Profits drive hasty efforts to market GMO
Today’s definition of GMO is not what Henry Wallace, Pioneer Hi-Bred founder, had in mind. You could broadly include hybridization under genetically modified; however, today’s GMO process is as far from hybrid as Tesla is from Model T. You would have us believe GMO is GMO, but not so. To achieve today’s “franken-crops” the DNA of the victim is blasted with foreign DNA, which in some instances may be E-Coli. Yes folks, that’s the poop germ.
They cannot tell us, because they don’t know, where this foreign DNA lands, how it affects the host or much else. It took decades to map the human genome, why should they waste that kind of time to study this when it might affect the bottom line? We are talking about changing plant and animal DNA we consume. What’s to say that can’t change our DNA? Do they know/care? We are what we eat. Are you not just a little concerned?
We may not know the difference, hence the clamoring for GMO labeling, but animals do. Place an ear of GMO corn and organic corn out for the squirrels and observe which is devoured first. They know.
Today’s GMO may have started altruistically to increase yields and end world hunger, or so the hype tells us; but somewhere along the genetic yellow brick road it got paved with golden obscene profit. Increased yield dreams (now proven false) gave way to a mad scientist’s lab list of “why not faster-growing, or never rot or larger or herbicide resistant?” CA-CHING! Due to patent protection we now have a partnership of GMO with a certain herbicide. We were once told “it’s not nice to fool Mother Nature” and she’s come back with a vengeance as more weeds become resistant to glyphosate.
There’s another profitable twist to this tale as many GMO crops do not reproduce, or do so very poorly, so farmers in struggling countries must buy new seed every year. Farmers are penalized for any seed they try to save and use. The air is what it is, but not when there is a patent crop involved. If a GMO crop somehow co-mingles with a non-GMO neighbor the farmer can be sued right out of business for patent theft. Heaven forbid if you are an organic farmer as your crop is now toast.
What it comes down to is a highly profitable process of questionable results that could have unforeseen consequences. If GMO is so great, why aren’t companies proudly labeling “now with GMO ingredients”? Millions of dollars have been spent defeating state proposed labeling initiatives. Why? What’s so hard about putting GMO on a label in addition to all the rest of the fine print?
The current solution is a bill created by the industry which would not only negate any labeling laws already passed, but instead require a “Q” code on labels to be read by a smart phone or an 800 number you could call. How about I just don’t buy your product?
T.A. SAMPSON
Cane Hill
Library users should pay for expansion
I’ve changed my mind and will not support the library tax. I signed the petition to put it on the ballot because I, too, thought the library was all things great and wonderful for our beloved city. And it is, truly.
But now, I now think that the citizens that USE the facility should pay for the new gazillion-dollar upgrade. I tried to get a book when it first opened and was put on a two-month wait list. I know, “It’s only a mill or two extra” on our property taxes. But, I don’t want to pay the extra bucks for something I’ll never use.
To me, it’s a destination place for certain groups. When I go to Dickson Street (a destination place), nobody is paying for my dinner, drinks, cover charge AND parking with a citywide property tax. This is a hypothetical, but it’s the reason I changed my mind.
I’m 75 years old, so I’ve earned “curmudgeon” status. I’m proud of our library. I just don’t use it.
MIKE ALEXY
Fayetteville