Senate Bill sb 510 and your right to grow your own food
75Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010
Senate Bill 510, that is set to come up for a vote this weekend is being called by some as the most dangerous bill in the history of the US. Essentially it is to our food what the bailouts were to the economy, the only difference being we can live without money.
“If accepted [S 510] would preclude the public’s right to grow, own, trade, transport, share, feed and eat each and every food that nature makes. It will become the most offensive authority against the cultivation, trade and consumption of food and agricultural products of one’s choice. It will be unconstitutional and contrary to natural law or, if you like, the will of God.” ~Dr. Shiv Chopra, Canada Health whistle blower
The passage of this bill will extend control over all food in the US, violating a fundamental human right to food. It will create higher compliance costs for smaller producers, putting them at a competitive disadvantage against corporate farmers and producers who can more easily absorb costs, fees, and possible fines, furthermore products not grown according to designated standards will be considered adulterated and your business records will be subject to warrant less searches by inspectors from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), all this without any evidence that you have violated any law.
Some critics of this bill say it could go a lot further also, to the point where the National Guard or other Federal Agencies are called out to quarantine your town. Under S.B. 510’s House counterpart bill, H.R. 2749 (Section 133b, “Authority to Prohibit or Restrict the Movement of Food”), sponsored by Congressman Dingell, the Secretary of Health and Human Services will have the power to prohibit all movement of all food within a geographic area, whether the food is in your grandmother’s grocery bag in her Toyota Hybrid or on a flatbed. No court order will be needed, just a phone call to the appropriate state official and a public announcement will be sufficient.
They also claim that because of concerns over the production of raw milk products like soft cheese's, brie, feta, etc. This new law will be able to prevent the manufacture and distribution of such items within the US. If you don't believe that the FDA would over step their bounds look at what they did to Phusion Projects last week, with their ban on Caffeine in Alcohol they essentially crippled that company.
Under this new law, US food suppliers would need to meet other countries requirements and standards, also S.B. 510 will cost Americans $825 billion in 2010 alone.
The House of Representatives version of this bill, H.R. 2749, which passed under suspended rules, does not address any of the root causes of the U.S.'s food safety problems, which were highlighted in both a recent campaign by the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) and by a letter to 99 U.S. senators by the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund (R-CALF USA).
According to Citizens for Health
If this proposed law is enacted it would:
• Undermine DSHEA and move the U.S. one step closer to harmonizing our standards under Codex with those of supplement-restrictive regimes like the European Union. (DSHEA, or the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, asserts that supplements are food and are safe for consumption unless proven otherwise – ensuring that millions of Americans are able to enjoy access to safe, effective and affordable dietary supplements).
• Give the FDA unprecedented control over farms and direct-to-consumer distributors. If passed, the bills would charge facilities an annual $500 registration fee, require additional record keeping, and expand FDA authority to quarantine geographic areas for alleged food safety problems – all without significantly improving food safety.
• Cost U.S. taxpayers trillions of dollars ($825 billion in 2010 alone) while providing fewer physical inspections and less food safety overall.
• Harm U.S. organic farmers by imposing overlapping regulations.
• Hurt food supplements and health-food stores by imposing standards that are already covered by the AER (Adverse Event Reporting) Law, cGMPs (current Good Manufacturing Practices) and food facility registration.
• Cripple local food co-ops, farm stands, independent ranchers and artisanal food producers by imposing unnecessary standards and unfair bureaucratic burdens.
To help stop this bill from going through please copy and print the letter below, sign and mail it to your Senator, or copy to your e-mail account and send it to them via e-mail.
While although SB 510 is purporting to increase food safety, it in all actuality will leave consumers more vunerable to foodborne illnesses; how, by changing the way that the FDA handles inspections. It will be going from doing physical, on-site inspections in plants, factories and slaughterhouses, to a 'risk-based food safety system'.
What will this mean for the small time farmer? The new law will force small time farmer's to go out of business, placing all of the U.S. food production into large corporations, for citizens this will mean letting corporations that are more concerned with making a profit decide what is and isn't healthy for your family to consume.
