Anti-EPA House Votes To Let Agribusiness Dump Pesticides In Our Water

[JohnSmith2007 353]

Many chemicals have been linked to causal factors for obesity, cancer, and heart disease as much as lifestyle choices.

But it isn't exactly an epidemic. The ones linked to pesticides and fertilizers that is. The cost (environmental damage) isn't bad compared to the benefits (plentiful food). I am willing to accept a certain amount of environmental damage if it means millions are fed.

Edited April 4, 2011 by JohnSmith2007

[Zero Sum 305]

But it isn't exactly an epidemic. The ones linked to pesticides and fertilizers that is. The cost (environmental damage) isn't bad compared to the benefits (plentiful food). I am willing to accept a certain amount of environmental damage if it means millions are fed.

That's what you are willing to accept- not everyone else out there. As for the epidemic comment, you may want to read up on current obesity, cancer, and heart disease rates first, then think about where the epidemiology is greatest for those diseases and what kinds of likely exposures are prevalent in those areas. Its no secret the Midwest, with its high rate of pesticide use, is the US leader in Parkinsons Disease cases.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

That's what you are willing to accept- not everyone else out there. As for the epidemic comment, you may want to read up on current obesity, cancer, and heart disease rates first, then think about where the epidemiology is greatest for those diseases and what kinds of likely exposures are prevalent in those areas. Its no secret the Midwest, with its high rate of pesticide use, is the US leader in Parkinsons Disease cases.

I wonder what the death rate from famine would be compared to the rate from pesticides and fertilizer would be? The choice is between millions of deaths from hunger and a slightly higher rate from chemicals. It sounds noble and all, protecting the environment, but think of the alternative. Do you really want to see this in America?

[Pooky 3,787]

And encourage producers to employ fair farming and employment practices.

This sounds like advocating for socialism or something like that.

Then you need your ears testing.

Fair farming practices are environmentally stable, sustainable and wholly apolitical.

Fair employment is paying a fair wage to American citizens and legal immigrant workers, and not employing illegal aliens at rock-bottom pay.

So you can stick your socialism, capitalism, communism and consumerism where they will do least harm and I'll keep advocating for a spot of realism instead, m'kay?

[mawilson 2,133]

I wonder what the death rate from famine would be compared to the rate from pesticides and fertilizer would be? The choice is between millions of deaths from hunger and a slightly higher rate from chemicals. It sounds noble and all, protecting the environment, but think of the alternative. Do you really want to see this in America?

If food prices doubled - or even tripled - across America, I doubt we'd go from feast to famine in a day.

[Zero Sum 305]

I wonder what the death rate from famine would be compared to the rate from pesticides and fertilizer would be? The choice is between millions of deaths from hunger and a slightly higher rate from chemicals. It sounds noble and all, protecting the environment, but think of the alternative. Do you really want to see this in America?

There's a big difference between famine and obesity.

Then you need your ears testing.

Fair farming practices are environmentally stable, sustainable and wholly apolitical.

Fair employment is paying a fair wage to American citizens and legal immigrant workers, and not employing illegal aliens at rock-bottom pay.

So you can stick your socialism, capitalism, communism and consumerism where they will do least harm and I'll keep advocating for a spot of realism instead, m'kay?

And you may need to have your humor filter tested.

If food prices doubled - or even tripled - across America, I doubt we'd go from feast to famine in a day.

Maybe this will be the next gripe from the Tea Party- the food is getting too damn expensive. No more Fourthmeal!

"Blame Obama"

[JohnSmith2007 353]

If food prices doubled - or even tripled - across America, I doubt we'd go from feast to famine in a day.

Not in a day but over a few years? Yep. We have a large number of people in America who get their food through food stamps or other government programs. This would mean either higher taxes to cover that or fewer people getting assistance. Doubling or tripling food prices would cause a larger deficit and more people going hungry. Think about what you propose before you say something. You haven't thought this through. Admit it, you have yours so you can afford to shoot your mouth off about "fair" food prices. Easy for you to say. The rest of us do not live in your wonderland.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

I wonder what the death rate from famine would be compared to the rate from pesticides and fertilizer would be? The choice is between millions of deaths from hunger and a slightly higher rate from chemicals. It sounds noble and all, protecting the environment, but think of the alternative. Do you really want to see this in America?

There's a big difference between famine and obesity.

I am not sure I understand your point there. I wasn't talking about obesity. I am saying the deaths from chemicals would be far less than the deaths from famine if we stopped using chemicals in farming. The lessor of two evils.

[Zero Sum 305]

I am not sure I understand your point there. I wasn't talking about obesity. I am saying the deaths from chemicals would be far less than the deaths from famine if we stopped using chemicals in farming. The lessor of two evils.

I can try to explain it better: some chemicals have already been linked to several causes that (and cases are rising in frequency) are causal for the conditions mentioned above. You are assuming the US would fall into an epidemic state of famine that is very much untrue- and the current epidemic right now in this nation is one very much the opposite of famine, but of national obesity. Check the facts. You can combine lifestyle (food choice and availability) with environmental (chemical) causes and you'd get likely the overwhelming majority of the current rates we have.

Obesity is very much a health problem that leads eventually to decreased lifespan, or death as its otherwise called.

[mawilson 2,133]

Not in a day but over a few years? Yep. We have a large number of people in America who get their food through food stamps or other government programs. This would mean either higher taxes to cover that or fewer people getting assistance.

Food stamp expenditures currently total $70 billion per year - practically a rounding error in a $3.8 trillion budget.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Obesity is very much a health problem that leads eventually to decreased lifespan, or death as its otherwise called.

Fiscal conservatives worried about the deficit should applaud this development.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

Food stamp expenditures currently total $70 billion per year - practically a rounding error in a $3.8 trillion budget.

You know, I usually liked the things you say. I usually came down on the side of the wealthy. However, if your attitude is common among the rich I think I will modify my opinions. You are self centered and have no compassion for those that have less than you. People like you give the rich a bad name. You are actually endorsing that people that have very little pay 2 or 3 times more for their basic needs. Do you also think rent and winter heating are also priced to low? Tell you what, why don't we just shoot anyone that doesn't have enough to pay a fair price for food. That would leave more for you.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

I can try to explain it better: some chemicals have already been linked to several causes that (and cases are rising in frequency) are causal for the conditions mentioned above. You are assuming the US would fall into an epidemic state of famine that is very much untrue- and the current epidemic right now in this nation is one very much the opposite of famine, but of national obesity. Check the facts. You can combine lifestyle (food choice and availability) with environmental (chemical) causes and you'd get likely the overwhelming majority of the current rates we have.

Obesity is very much a health problem that leads eventually to decreased lifespan, or death as its otherwise called.

I still don't see what this has to do with chemicals used in farming. Obesity is a tangent on the discussion. Obesity is caused by how much we eat or what happens to the food after it leaves the farm. It has nothing to do with requiring an additional permit to spread pesticides near water and even with the extended topic of a fair price for food.

[Zero Sum 305]

Fiscal conservatives worried about the deficit should applaud this development.

If they were worried about health care costs, they would actively support anti-obesity campaigns.

[Zero Sum 305]

I still don't see what this has to do with chemicals used in farming. Obesity is a tangent on the discussion. Obesity is caused by how much we eat or what happens to the food after it leaves the farm. It has nothing to do with requiring an additional permit to spread pesticides near water and even with the extended topic of a fair price for food.

As I stated, there are some chemical causes for obesity as well as lifestyle choices. Research: Endocrine disrupting chemicals...