But, But… ‘Muh GMOs
Penn and Teller’s famous show Bullsh** ran a highly successful 8 seasons with a told of 89 episodes dedicated to advancing libertarian capitalism and the debunking of pseudoscience, conspiracy theories & claims of the paranormal. [contextly_sidebar id=”23ff771d73a336b9eaed2fb222d6b061″]
One of their most famous episodes deals with the BS of the organic food craze. It’s perfect timing to watch this video in light of the defeat of the anti-libertarian GMO labeling law that was defeated in Washington State.
The Libertarian Republic readers expressed outrage at a column that appeared yesterday called “I Love GMOs” where the author argued in favor of science based food production. One thing that the organic food community needs to understand is that there’s a difference between saying that corporations such as Monsanto should receive subsidies (they shouldn’t), and whether their foods are actually dangerous (they’re not). This episode goes through the science of GMOs and debunks many of the false claims made against the agribusiness community.
Penn & Teller do an excellent job of building on those arguments. Here’s the news report about the failed legislation as well as the Penn & Teller clip below. Enjoy!
4 comments
OK….I’m sorry, but 1st of all, that Pen and Teller show could not be more yellow. They pick very obviously the most outlandish, crazy looking people they can to represent the organic community, they never once mention things like, oh I don’t know, nearly 75% of the worlds bee community has very suddenly died off, and their deaths can be directly correlated to the use of GMO crops. Or we could talk about the importance of species diversity, and how GMO genes infiltrate any other crop it comes into contact with. Or we can talk about the clear scientific proof offered up by scientists around the world saying that the food we are eating is killing us. Or how about the US based bee research facility, who was poised to deliver a statement linking Colony collapse syndrome to pesticides used on Monsanto crops, then suddenly 1 week before they where to publish their findings, the lab is bought out by Monsanto and the research staff is told to stand down.
Listen I hate to be this guy, but let me point out the couple of GIANT ELEPHANTS in the room, it needs to be done:
#1. The law requires LABELS to be put on the food, thus giving people the ability to CHOOSE for themselves. What is more libertarian than that? How can you possibly stand against a law that only seeks to give consumers an INFORMED choice about the food they buy and feed to their families and customers? Where it an outright ban of GMO’s then I would be on your side, but its not.
#2. The “scientific” evidence to support whether GMO’s are safe or not, came from the same government research centers that gave us such gems as “Marijuana is incredibly harmful to humans, and is addictive. It should be counted among the worst drugs in the world, and if you dare take it we will kidnap you and toss you in a dark hole.” and “Global warming is upon us, despite a 15 year sharp drop of temperature on earth, and the polar ice caps being at their largest in 38 years.” Do you really expect me to take their word on this one?
I wont lie to you, I’m pretty disappointed by the quality and content of this article.
#1. It is not in the best interest of any corporation to kill it’s customer base.
#2. Please, site your sources for all of your “facts” against “GMOs”.
#3. Humans have been genetically modifying through selective breeding ever since entering an agrarian society.
#4. Yes, the foods that humans consume in western society are atrocious. Twinkies, sodas, high fructose corn syrup, gallons of sugar, piles and piles of wheat, untold carbohydrates that never get used, margarine, hydrogenated oils, etc. This isn’t the fault of GMOs, this is the fault of being idiots with food.
Since when was keeping the public informed anti libertarian? Gmo labeling does not make it illegal it simply allows the consumer to make an informed choice.
@Manley Caughell- WAIT WAIT hold up.. So you’re saying for thousands of years agrarian cultures like the Romans and Sumerians genetically engineered new traits like INSECT genes or HERBICIDES into plants? Oh wow! I had no idea the ancients graphed entirely different species into their wheat and corn! Amazing. I’m kidding of course and I don’t have to leave a source to ‘prove’ the stupidity of your statement