A Letter to your Senator:
I urge you to vote against S. 510 in its current form, as it is bad for consumers, bad for local food production and ultimately bad for food safety.
S. 510, sponsored by Senator Durbin, appears to address food safety concerns but would instead provide more power to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and severely hurt local food production (including farm stands, food co-ops, organics and sustainable agriculture and artisanal, small-scale food production).
The House version of this bill (sponsored by Congressman Dingell), H.R. 2749, did pass, but was only able to pass after the rules were suspended and the bill was approved by a simple majority via roll-call vote.
A large number of the changes the House wanted to legislate can be made by the FDA under current law if FDA regulators use their present authority to ensure that industry produces safe and wholesome foods.
S. 510 would leave the public more vulnerable to food-borne diseases since the FDA would be required to use a questionable, risk-based food safety system called HACCP rather than doing old-fashioned and effective physical, on-site inspections in plants, factory farms and slaughterhouses, where the actual food safety concerns are.
In addition, our nation is over $11.8 trillion in debt - but this bill would allocate trillions more in U.S. taxpayer dollars to further complicate and bog down an already confused and regulated food safety system - all for less consumer protection.
If you are already a co-sponsor of this bill, I ask you to withdraw your support. If you are not yet signed on, I ask you to please oppose and re-write this misguided bill.
Especially for all those who have been champions of food safety, such as Citizens for Health, this bill, in its current form, is bad for consumers, bad for local food production and ultimately bad for food safety.
Please oppose or completely overhaul S. 510.
An Update to the SB 510 Issue
- Giving the Food Safety Bill the Blue Slip
All is not lost. There is word out there now that because of information contained within section 107 of the Food Safety bill (S. 510), apparently they have included in the bill a way to raise revenue (taxes),... - Food For Thought; Senate Bill 510
As the Senate votes on S 510 today we need to look at a few items. While the Natural Products Association is happy with the revisions that directly involve their interests, including protections for the...
Update 11-30
Someone just e-mailed and said that because of the number of calls to Senators this bill didn't pass last night. However they are trying for another vote on it tonight. I'd like to get confirmation for sure about that.
From the Southwest Missouri Conservative Group:
Senate just passed S510 by a vote of 73-25. 12 Republicans voted "yea."
Bill is supposed to now go back to the House for reconciliation since their version was passed a year ago, and is different.
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eovery contact your Senator... this comes up for a vote soon so don't wait... thanks for the comment
Hi rachell, very informative hub. It is a good thing they don't have anything important to mess with or they would not have time to vote on this one. How stupid can they get? How did this even get far enough to be voted on?
Have a great Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving OP, I hope you guys have a wonderful holiday. I don't know how it got this far I am just hoping that it either gets stopped or we can reverse the damage after January... add it to the long list of stuff that we are going to have to fix.
I have been hearing about this for some time now. There would be many, many people who would not be able to afford groceries. Bottom line is control, and the lame duck session is a big worry. We replaced two of Pelosi's and Reids followers but they are not in office yet. Whether or not they will they seek revenge or see the light remains to be seen.
Have a Great Thanksgiving Day.
rommergrot: Thanks for the Comment, have a great thanksgiving.
I contacted both of my Senators...they acted like they never heard of this issue before.
Thanks for the info.
Michael, I heard Mark Levin talking about it on his program the other night (Monday?) and then I received an e-mail about it yesterday morning, as far as I know it hasn't gone up for a vote yet, but it will you can Google it for more information, it's odd that your Senators don't know anything about it, unless they are just playing dumb (which given their status as Politicians it might not be playing so much...) Thank you for your comment and concern. Happy Thanksgiving.
Very good topic to bring attentioon to. There are petitions similar to the letter you display that can be signed on the many petiton websites and sites of opposers of this bill as well. I think you would enjoy a video I have on one of my hubs closely related to this topic, find it on You Tube, search for "The End of Liberty" or watch it on my hub of the same title. It may seem to be a bit of a fear monger type video but I believe you'll see the truth in it as I did. Great hub.
Jeremy: Thanks for the comment, I'll have to check it out.
