2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumGMO Labeling Bill Voted Down In Senate
WASHINGTON -- The United States Senate decided again Thursday that it simply does not want to let states tell people whether or not they are eating genetically modified food.
The Senate voted overwhelmingly -- 71 to 27 -- against an amendment to the sweeping farm bill, squashing a measure that would not have required labeling of genetically modified organisms, but merely would have let states decide if they wanted to require such labeling.
"The concept we're talking about today is a fairly commonsense and non-radical idea," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the sponsor of the amendment, said shortly before the vote. "All over the world, in the European Union, in many other countries around the world, dozens and dozens of countries, people are able to look at the food that they are buying and determine through labeling whether or not that product contains genetically modified organisms."
Sanders has noted that more than 3,000 ingredients are required to be labeled, but genetically modified ingredients are not part of that list. His state and Connecticut have passed laws to require such labeling, but Sanders said local leaders fear that large biotech corporations such as Monsanto could sue the states on the grounds that they are preempting federal authority. He said his bill would make clear that states can do what they want on the issue.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/23/gmo-labeling-bill-genetically-modified-food_n_3325972.html
Laelth
(32,017 posts)That's quite sad.
If the Republicans actually believed in decentralization and states' rights, as they claim, they should have all voted for this amendment.
Oligarchy. It's the only answer that works.
-Laelth
hack89
(39,171 posts)Laelth
(32,017 posts)Still, it irks me a bit that only half of our elected Senate Democrats would support a common-sense, power-to-the-people amendment like the one proposed.
-Laelth
peacebird
(14,195 posts)if it is labelled.
I've been buying the Kashi cereal that is clearly labelled with " no GMO" instead if non-labelled.
We are trying to switch to buying less processed food and more organic, but it is hard to do. Especially since we both work and my commute is 3 hrs a day.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)DrDan
(20,411 posts)newfie11
(8,159 posts)Maybe this worked in the past but in today's world it is all about how much money I can get my grubby hands on.
Screw the world attitude, I got mine.
I guess the ramifications of their votes won't affect them.
Good luck, we all live on the same planet!
djean111
(14,255 posts)Farcical.
Harmony Blue
(3,978 posts)It will take about 2-3 more election cycles turn back the tide. The rest of the world is already ahead of the U.S. with regards on this issue.
DrDan
(20,411 posts)instead, it gets worse each cycle - never better
4dsc
(5,787 posts)that is the reason they voted this down.
Berlum
(7,044 posts)bigwillq
(72,790 posts)Time to vote everyone out.
They no longer work for the people, haven't for a long time.
Pragdem
(233 posts)bunnies
(15,859 posts)Why is that? If there are no problems with GMO food then why not give people a choice whether or not to eat it?