Michael Pollan on Farm Bill and Obama

[maayys]

If we would personally like to influence the farm bill then the quickest solution is to remove all genetically modified corn and soy from your diet. These crops are taking over America, the rainforest, as well as most of the food in our public schools.

If we can avoid these two harmful foods, and cut down on our overall meat consumption as well, then we will be helping the small farmer and the planet at the same time.

[adamrees48]

To be honest, I think the less the Gov't puts it's hand in something the better off everyone is.

In this instance, I feel everyone should take responsibility for themselves. As a society we've seen we're terrible about taking responsibility for anything, even when we know that we're completely wrong.

I love Michael Pollan, think his message is amazing, he is an incredible communicator, but I don't agree that the Gov't should take care of this way.

We are the ones that must be the change.

[bradthompson86]

Michael Pollan is a shill. In Omnivores dilemma he goes very in depth as to how the government is fucking us over through food subsidies that make food unhealthy. And now hes calling for more government to enforce nutrition, health care, and food standards!! Is he crazy? One person should not be in charge of this decision, especially when they can;t even get it right in this moment! God, he needs to listen to Joel Salatin! What a shill.

[scramignon]

All the comments missed the point. Government IS supposed to be from the people, by the people and for the people. That's what DEMOCRACY is. If everything goes to corporations is corporatocracy.

[mabellehardie]

Less government is Liberty. You have missed the point. We are a Republic. We do not want the government running us. We run the government. We are becoming a socialist nation just like Marxist Russia. Stay out of my life and cut the taxes too. National Healthcare? Are you crazy? They cn't even run the postal service. Obama is a statist you goofballs!

[ACEBAKER911]

thats why i voted for Chuck baldwin nominee of the CONSTITUTION PARTY

[Joz3d]

also known as Fascism.

[mtnprivy]

control those legs already. How distracting can you get!!!

[Joz3d]

This is about as untrue as it gets. Why does the free market solution continue to fail then?  American cars are pieces of shit (we sure came up with the hybrid didn't we!), and we have about 5 food companies in total, that use illegal aliens and create extremely shitty and unsafe food. One in three children born after 2000 will have diabetes. Free market my ass, free to make billions of dollars on the backs of the poor and sick. We need to start regulating again like we did before the 80s.

[debrandom]

I think that the key is to bypass goverment help. Educate the public and decrease regulations. The more educated the public is the more likely they are to choose alternative food sources, such as pasturized, free range chickens. Goverment, let's face it, will pass regulations that hurt more then they help.

[wrangler1974]

I agree. The legislature does not consist of experts on food or medical care, hence my opposition to a socialized medical industry. It would just put too much pressure on the state to prohibit unhealthy behaviors like smoking, drinking, or consuming too many hot dogs and hamburgers. As the owner of my life, I have the right to destroy my own health without government intervention. People don't have a right to medical care any more than they have a right to car repair.

[trans4mdIn2u]

People don't have a right to medical care? Interesting . . .

[wrangler1974]

Not anymore than they have the right to any other professional services. Whether or not it is ethical to deny treatment is a different topic.

Any increase in government involvement in the private lives of individuals leads to a loss of privacy and liberty. A free market solution can meet consumer demand more efficiently than a government bureaucracy while expanding liberty. Lowering admissions standards for medical schools and increasing the number of physicians would help.

[notretsechkg]

Pollan missed it here. The REASON we have the ag industry producing consumers of the so-called "health" industry is precisely BECAUSE it is to the advantage of the beauracracy. Creating these problems is exactly what enables the government agencies to continue extracting huge sums from the treasury (most of which comes from the corporations). It's an "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" kind of deal between government and corporations with the joe schmuck consumer getting the short end.

[Nilyentaraka]

An excellent statement. I also agree with debrandom that to centralize food production, safety inspections, and even food distribution, I'd say, is to widen the gap between problem and solution. The less educated the public is about alternative food sources and direct marketing methods, and human accountability, the easier it is for the government to manipulate and lull them to satisfy the corrupt needs of the beauracracy.