More Police state tactics by our Government. I truly feel sorry for our children. They are going to grow up in a country and a world that is so repressive. More and more our rights to do so much as even breathe air is being taken away from us.
Tony, all we can do is fight back. Tell your Senators that a vote yes on this bill means they are voting themselves out of office. It's important that we speak up, or be silenced forever.
When I actually looked at the version of this bill that is coming up for vote next week, I couldn't find any threat to DSHEA, and I saw that Senator Tester's amendment to exempt small farms and local growers had been included.
Because I really care about DSHEA and organic/local produce, I'd really appreciate it if someone could tell me where in the current bill I might be able to find these threats. When I've lobbied my Senators and Congressman, I've found that they listen a lot more closely if I can explain the specific problem.
Marc: From what I have been able to find in the last twenty minutes, as of 11-19 they have added a delay into the bill about small farms, I haven't found what that delay will mean, or anything about the DSHEA, but I am still looking.
Awesome job. I submitted this link to reddit, which will get you zero comments, but might generate a lot of traffic.
Wesman Todd Shaw: Thanks. For the comment and the submit
Rachell just to let you know , I linked this hub to one I just published because I think it is that important.
I think we can all agree on this one. I'll put the word out on my online networks also. Great hub!
Tony thanks for the comment, I will check out your hub. I am also going to be publishing an update either tomorrow or Monday. Thanks again.
ElderYoungMan, Thank you for your comment and for the link :)
Well, you caught a big fish on this one - I copied the letter and sent it off, especially poignant since I am in Dick Durbin's constituency! Thanks for a great hub!
Dave: Thanks for reading and commenting.
OMG what is the US comming too... Thats just plain nuts...
kmackey32: Thanks for the comment, please contact your senator.
Rachel, I have been all over this one. I first heard about this two years ago when President Obama first took office. This is another one of his economy/U.S. killing ideas. If this passes, the next session MUST get busy repealing it. This is scary Sh*t!
jtcarr: I have been corresponding with another individual about this and I will be posting an updated hub on Tuesday morning. From what he tells me they've changed a lot of the information but I am waiting to see what he sends me about it tomorrow. Thanks for the comment.
I recall the Food Safety Modernization Act (HR 875) from last year. There were similiar scare stories put out that were false. I'm not sure if this Senate bill 510 is the same one? I'll certainly look into 510 and if you are correct, I will be calling my senators to oppose it. I suspect it could be the same Food Safety Modernization Act from last year that stalled in committee. If it is, most of the stories about it are simply false.
(FYI...not sure if this means anything but the SB510 has support in the senate from both Dems and Republicans. 12 Dem co sponsors and 8 republicans.
LRCBlogger, I have been talking with another individual who knows a lot more about this bill than I do, I am going to be updating the hub on Tuesday. I am waiting for him to e-mail me some more information before I update.
rachellrobinson, great job in reporting here.
This is as LRCBlogger said the same act only updated. Eithe way, if passed, we are in for some major set backs. This bill goes along with the deal about the seed companies.
These little bills don't get much attention, and are quietly and easily slipped through without us knowing of them. This is wrong on so many levels.
We have got to do more than just talk about it. Every right we have is slowly, little by little being jerked out from under us.
If we talk too much people say oh its just a lunatic doing the panic thing. No, it is serious. Our children are being taught to conform instead of think.
This is just the beginning of the end. The end of what depends how and when we (the people) decide to get up and do something.
Again, thank you for reporting and doing a great job. Keep us informed please.
Hi Rachel - super hub which explains in a very straight-forward and easily understood manner - great work - I am currently writing a 'series' of hubs about a number of related issues some of which 'pass through' areas which you detail - your knowledge is most impressive and it has helped me understand much much more than I did before on this particular issue.
I live in England but you know things are 'moving' in a similar way over here - just that many people don't seem to notice!! Maye it's only a few people like you and I. Thank you for this hub.
