Grist: In a stunning reversal, USDA chief Vilsack greenlights Monsanto’s alfalfa

[marmar]

In a stunning reversal, USDA chief Vilsack greenlights Monsanto’s alfalfa

by Tom Philpott
27 Jan 2011 2:18 PM


Government regulation of corporate practices has apparently been much on President Obama's mind lately. He recent penned a Wall Street Journal op-ed vowing to review federal regulations to make sure they weren't too onerous on business. In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, he illustrated his concern about the complexity of federal regulation by pointing out that two different agencies regulate wild salmon. "And when it's smoked, I understand it gets really complicated," he added. Ha, ha.

In other words, Obama is trying to establish himself as an eminently reasonable, pro-business sort of president -- you know, not the sort of fellow who would let things like the Wall Street banking meltdown, the Upper Big Branch coal-mine disaster, the BP oil spill, or any other notorious lapse in government oversight stand in the way of the business of doing business.

Obama's instantly famous "salmon joke" has me looking into how the government regulates salmon farms -- those vast factory-style pens concentrated mostly off the coast of Washington state. I'm not done with research and won't be until next week, as I'm preparing for a trip tomorrow to California to speak at the Edible Communities conference in Santa Barbara. The initial results of my research: government oversight of salmon farms consists mainly of encouraging them to produce as much salmon as possible.

This afternoon, my farmed-salmon research and trip prep were rudely interrupted by an unexpected regulation-related announcement: the USDA has decided to approve the use genetically modified alfalfa without any restriction. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.grist.org/article/2011-01-27-in-stunning-reversal-usda-chief-vilsack-greenlights-monsantos-al

[villager]

1. What stunning reversal? Many of us saw this coming with Obama's cabinet appointments

"Hope" and especially "change" had already run their course by that point...

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Yep

[Rex]

6. Absolutely.

[WinkyDink]

10. No one could have predicted.... Wait; some here will be SHOCKED at the results of the SS Commission.

SHOCKED!

[Lorien]

2. Is ANYONE surprised by this?

Health be damned; a few corporate Fat Cats "need" to screw us all for profits again!

[defendandprotect]

9. Only to the point of the suicidal nature of our politics and politicians .. including Obama...!!

:nuke:

[arcane1]

4. Color me "unstunned"

I expected Vilisack to kiss Monsanto ass as soon as I heard he got the job. :(

[blindpig]

5. The old two-step....

just like mountain top removal.

The arrogance of it all speaks volumes.

[QC]

7. The appointment of Tom Ballsack was one of the first signs

that the coming administration was not going to be what so many had hoped for.

There's nothing at all surprising about this story.

[defendandprotect]

8. And who appointed Vilsack other than Obama .... ??!! Just more Obama pro-corporate agenda...

[Ezlivin]

11. FUCK THIS

And fuck this administration for being such corporate cocksuckers that they can't seem to think of putting citizens first.

I am so fucking fed up with our so-called representatives.

[Buzz Clik]

12. We're all gonna die! Genetically modified alfalfa is dangerous because...

... :shrug:

Okay. We're not gonna die, but we are going to get red in the face :mad: and yell and scream :wtf: because genetically modified alfalfa scares us for no particular reason. :scared:

[Fumesucker]

15. Yeah, Monsanto just wants to do what is right for the American people..

Honestly, the idea of gaining a monopoly on part of the means of agricultural production never entered their heads..

[Buzz Clik]

18. You cannot gain a monopoly this way.

Nor can you corner the seed market this way. Independent seed dealers exist EVERYWHERE. This raging paranoia about mean old Monsanto is laughable.

[saras]

17. The science is good enough for me...

If the science doesn't scare you, you might ask why Montsanto is so dead set against doing any more of it.

The list of scientifically established reasons not to do it is growing, and will continue to grow as long as anyone is doing honest science on the subject.

[Buzz Clik]

19. The list of scientifically defensible reasons for being afraid of GM crops is nonexistent.

It's amazing what passes for "science" these days.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4710359#4710374

[somone]

13. What's good for corporate CEOs is good for America

[librechik]

14. useless zombie--Vilsux needs to resign and get somebody with a brain in there

[ixion]

16. if we don't stop Monsanto, we're going to screw up our food supply

seriously. I can't believe this crap doesn't meet with greater resistance.