Government Out of Car Business, McCutcheon v FEC, Monsanto, What Will 2014 Bring?

We Sold GM, Monsanto Protection Continues, Dodd-Frank Still Being Blocked, McCutcheon v FEC Will Totally Destroy Our Republic, But Let's Be Optimistic About the 114th Congress and Hope the Senate Can Get Things Moving

photo by danieljamesfitnessblog.com

A friend of mine made comments on a few items of interest to me in a Facebook post the other day. It caused me to respond. Mind you I agree with this gentleman friend on a number of occasions, and other times, I realize that he watchers Fox News and feel obliged to educate him with facts rather than let him be misguided by the fabricated, nonsensical, misleading, false, unsubstantiated, bullshit that his source puts out on a constant basis. He is goodhearted, and means well, and is actually working to start a mission down in Florida to help the homeless and other people in his community. I will only share excerpts of his post in the interest of space, and holding my readers interest. Here is one paragraph that is relevant to some of what I want to talk about today:

They knew it was the beginning of the end for a democratic and free society when the Gov't [sic] starts to take over an industry and interfears [sic]in private business---For if the Gov't [sic] could essentially federalize the auto industry and use taxpayer money to fund the banks---The question they asked is if the gov't good [sic]do this, then what would they take over next??? 

My response was:

Actually just a couple weeks ago the government sold the rest of it's shares of GM back and is no longer in the car making business. I think it was a good move to help the auto industry, it saved a lot of good paying manufacturing jobs. In fact I recently saw that I think Jeep and another manufacturer is bringing new plants back to the U.S.

He mentioned Monsanto, a particularly sore subject with me:

" and the gov't [sic] taking over the food supply by the Monsanto Protection Act allowing the Gov't [sic] to grant immunity to corporations as they poison our food--"

As far as Monsanto, it makes me sick and I'm involved in a few campaigns against them. This is one of the things I agree with him on. Recently, the extension of the Monsanto Protection Act was passed by Congress when it was attached, at the last minute, to a spending bill. The law, which protects Monsanto and other biotech giants from the threat of lawsuits and denies the federal courts from putting a ban on GMO sales, was a last minute addition to the House of Agriculture Appropriations Bill for 2013 and is part of the short-term FY14 Continuing Resolution Spending bill.

He started the post with this:

"There was this new group out there that called themselves the Tea Party, warning the gov't [sic] had gotten too big. I believe they started out under Bush saying essentially "hey this guy is betraying us and the country..... it's not the gov'ts [sic] job to bail out big business."

The banks and financial industry, well, I'm totally pissed off and report regularly on the progress of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street and Consumer Protection Act on my blog www.Medic3569.blogspot.com. I think the biggest problem we have in this country right now is money in politics, thanks to the 2010 Supreme Court Citizens United decision. 'Corporations are Not People," and "Money is Not Speech," although you would never know that because our politicians and elections, hell, our Republic" are thoroughly corrupted by the ultra-rich, corporations, and Super-PACS. I joined Move to Amend here in New York. They are part of United4thePeople.org, they are involved with over 120 organizations nationwide trying to get State Resolutions to get the Congress to introduce, and pass, a Constitutional Amendment to overturn Citizens United. I met with my State Senator, Lee Zeldin a couple weeks ago on their behalf, I have another meeting coming up before he returns to session in January. To make thing even worse, MUCH WORSE, the Supreme Court heard McCutcheon v FEC (where an Alabama businessman is challenging the aggregate limits on individual campaign contributions) on October 8th, and if they decide in favor of McCutcheon (which they probably will because the same "Conservative 5" that approved Citizens United are still there) it will remove aggregate campaign contribution limits from individuals.

Whereas Citizens United only removed the limits from corporations, unions and such, Whereas the top donors of the fossil fuel industry contributed $11,504,213 dollars during the 2012 election cycle, those SAME top donors will be able to contribute $312,455,200. That will be the absolute end of people having a say ion anything.