Mom101: I did a follow up on this hub, there is an argument that this hub is outdated and the Senators have fixed some of what I've mentioned, which is great but like I said in my follow up, if they fixed some of it then they need to wait a while and review the bill some more so that we aren't having to repeal it next year and come up with something else altogether. The bill that LCRBlogger brought up never made it out of committee. Which means this is the replacement to that bill, like you say kind of makes you wonder what the first one had in it.
amorea13: Thanks for the comment. I think you will find more people notice than you think, they just might be shy about speaking up. I hope your hubs will help those people that want to do something, or want to understand better but aren't sure where to look.
I will defy this law. My garden will get bigger and bigger, and if the Feds want to stop me, they'd better arm themselves.
I will defy this law. My garden will get bigger and bigger, and if the Feds want to stop me, they'd better arm themselves.
Rachell, like you mentioned in your comments, it sounds like a 'friendlier' version of the bill passed in the senate. It is people being diligent (like yourself) that probably influenced the Senate to make changes to the original...kudos to you.
The house and senate both passed different versions so now they come together and try to 'melt' the 2 bills into 1. There is still time to make your voice heard with congress to let them know which parts of the bill you would like to see and which parts should be excluded. Typically in reconcilliation, they take the common parts from both bills and put them into 1. The parts that do not agree are debated or thrown out.
Greg and Foreversovereign, you are either the same person or had the same exact thought. Either way we will get this taken care of.
LRCBlogger, you forgot the other option, we can always repeal it if it does overstep the bounds or make things as bad as some people think it will. I have a bad feeling that during reconciliation all the good parts of the bill will get thrown out because they weren't in the Houses version, but hey maybe I am just being paranoid. Thanks for the comment.
where can I go to petition this?
Projectmaster: Unfortunately it passed through the Senate today. However I would still call your Representatives and let them know that you do not want it to pass through the reconcilation, since the house passed a version of the bill last year they will be looking at the two bills and take the common parts and place them into one bill, then that bill goes to the President. I did hear on the radio that they have two weeks to go through this process but don't wait the two weeks it could go a lot faster than that. One person suggested that they might sign off on the bill and say "Well we will work out the kinks next year" if that happens then next year we can add it to the ever growing pile of bills that we are going to have to work on Repealing.
Crazy. I guess they are going to form law enforcement teams to go around and bust people for having gardens? Will they read the bill before they vote on it? Will I have to sneak around to grow tomatoes? Our government is out of whack in a serious way, and it's sad for our great nation.
Gyspy Writer: Thanks for the comment, given their track record I doubt that they will read it, but since it's already gone to a vote I guess whether or not they read it doesn't really matter.
I've studied up on this bill and yes, a more small farm friendly version of the bill was proposed, but I don't know that the changes were adopted before passage. Bottom line here is that the legislation was intended to regulate and monitor big corporate food operations, that run unsanitary operations and polute farm lands with excess run-off of feackle matter. That's where most of your e-coli in fresh vegetables comes from. It's funny that a piece of legislation that gets in to protect the public can get twisted and ultimately owned by the people it was intended to protect us from. That's what I see going on with this bill. I'll be looking for your update, but if there is nothing specific about the big corporate operations, it's pretty much going to be a big kick me sign for the folks I buy my food from now.
Thanks Again. Great Hub!
The net effect of this is that we are all going to go out and grow gardens now! I just ordered my emergency garden seeds :-)
ElderYoungMan,
Thank you for your comment. I did a short follow up piece on this; however I imagine that there will be a lot more to talk about. Now the big concern aside from if and when it will affect small time farmers is what it is going to cost the rest of us at the grocery store. If big farms end up paying fines (which undoubtedly they should if they are in the wrong) then they will more than likely pass it on to us the consumers.
Crazy. I guess they are going to form law enforcement teams to go around and bust people for having gardens? Will they read the bill before they vote on it? Will I have to sneak around to grow tomatoes? Our government is out of whack in a serious way, and it's sad for our great nation.
garima: I read in an article today that although it passed through the Senate, the House might give it the blue slip since it includes tax information in it and that is something that the House Ways and Means Committee is supposed to have a say in.
This is "SUPPOSED" to me a free country. If that is free, why we cannot grow our own food. We do not need the gov't tell me what we can eat and what we cannot eat. If our gov't cares, why we still can buy bad food like liquor etc. Where is the American's freedom?
