I do not have a particular opinion on Secrerary Vilsack, but all of this is incorrect.
1) Obama never promised to end GMOs. He said he would like to have them labeled. He did, in fact, sign a bill to do just that.
2) There really is no need to ban GMOs anyway. Huge numbers of studies have shown that they have no noticeable nutritional dif…
I do not have a particular opinion on Secrerary Vilsack, but all of this is incorrect.
1) Obama never promised to end GMOs. He said he would like to have them labeled. He did, in fact, sign a bill to do just that.
2) There really is no need to ban GMOs anyway. Huge numbers of studies have shown that they have no noticeable nutritional difference from non-GMOs.
3) Vilsack never worked for or was even tangentially payed by Bayer or Monsanto. His only position as CEO was for U.S. Dairy Export Council, AFTER the Obama administration. He was also on the board of Feeding America, the largest charity to fight hunger in this country.
4) Bayer and Monsanto did merge while he was Ag Sec. But it is the Justice Dept that would have opposed the merger, not Agriculture.
5) No one in the Biden administration is being directly paid by any major company. This isn't the late 19th century. Or 2017.
As I was reading I found myself wondering if you, Will, have a substack of your own. I'm so impressed by the way you express the facts. Clearly, calmly, carefully. But I wouldn't want you to spread yourself too thin. We need your knowledge and wisdom (and tact) here.
I often worry when people say Democrats should go on the offensive. I agree, but I would never want us to stoop to the Banana Republicans' tactics. If everyone could learn to refute the lies with such aplomb as you, a constant offensive game by Democrats would be a boon to our democracy.
Virginia, I stole it from Jamie Raskin. It was a reply he made to Lauren Boebert 😂 yesterday or the day before. You can find it on YouTube. He's a prince of a man!
Will, I must add my support to you writing a substack letter. Even if it is randomly offered whenever you are moved to write. That's my approach. No pressure.
Just know that your fans are growing with each of your comments. And why is that? Because you embrace the truth, express yourself with passion and eloquence. My only suggestion is to add a bit of spacing within the larger paragraphs.
Anyway, count me as one who scans the comments and searches for "Will, from Cal".
I will add that Vilsack was governor of Iowa for 2 terms from 1999 to 2007. I would say Iowa was purple back then before going crazy red. Iowa has had a serious brain drain as the best and brightest leave Iowa after graduation. All 3 of our kids did, 1 grad from Iowa State the other 2 Iowa.
Will, don't disagree with your astutely assembled list, except for one detail: the primary reason GMOs can be a problem is not based on nutrition but on changes made that can directly impact other parts of our environment. GMOs are also part of the problem of the takeover of agriculture by large corporations who make huge profits from patented seeds and repeatedly have sued people whose standard crops have been contaminated by pollen from neighboring GMO crops for patent intrusion! These corporations also are responsible for many farm bankrupcies by selling farmers an expensive non-sustainable ag system based on costly inputs, rather than building the soil and diversification of crops. Your take on GMOs is an example of simplistic thinking.
I am happy to say that non-corporate farmers are leaning more and more on the soil-building and diversification model, as well as retiring some lands that should not be farmed at all. It has become a movement, even in California and the midwest.
My caution to you is not to get too carried away by simplistic thinking and sweeping generalizations. You have some valid insights, but they are weakened by distilling down to the point they don't necessarily represent what you think they do,
Many of my students were children of Indian techie immigrants. One kid’s dad had once worked to create Round-Up Ready GMO corn, for Monsanto. When there was news that Monsanto tried to patent the genes of traditional Indian crops like basmati rice and the special wheat for the bread which all Indians eat every day, you can imagine their outrage. Monsanto could set the price of crops developed over centuries by Indian farmers.
You speak the truth, neighbor. Do you know the RG quit publishing their "Letters to the Editor" because disagreement with other people's writing was cited as the reason for terminating their subscription?
Nancy Kish: Your question reminds me of AI Sidney from Kevin Russe's NYT compelling transcript "AI Conversation with BING." a couple of weeks ago. LOL. After Kevin repeatedly answered that question: "Are you trustworthy" and "Can I trust you?" with an affirmative, Sidney the Bing AI bot declares her love for him. Will's gotten plenty of those well deserved declarations too! LOL. John Oliver did a terrific bit on it as well.
I do not have a particular opinion on Secrerary Vilsack, but all of this is incorrect.
1) Obama never promised to end GMOs. He said he would like to have them labeled. He did, in fact, sign a bill to do just that.
2) There really is no need to ban GMOs anyway. Huge numbers of studies have shown that they have no noticeable nutritional difference from non-GMOs.
3) Vilsack never worked for or was even tangentially payed by Bayer or Monsanto. His only position as CEO was for U.S. Dairy Export Council, AFTER the Obama administration. He was also on the board of Feeding America, the largest charity to fight hunger in this country.
