rd=1&t=11&referring_akid=786.174368.Y3aMio
Newest Reality
(12,712 posts)What's this "Constitution" being referred to?
It think you may mean, Corporate Charter of the United States, Inc.
Oh, maybe that memo is not in wide circulation yet.
Smilo
(1,944 posts)It starts out -
One of them was the concept of separation of powers, which ensures a system of checks and balances among the three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. But a dangerous provision snuck into the budget bill passed last week in Congress upends that system.
Newest Reality
(12,712 posts)Thanks.
Just seeing as a long time in progress.
Sorry if my sarcasm detracted from your OP.
Nuclear Unicorn
(19,497 posts)It is not unconstitutional for congress to tell the judiciary what it intends when it writes a law. The judiciary cannot just strike down a law some judge somewhere doesn't like unless that law can be shown to violate the Constitution otherwise that would be an infringement of congress' power to legislate.
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)The rider pertains to transgenic crops that have been deregulated by the USDA but then had that approval overturned by a judge a scenario that has occurred with genetically engineered alfalfa and sugar beets.
In such a situation, the agency shall immediately issue permits or a partial deregulation order that would temporarily allow farmers to continue growing and selling the crop until USDA is done re-evaluating its environmental effects, according to the rider.
Why is this such a big deal? The court system is often our last hope, with Congress, the White House, and regulatory agencies deep inside industrys pocket. Several legal challenges have resulted in court decisions overturning USDAs approval of new GMO crops, for example, sugar beets.
Autumn
(45,109 posts)How do we do better on both policy and process when we seem to have to beg people we elected, who very well understand the dangers of this to do the right thing? Follow the money.
Smilo
(1,944 posts)you are so right, but history has shown that the "ordinary" person can triumph and if we only stand together we can do so again.
Thanks for signing.
raouldukelives
(5,178 posts)So strong that the idea of assisting the Monsanto's of the world and profiting from it turns your stomach more than the money soothes it.
KT2000
(20,584 posts)the consulting company? They were the ones who devised Monsanto's business plan to flood the market with GMO products because it is nearly impossible to stop something once it is in the market.
Cost/benefit analysis used to stop dangerous products and practices applies to the cost and benefit to the corporation - not the public.
This is the plan to its extreme - and how many other companies are going to use this method to flood the market with potentially dangerous products.
Corporations are in charge of this country now.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)Poll_Blind
(23,864 posts)PB
valerief
(53,235 posts)2naSalit
(86,650 posts)Thanks for posting (Reposting...?).
benld74
(9,904 posts)Smilo
(1,944 posts)Last edited Tue Mar 26, 2013, 03:43 PM - Edit history (1)
state rider was anonymous.
Washington, D.C.Today, the Senate passed a continuing resolution that was laden with special interest policy riders. Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland) and Ranking Member Richard Shelby (R-Alabama) abdicated their responsibility by offering a stale spending bill from last year that is loaded with special legislative giveaways to big agribusiness companies. The heavy-handed and undemocratic process used to force the Senate to accept a deeply flawed proposal allowed votes on only nine amendments.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/03/21/174973235/did-congress-just-give-gmos-a-free-pass-in-the-courts
George II
(67,782 posts)Smilo
(1,944 posts)and seems to have been slipped in anonymously.
docgee
(870 posts)Veilex
(1,555 posts)Any organic object that is genetically modified and is grown for purposes of consumption... couldn't that be considered a drug as well as food? Would not such an item have to undergo medical trials in addition to certification through the FDA? Might be a non-starter, but if cells can be taken from a person, slightly modified and re-introduced back to the donor and still be considered a drug, then why aren't genetically modified plants considered drugs as well?
Hmmmmmm.
docgee
(870 posts)indepat
(20,899 posts)way of rhetorically saying "fuck the promote the general welfare doctrine, that's for pansy-waisted governments of, by and for the people."
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)Mine got exactly 1 reply. (sigh)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022568059
Smilo
(1,944 posts)when I did a search I didn't see your posting.
But a great big thank you sir for making a difference - together we can.
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)Frankenfood and killer seeds are the issue here -- we're just the messengers. It's just been a challenge getting DUers' interest for this issue.
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)fredamae
(4,458 posts)Stop Electing The Same Fkn Problem(s) Over and Over!
We keep recycling incumbants and relatives of the incumbants friends/families that keep doing the same shit to us-not for us-
Votes matter! Not Party affiliation.
When you look Only at the Votes?
All differences between the party's disappear.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)k & r.
AndyA
(16,993 posts)The people? Who are they? Oh, you mean "you people"? The little people who pay the bills but get pissed on by the rich people up on the balcony?
We need a clean slate. Fixing this issue with Monsanto alone won't do it. We need to get the money out of our elections. We need to make sure the elections are fair and accurate. We need to make sure everyone eligible to vote gets to vote. We need to vote out the career politicians who no longer represent the people.
That's why it's a big deal. Yes, Monsanto is a big deal. But we can't even get laws passed that make sure our food is labeled accurately. Is this real, or genetically modified? People should have a choice in what they buy, and the only way that happens is to identify the fake stuff, but we can't even make that happen. I think it was California that just voted against labeling genetically modified food--despite overwhelming public support before the election, Monsanto, Coke, Pepsi, Kraft, etc., dumped a ton of money into advertising and actually changed people's minds, so they voted it down.
It's going to take people getting involved for a change. They've got to get off their butts, quit watching the Real Housewives of Spoiledsnottyville and DO something. More people are beginning to pay attention, but we need more.