Frank, I wish I had the answers for you. All I know is that little by little our freedoms are being taken away. I hope that we wake up before they are all gone. Thank you for your concern and comment.
This whole situation is becoming more and more scary.This is a disgrace why should we be rule like this. It is time the ordinary people pulled together to say NO!
ellacor: Thanks for the comment. I think they are trying to do as much as they can to destroy the country before they leave office. If this doesn't harm small famers and the general public and that is a big IF, it will hurt our already struggling economy by raising the price of food.
I became aware of this about 18 months ago, while reading a story of a vet from Texas, 'chasing' a cow all the way to Nebraska, because of a item not answered on the documentation to transport. The Nebraska farmer ( God Bless Him ) had to gumption to point out, that the question actually read, ' either, or'.......off topic...
The government is out of control, and it can not all be layed at the feet of any individual...it's just outrageous.
I received a state issued reminder to renew my truck tags, gathered my documents and went to the office, they told me, my insurance was not " good " in this state.....and it would be impossible to tag my vehicle here, under this policy. Presenting the letter, to renew......I asked, " how have you allowed me to be tagged for the past year, did the state issue me fictious tags?"
I am not giving up my herbs and veggies.....no matter where I am, guess I will be a federal fugitive!
Onegoodwoman: Thanks for the comment, it seems like the Government is going to keep pushing and pushing until the people push back.
One has to wonder. When will the normal everyday working people finally put up their own candidates for government and vote them in ? This in turn will give them the power to deny the NWO of their Carnivorous ways
Tony: Great question, you might want to check out www.goooh.com, they talk about wanting to elect citizens rather than politicians to the house of representatives.
We,as their employer,need to pull together and and repeal this at any cost. We out number them and should make enough noise to let all in command know that we won't sit for this.
gardenerforlife: Please check out my other hub on this http://hubpages.com/hub/Giving-the-Food-Safety-Bil I believe that there is still time to convince the Ways and Means committee to give them the blue slip. That hub lists all of the members of the committee if any of them are your representatives call them up and demand that they give the bill the blue slip.
Just another example of the government trying to run our lives and control us instead of representing us and upholding the constitution like they are supposed to. I've already contacted my 'representatives'. Thanks for getting the word out.
I heard about this and didn't believe it at the time. They'd better keep their hands off my garden. I love homegrown tomatoes!
InfinityVal: Thanks for the comment. Thank you also for contacting your Representatives.
Karen: Me too, I've had a garden every year since I've become an adult, and my Mom has had one for probably thirty years. Keep on your Representative. Thanks for the comment.
That does it. Tomorrow I'm going to plow-under my hemp and start growing cabbages. Hmm.....or maybe I'll wait until Monday. Good topic either way.
Lt. Buzz; thanks for the comment.
Are you aware that 7 out of 12 co-sponsers to this bill are Republicans!
Yes Jeremey I was aware of that.
I also know that 15 of the 73 Yea votes were Republican. We like to refer to those individuals as RINO's.
Are you people nuts? The bill targets large-scale farming corporations. It has nothing to do with your own personal garden, you giving out food to other people (friends, family, church members), etc.
look at what they did to Phusion Projects last week, with their ban on Caffeine in Alcohol they essentially crippled that company.
I appreciate tour activism concerning our foods and suppliments but,
common, this product is only good for wide awake drunks .
Nick, while I appreciate your comment, I don't think there is anything nuts about being aware that our rights are being eroded.
Someonewhoknows: Do we need cars that go 150 miles an hour? No, we don't but we have the right to have them. Do we need to be able to drink alcohol and caffeine mixed together? No, we don't but again we have that right.
It's not a bill of needs it is a bill of rights, and when the Senators, Congressmen and President start deciding what is are allowed to put in our bodies, or grow, they are taking it from a Bill of Rights, to a Bill of Needs.
I does seem like a crazy bill.
kephrira, thank you for your comment.
