Suey, I am going to take this position on this one:
I saw your frustration with this person's constant linking to sites I would agree are anti-ag, at least in terms of modern American agriculture, for the majority of what the industry consists of here and now. While that is our reality, I am well aware that our system is more of an exception than the rule, in a global context.
I think this person is stirring the pot. Your responses to her (?...how do you know if this is even a WOMAN...we've had a few ringers here over the years....) have made proper and informative counterpoints. I've tried to add a couple of pieces of info, and you've clarified what I started.
Let's be honest: not many people understand why a seed company won't allow seed saving of its product. While you and I knew it was a legal condition of buying the seed in the first place, the uninitiated have no concept of the legal agreements, conditions, regulations,. etc., that American farmers have to deal with daily. To them, it is just Big Seed Company beating up on the poor of the world.
While I commented that I do not really favor patenting biological material (Read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, to see why I guestion the practice), if it is legal and everyone agrees it is up front ( and it is), who is Monsanto cheating?
It has been, and still is, a big deal in international circles to have American intellectual property and inventions stolen by overseas interests. I think many nations simply do not recognize our rights to own our own products. This is a huge component in teh imbalance of trade.
All of that said, I deal with mis- and disinformation constantly, as a hog farmer in North Carolina. One more innuendo-spewing naysayer doesn't rattle me all that much. I just put up the truth against their "what ifs", and let the chips fall where they may.
If Salma had anything but llinks to offer, wouldn't she have posted it by now? If you and I don't answer her, who will?
