Consider the catastrophic results of allowing a major seed company to gain control of our U.S. food supply. We could find ourselves in future with no food for our children. We are dangerously close to that with the recent actions of Monsanto Company.
Political chicanery and economic favoritism are ruining our nation’s commerce. No better example exists than the giant agribusiness, Monsanto Company. Unethical government and dishonesty by elected representatives converge on two major developments surrounding Monsanto Company.
The first concerns Monsanto’s control of the seed market. Farmers need seed and Monsanto largely controls the US seed market. Last week the Supreme Court ruled that farmer Vernon Bowman of Indiana violated the intellectual property rights of agricultural titan Monsanto when he planted second-generation seeds, rather than buying new seed. The justices ruled that patented seeds cannot be re-grown without the patent holder’s permission. Bowman must pay Monsanto $84,000 in damages and court costs for patent infringement.
While the patent rights may seem clear cut, the end result enables a corporate takeover of our food supply. Farmers are now compelled to buy new seed; they cannot be resourceful, reduce costs, and economize by gathering seeds from existing crops. Monsanto draws dangerously close to holding the entire agricultural industry hostage: “Buy my seed or there will be no food.” This is alarming. When another entity controls your access to property—in this case, food—freedom is in trouble.
The second issue deals with political favoritism shown to Monsanto. In March, 2013, Senator Roy Blunt, (R-MO) quietly inserted a rider onto President Obama’s overreaching bill to avert a government shutdown. Senator Blunt’s actions are the poster child for government favoritism. Monsanto is headquartered in Missouri, Senator Blunt’s state. This unethical senator rewarded his major campaign contributor with a special favor--his attached rider lifted Monsanto above the law, nullifying applicable court actions intended to protect farmers, the public, and our food supply. This is a stunning example of unscrupulous special interests detrimental to us all.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is responsible to assure the safety of our national food supply. Genetically modified (GMO) foods raise serious concerns about safety, nutrient content, and cross pollenization with non-GMO foods. The USDA prohibits the planting of GMO seeds until safety has been assured, to its satisfaction. While there are concerns about the integrity and impartiality of the USDA, it is the law to comply with USDA regulations.
All except Monsanto, that is. Thanks to Senator Blunt, Monsanto gets favored treatment. It can ignore the law and plant GMO seeds before they are certified safe. It is immune from prosecution. If Monsanto seeds are blown by the wind into the field of an organic farmer trying to keep his plants GMO-free, that farmer can be sued by Monsanto for patent infringement. No sympathy for the farmer who took no action to bring this about, whose crops have been compromised, and whose seed is permanently contaminated. He has no legal recourse, but Monsanto does; giant Monsanto can hold an innocent farmer hostage and destroy him financially for an act of God—the wind.
Monsanto has seduced the agricultural market for decades, with the help of elected officials such as Sen. Blunt. The mammoth corporation is now under investigation by the Department of Justice for its business practices. It appears Monsanto has violated antitrust laws by squeezing competitors, controlling smaller seed companies, and using all available means to protect its multibillion-dollar market for genetically altered crops.
Free enterprise and the United States emerged together. In 1776, as the Declaration of Independence was drafted, Adam Smith published his Wealth of Nations, which introduced a free market economy to parallel our democratic republic. Its trademarks are profits for producers and quality goods for consumers, in a self-regulating marketplace where competition matches supply to demand.
The brilliant partnership of free government and a free economy produced prosperity in America: in 1905, 116 years after our Constitution’s implementation, America produced 50% of the world’s goods with only 5% of her land mass and 6% of her population. That was success!
Today, our governing system and our economy are disfigured. Free enterprise and a democratic republic only work when ethical principles are followed, and they have not been followed here. The Golden Rule, simply and clearly stated thousands of years ago, still applies to individuals, businesses, and governments. Monsanto Company has the responsibility to follow ethical business practices. Senator Blunt has been unethical in his favoritism to a campaign contributor.
Elected officials on both sides of the political aisle are disgusted. Our Founding Fathers urged the election of honest, reputable men. Senator Blunt should resign, or be removed from office by the Senate, which has the constitutional authority to do so. The special privileges awarded to Monsanto must be revoked. Citizens need to voice disgust over this economic and legislative malpractice to their elected officials.
- Pam
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