Check out the summary at GovTrack.us. This bill focuses on public health issues, and puts restrictions on food imported from abroad, and increases the right of the Dept of Health and Human Services (the feds) to monitor food-related disease outbreaks. There is no part to the bill that harms the right of supplement companies (DSHEA) to manufacture dangerous 'supplements' and call them food, and there is no restriction of small farmers. This bill is to increase public health and the monitoring of food safety. This article is misleading and based on made up information. Its sad to use people's fear of government control to try and stop passage of a bill that improves our health and safety, without harming our rights to grow our own food.
public health, this article is neither misleading nor does it have made up information in it. It was written prior to the bill be rewritten, when it did contain questionable material regarding DSHEA, as you can see at the bottom of the article there is an updated link to a new article that states they rewrote the bill. Thank you for your comment.
Where is the info in the opening quote referenced in the bill? "preclude the public’s right to grow, own, trade, transport, share, feed and eat each and every food that nature makes. "
I see the info below from the bill but I am curious if this article is accurate or if it's misinforming. I am someone who wants to sell directly to consumers and also support small producers so the most accurate info would be most appreciated. Thanks.
http://www.foodpolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/Sec
FROM THE BILL:
Who's covered: Producers of all domestic and imported food products, including seafood, fish and shellfish, except meat and poultry and some egg products.
Who's not: Farms and very small business owners who sell most of their food directly to consumers, restaurants, or grocery stores within the same state, or within 275 miles, and have less than $500,000 in annual sales, would be exempted from produce safety and preventive control requirements, which are outlined below. These producers would still be subject to local and state food safety regulation, and the FDA would be able to withdraw the exemption if their food was associated with an outbreak of foodborne illness.
wow. thanks rachel. this is intense. is this for real? if i were you, i would send some sort of personal correspondence to alice waters. she would certainly be opposed and her voice, plus the voices of the people whom she could get involved, would be worth countless of ours by politicians measures.
they are the rich, affluent politically potent people who are on our side. it would serve you, and indeed the rest of us well, if you got in contact with alice waters. the only thing im surprised about is that she is not involved already...
Thanks for your work and dedication to this topic Rachel. I have been loosely following this bill for a little while and do know that it was previously more draconian than its latest version. I can see that you are dedicated, knowledgeable and I see your empathy in the respect you give everyone who comments here, so for that, thanks again. I am curious to know your opinion of the latest version. What are your primary concerns? Do you sense that there are sleeper measures in the bill that could be acted upon given a crisis that would further incapacitate our already ailing small farmers?
Please don't pass this bill. I can't see the need for it unless there's something epidemic going on that requires this kind of restriction. SFForage and other programs are responsibly run and part of why I moved to this great state. Let us as Californians never forget that.
Cocerned Foodie, as I have already mentioned to other detractors from this article, and as mentioned at the bottom of the hub this was written prior to the bill being revised.
I would like to take the time to mention that the House's version of the bill doesn't have the same revisions, and therefore we could end up with the bill that is as bad as the article suggests.
Thank you for your comment.
sfdeliciousmike: Thanks for the comment & suggestion.
Kanefire: My main concern is what I heard on the local news last night, that the house version of the bill doesn't have the same safeguards for farmers as the revised senate bill and we could end up when they are done with reconciliation with a bill that hurts small farmers, if we end up with something that is closer too, or is the house bill then we will have to work on repealing it next session. On the hub "Giving the food safety bill the blue slip" which is linked above there is a list of every member of the Houses Ways & Means committee, if you have a Representative on that list contact them and tell them to give the bill the blue slip. That hub also explains what that means, and how it will help make sure we (the American People) get the best out of this.
Thanks for the comment.
J: Thank you for the comment. The Bill passed the senate, right now we are waiting to see what the House decides to do. For America the best hope is that they give it the Blue Slip, and let the next session of Senate work out the kinks. Something has to be done either way this week, I do believe.
great article. that's crazy.
wordsfromj: Thank you for the comment.
One word- MONSANTO.
This has been going on since the first Bush Administration.
Even when this bill IS NOT passed, we all need to get up and make our voices heard pertaining to these communist regimes like Monsanto, who want control for profit. They're even quoted in saying that the health of the American people is not there responsibility, it is that of the USDA and FDA.