Anyway, I wanted to talk about these things as well as many others before the House and Senate go back to (ha ha) work next week. I will be posting about other important subjects like extending Unemployment, passing a farm bill that doesn't cut another $40B from food stamps and much more. I'd like to hear what you think so please feel free to use the "Comment" section below each of my posts to engage.

UPDATE: Senate poised to Kill Monsanto Protection Act

UPDATE: Senate poised to Kill Monsanto Protection Act

Do to public outrage it appears the Monsanto Protection Act May Be Defeated! Good Job! I a couple posts on this blog I asked for the American people to contact their Senators to kill this bill. There was a major effort on the part of many major organizations that appears to be working. This is what what happens when the people stick together. Here is a Nation of Change article. 

UPDATE: Senate poised to Kill Monsanto Protection

http://www.nationofchange.org/victory-senate-kill-monsanto-protection-act-amid-outrage-1380119546

UPDATE: Monsanto Protection Act passed House, now in Senate, CONTACT YOUR SENATORS

 Monsanto Protection Act Passed the House on September 20, 2013, Now in Senate, Contact your Senators NOW to Stop it in the Senate!

Earlier I posted information on the House Bill H.J.RES.59 Monsanto Protection Act. UPDATE: On September 20, 2013 the House of Representatives voted 230-189 in Roll Call No. 478. The bill was sent to the Senate and is identified as CR S6689-6691, S6699, S6752, please contact your Senators immediately.

Use this link to find and e-mail your Senators right now. http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

The Monsanto Protection Act is nothing but a gift to the biotech industry. He's How to Contact YOUR REPRESENTATIVES

 Tell Your Representatives to NOT Extend the
Monsanto Protection Act, Here's How

I received an e-mail from Katherine Paul from the Organic Consumers Association regarding the Monsanto Protection Act. It gives you very east access to send an e-mail to your Senators and also contact your Congressman about this act. 

Congress could vote this week to extend the Monsanto Protection Act for another three months. Unless we stop them.

  Please write your Congressperson in the U.S. House of Representatives today. Ask them to vote NO on the Monsanto Protection Act.
  The Monsanto Protection Act is a rider that prevents the federal courts from enforcing injunctions on genetically modified seeds even if those seeds have been deemed unsafe. Earlier this year, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) slipped the Monsanto Protection Act into the Continuing Resolution, a bill to fund the U.S. government through September 30.

  Now, Congress is about to vote on a new Continuing Resolution (H.J.RES.59) in order to fund the government for another three months. And despite public outrage and hundreds of thousands of signatures on petitions, House Appropriations Committee Chair Rep. Harold Rogers (R-Ky.) has slipped the Monsanto Protection Act into the new bill.

  The Monsanto Protection Act is nothing but a gift to the biotech industry. It’s an affront to farmers and consumers. It gives the biotech industry a free pass to grow crops that have not been adequately safety tested. It also threatens farmers who potentially could be shut off from markets abroad when their non-GMO crops are contaminated.

  To call your representative We need every representative to hear from us today. You can find your representative’s phone number here  and call the number provided, or call the general number: (202) 224-3121. You can say:

"I am very opposed to extending the Monsanto Protection Act for another 3 months and I want my representative to vote 'No!' I understand Congress needs to pass a bill to fund the government, but this shouldn't involve special favors for big business. The Monsanto Protection Act is wrong. Genetically engineered food should be safety tested before they are on the market. Even the American Medical Association supports mandatory pre-market safety testing.
  "But, right now, U.S. law only requires a review of whether new GMOs might pose a 'plant pest risk.' This doesn't address human health. But it's still important, especially because genetic contamination can seriously harm organic and non-GMO farmers, especially farmers with markets abroad. We've seen this recently in Oregon, and now Washington, with the contamination of wheat and alfalfa by unapproved GMO seeds.
"The Monsanto Protect Act takes away the small amount of regulation we do have for GMOs. The Monsanto Protection Act prevents the federal courts from reviewing U.S. Department of Agriculture approvals of new GMOs. Even if the USDA fails to follow the law and approves a new GMO illegally, the Monsanto Protection Act says that the potentially dangerous new GMO must be released into the environment anyway.
Please vote NO on the Continuing Resolution unless the Monsanto Protection Act is removed."To write your representative, click here.
Thank you for taking this important action today!