4) Bayer and Monsanto did merge while he was Ag Sec. But it is the Justice Dept that would have opposed the merger, not Agriculture.
5) No one in the Biden administration is being directly paid by any major company. This isn't the late 19th century. Or 2017.
I'm surprised to see all of this here, honestly.
Will.
Best post of the day award.
A polite update of facts directed to someone who may be well intentioned but ill informed.
Well done.
As I was reading I found myself wondering if you, Will, have a substack of your own. I'm so impressed by the way you express the facts. Clearly, calmly, carefully. But I wouldn't want you to spread yourself too thin. We need your knowledge and wisdom (and tact) here.
I often worry when people say Democrats should go on the offensive. I agree, but I would never want us to stoop to the Banana Republicans' tactics. If everyone could learn to refute the lies with such aplomb as you, a constant offensive game by Democrats would be a boon to our democracy.
“Banana Republicans” 🤣🤣🤣 It covers everything from Batista Republicans in Florida to the anti-immigrant crowd. Thank you.
Virginia, I stole it from Jamie Raskin. It was a reply he made to Lauren Boebert 😂 yesterday or the day before. You can find it on YouTube. He's a prince of a man!
Notice how many words it takes to disprove the lies! Bravo Will!
Will - this forum would not be the same without you and one reason why I keep coming back. Thanks! -saw-
Will, I must add my support to you writing a substack letter. Even if it is randomly offered whenever you are moved to write. That's my approach. No pressure.
Just know that your fans are growing with each of your comments. And why is that? Because you embrace the truth, express yourself with passion and eloquence. My only suggestion is to add a bit of spacing within the larger paragraphs.
Anyway, count me as one who scans the comments and searches for "Will, from Cal".
"Anyway, count me as one who scans the comments and searches for "Will, from Cal"." ✅
Me too, Will. I always look for your comments first.
Thanks for the fact check, Will.
I will add that Vilsack was governor of Iowa for 2 terms from 1999 to 2007. I would say Iowa was purple back then before going crazy red. Iowa has had a serious brain drain as the best and brightest leave Iowa after graduation. All 3 of our kids did, 1 grad from Iowa State the other 2 Iowa.
Thanks, Will.
Thank you for correcting the misinformation regarding President Obama’s role in the GMO/Monsanto debacle. Vilsack does have a dark side.
Will, don't disagree with your astutely assembled list, except for one detail: the primary reason GMOs can be a problem is not based on nutrition but on changes made that can directly impact other parts of our environment. GMOs are also part of the problem of the takeover of agriculture by large corporations who make huge profits from patented seeds and repeatedly have sued people whose standard crops have been contaminated by pollen from neighboring GMO crops for patent intrusion! These corporations also are responsible for many farm bankrupcies by selling farmers an expensive non-sustainable ag system based on costly inputs, rather than building the soil and diversification of crops. Your take on GMOs is an example of simplistic thinking.
I am happy to say that non-corporate farmers are leaning more and more on the soil-building and diversification model, as well as retiring some lands that should not be farmed at all. It has become a movement, even in California and the midwest.
My caution to you is not to get too carried away by simplistic thinking and sweeping generalizations. You have some valid insights, but they are weakened by distilling down to the point they don't necessarily represent what you think they do,
Many of my students were children of Indian techie immigrants. One kid’s dad had once worked to create Round-Up Ready GMO corn, for Monsanto. When there was news that Monsanto tried to patent the genes of traditional Indian crops like basmati rice and the special wheat for the bread which all Indians eat every day, you can imagine their outrage. Monsanto could set the price of crops developed over centuries by Indian farmers.
Thanks, Will.
Misinformation infiltrates all segments of our society. Thanks for the clarification Will.
Loss of our local papers has been, and will continue to be a huge detriment to to the working of our democratic process.
You speak the truth, neighbor. Do you know the RG quit publishing their "Letters to the Editor" because disagreement with other people's writing was cited as the reason for terminating their subscription?
Thank you for this rendering of facts.
Let me echo others here, and say that I really appreciate your perspective and your writing.
Thank you for that clarification. Obama promised to end GMOs? Really, how could anyone do that? In China maybe.
Will, are you trustworthy?
Uh... yes? I certainly try to be.
All of this information is very easily available, though.
Easily available, but requiring effort. Thanks for doing the legwork. Very much appreciated.
May we call you “Heather’s Helper”?
Nancy Kish: Your question reminds me of AI Sidney from Kevin Russe's NYT compelling transcript "AI Conversation with BING." a couple of weeks ago. LOL. After Kevin repeatedly answered that question: "Are you trustworthy" and "Can I trust you?" with an affirmative, Sidney the Bing AI bot declares her love for him. Will's gotten plenty of those well deserved declarations too! LOL. John Oliver did a terrific bit on it as well.