I am an avid avid avid supporter and consumer of all things local, ORGANIC, and sustainable.
The biggest problem is that our elected officials have no clue about more than half of these bills that end up on there desk, it's the lobbyist's who tell these puppets what to do, in short. Take a look at Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, and go down the list of the heads of the FDA and you'll see many connections between that and Monsanto. Many of these people worked in the high ranks of this regime. Even Rumsfeld worked in the higher ups of Monsanto.
It's all a game and we need to start learning how to play it and win.
For those of you who may not know of Monsanto, there are plenty of Documentaries and horror stories of the take over of the worlds harvest by this company.
- Food Inc
- Fuel
- Collapse
You can also ask many farmers across this country, Mexico and India.
~Namaste
Joe: Thanks for the comment and for the information. I've heard of Monsanto mentioned with this bill but I haven't looked into it.
Absolutely. Monsanto is the creator of the GMO products that have totally taken over our food system.
They have also taken over many many family farms accusing the families of stealing their seeds, which are patented! Patented. Someone has patented LIFE. This sounds crazy as a horror film but it's 1000% accurate. The thing is, the seeds which they produce, do not reproduce. This is how they make there profit. These gmo's are basically Frankenstein seeds with built in pesticides and other horrible chemicals. Being that you cannot reproduce these plants, you must then buy more, and more, more seeds from Monsanto. Beside that misfortune, that has caused many hopeful indian farmers(in the actual country of India) to commit suicide across the country, the overall health hazards this causes are monumental and are being swept under the rug. Monsanto has spent years and billions of dollars strategically placing there people in the right places across the government and the FDA and USDA to make there profits and eventual total take over of the entire global food system as we know it.
It all sounds like something out of the movie "Soilent Green" but it is a very true and very very dangerous reality.
Joe thanks for the comment, this sounds like something I need to look into.
Just out of curiousity, when was the last time there was even any kind of a true "food safety issue" in the U.S.?
A few obscure cases of salmonella here and there, maybe every once in a great while an actual death or two, which, while tragic, are probably just as much to blame on underlying conditions such as a weakend immune system as any true danger from our food supply.
Not to mention the handful of problems we do have are usually more because of improper handling/preparation then anything actually wrong with the food.
Economy is in the tank, unemployment is somewhere between 10%-17% depending on how you look at it, we're still fighting two wars, our national budget deficit has soared to such an astronomical amount it's not even based on real numbers anymore... and this is the crap these jackasses are worried about?
That's right America, just keep burying your head in the sand thinking "i's all good"... and we'll be living under a socialist one-world government in no time.
shynsly: you are correct. I remember a couple of close calls but I can't remember a bunch of people getting sick. Looking back you have to wonder if these food recalls were even real of they were setting us up for this. Thanks for the comment.
What the hay?
I gotta check this out; unbelievable.
No matter what, they can plan on kissin' my elbow if they think they can keep me from growing a veggie garden..
Brenda, thanks for the comment. The Senate rewrote their bill to "protect" small farmer's, however what I heard on the news was the houses version is different and they haven't decided which will become law. I am going to review this information and perhaps write a compare and contrast on the two bills.
Any update? Is the bill finalized? Thanks!
Brienna, The update I got this morning is that they might consider sending the house's version of the bill to Whitehouse for the President's signature. Using the this bill as an amdendment, I am not sure what that will mean for Small Farmers at this exact moment, but I will try to find out as soon as I can.
Did I hear correctly on my favorite "evil right wing nazi" radio station that Sir Saviour is signing this into law today?
If this is not just yet another massive "power grab", than I'd still like to know what their percieved "threat" they claim to be protecting us from is? Not only have there not really been to many "outbreaks" related to food, but the few that did happen all seem to have come from large corporations... the same as such will have the $$$ to survive this debacle.
shynsly: I am not sure, but that sounds about right. I have had that evil Glenn Beck on, but I haven't really been paying attention. The morning show here has been busy talking about the conspiracy going on down in Arkansas. Look for a hub on that, as soon as I figure out how to categorize it.