Photo by Nation of Change

Here is a link to a Nation of Change article on The Monsanto Protection Act http://www.nationofchange.org/monsanto-protection-act-extended-part-house-representatives-spending-bill-1379081603

Support GMO Labeling Efforts in Washington State and Accross the Country

Photo thanks to www.Justlabelit.org

Support GMO Labeling Efforts in Washington State and Across the Country

Doesn't it bother that Monsanto and other chemical companies are spending ridiculous amounts of money to FIGHT labeling laws which are already required in 64 other countries? 

 

 Don't you want to know what's in your food. Monsanto and others are spending great amounts of money to fight labeling laws, which are in place in 64 other countries already. They don't want to have to inform you what their doing genetically to your food for bigger profits. REALLY?! They use chemicals to grow plants and animals bigger and faster so they can make bigger profits without any concern for you and your children's health. WAKE UP! Join the effort in your area, support getting labeling on the ballot in Washington state, contact you Congressman and Senators. If you need information on who your Congressman and/or Senators are, or would like their contact information (phone number, e-mail,address) you can go to my blog www.Medic3569.blogspot.com

and click on the appropriate "Pages" button to find your individual representatives information. Contact them now and let them know you don't accept Monsanto killing their own people with chemicals, like Syria.

Go to http://yeson522.com/ to learn more, then contact your Congressman and Senators

 

Calling all bloggers! Support Labeling of #GMOs in Washington State!

PHOTO: Thanks to fecks081913

 Join the Twitter Party Tonight to Support Labeling in WA State Tonight!

 Support Labeling of #GMOs in Washington State! 

Solidarity Twitter Party 9/9, http://bit.ly/14bPiGE #yeson522

Don't YOU want to know what's in your food?

Government-Funded Institutions Have Been Hiding GMO Facts For Years But Who is Lying To Who?

Government-Funded Institutions Have Been Hiding GMO Facts For Years But Who is Lying To Who?

An article published by Nation of Change News, written by Christina Sarich, on August 23, 2013 points out some very important facts on the topic.

"Until government agencies require true testing on GM crops it will be difficult to tell which studies are altered and which are representing truth says Christina Sarich.. In a recent article the author of this article wrote for another sight, quoting the 800 world scientists who were against GMO, multiple industry shills commented that ‘the authors of this study are not even real scientists.’ So what gives? Who are we to believe when the studies which are conducted are funded with Ag industry money and regulated by the Monsanto monopoly. If any ‘real’ science is to be done, it needs to be truly transparent, including the money trail behind it. Until government agencies require true testing on GM crops it will be difficult to tell which studies are altered and which are representing truth. I have a hunch that non-GMO-funded science is already pointing out some glaring problems with GMO food crops.

If your interested in GMO food crops and the need for labeling of food products and GE you want to check out this article.

http://www.nationofchange.org/government-funded-institutions-have-been-hiding-gmo-facts-years-who-lying-who-1377265465# 

Monsanto Hiding Birth Defect Information Through Shoddy Science

Hiding the Birth Defect Lie: Monsanto Minimizes Round-Up Chemicals Nefarious Effect Through Shoddy Science

 The link below was published by the Progressive Journalism for Positive Action's Nation of Change News.  written by Christina Sarich. I believe that information about what Monsanto does must get to the people so they know how greedy and non-caring they are. Please click the link below to read the informative article.

http://www.nationofchange.org/hiding-birth-defect-lie-monsanto-minimizes-roundup-chemical-s-nefarious-effects-through-shoddy-scien

Europe, Nations Around the World Rejecting Monsanto

 

 Europe, Nations Around the World Rejecting Monsanto

 The link below was published by the Progressive Journalism for Positive Action's Nation of Change News.  written by Elizabeth Renter. I believe that information about what Monsanto does must get to the people so they know how greedy and non-caring they are. Please click the link below to read the informative article.

http://www.nationofchange.org/europe-nations-around-world-rejecting-monsanto-1370528207#