Thanks for the comment.
Rachel
Can you say skyrocketing food prices and famine?? Not to mention unconstitutional! If you actually read the bill it gives authority over american citizens to the WTO!
We have to repeal this! I'm sooo mad!!!! Does anybody know what steps can be taken? I'd like to tell whoever voted for this a thing or two...
Misshay: Start by contacting your Representative, both in the house and the Senate, and let them know how you feel. Don't get discouraged if they don't respond, or they respond in an off the wall manner that suggests they didn't understand your concerns, just keep letting them know you want it repealed. The good news is you are not alone, a lot of Americans are angry about this, and we will support you. Spread the word, let family and friends know about the information you found out, and keep talking to people. Talk to your neighbors, anyone and everyone who will listen.
But most importantly talk to your representatives, they are in Washington for a reason, and it's time we woke them up and reminded them of that fact.
Rachel
This bill has been re-written prior to is passing of the Senate, it still has to go to the house and the president who has already said he would veto it. the links are on my hub regarding the bill and a direct link to the bill itself. It most certainly isn't what it started as, but the conspiracy people have not read the passed version! Nice to know someone else out there is doing their research! Kudos to you!
Stear: I appreciate your comment. The bill might have been rewritten in the Senate, but the one that President Obama signed into law was the house bill which had a lot of what was discussed in this hub. I have a couple of follow ups, one written about a week after this one and one I wrote back in January when the President signed this into law.
Rachel
Great Hub, Rachel. I agree. This is very scary.
Huntgoddess: Thanks for the comment.
Rachel
If Any person of authority steps onto my property, and tells me I have to rip out my garden, they better back up, I will DEFEND MY RIGHT AS AN AMERICAN, to grow my own food on my private property. PERIOD
Buddy: Thanks for the comment. Stay strong.
This is another reason to insist on "TERM LIMITS"
We must get rid of the very stale thinking that come with self protection of (their) our Congresspeople lifetime jobs.
This Nation was not founded on Royalty.
Two Terms in any one elected position is more than enough time for any individual. We need fresh blood for fresh ideas!
JMonty,
Thanks for the comment. I agree whole heartedly, that term limits are a must.
Rachel
Hi Rachell, I thought that you might find this relevant to this article:
WST: Thanks for the comment and the link. I am so beyond tired tonight but I promise I will check it out tomorrow.
Rachel
Good hub but I don't think I'll worry much about it. No one will ever stop me from growing my own food. Just look at Marijuana, the gov't couldn't control that so now they're giving up. If we the people choose to do what we want no a-holes in D.C. are going to change that. Laws are laws, it's still illegal here to spit on the street. They can't enforce it, it's not in the budget :-P ***With all due respect to WTS (who I consider a friend), paranoia strikes deep!! Peace!! Tom
Tom: Thanks for the comment, you do raise some good points. Still it is better to be informed.
Rachel
I totally agree!!
just heard of this bill s510 an its is scary sh.t all right, don't they have better things to do ,like jobs?an getting the wealthy to pay there taxes?is this about controlling the people? i have 14 fruit tress an a large garden an i give most of it to co workers, gees ill be get locked up,
Dave,
Thanks for the comment. We need to be informed, the more knowledgeable we are the better off we will be. Imagine if you had heard of this when it was first being debated, you could have contacted your senators, representatives, and voiced you concern.
Rachel
What is going on with all this now? I heard that agent orange was being sprayed on corn and cotton crops in the south!
Susan,
As far as I know it has been passed and is now law.
Rachel
Actually it's not. Per the govnment database, while it passed the senate, it never passed the House. It's listed as died. Never became law. Do some due diligence folks.
GrayForest, I suggest you do some due diligence, while the law you looked at may have died in senate the one we are discussing was signed by President Obama last year.
Rachel.
eovery 18 months ago
Wow, I have two large apple trees. I can't give any apples to my neighbors anymore. How stupid of a bill. How about their choice of accepting it. They want to regulate anything.
Does this mean I can't take a casserole to the church or school party? Especially if I put an apple in it that I have homegrown.
This is getting stupid.
Keep on hubbing!