Monsanto Is Not the Problem

It would be so easy to do so.

It would be so easy to add this article to the long list of articles that detail the evils of Monsanto Company.

But I am not going to follow the pack.

For those of you who have lived under a rock of late, Monsanto Company is a publicly-traded American agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. It is one of the leading producers of genetically engineered seed and of the herbicide glyphosate, which is marketed under the brand name Roundup.

The corporation was founded in 1901 by John Francis Queeny. I didn’t know the man, so I’ll refrain from making any disparaging remarks about him.

By 1940, Monsanto was a major producer of plastics, and of course from there they moved to genetically modified crops and pesticides.

There is no need to mention that Monsanto has created some of the most dangerous products this planet has ever seen, including Agent Orange, dioxin, recombinant bovine growth hormones, and genetically modified seeds.

And there is no need to mention that over 90% of all U.S.-grown corn, soybeans, canola, and sugar beets are genetically modified and have been proven unsafe for consumption.

Seriously, you already know it, so why beat a dead horse?

The scientific evidence proving the dangers of Monsanto products is so voluminous that it would stun a team of oxen, if one actually had a team of oxen, so why bother going into that fact?

The scientific evidence showing the harm to the environment caused by Monsanto is staggering, so why bother with that nonsense?

The disappearance of the family farm in America is well-documented, and everyone is aware that Monsanto has made a concerted effort to control agribusiness in this country, so really, why repeat all that?

The fact that many of Monsanto products cause cancer is hardly worth mentioning, right?

And the fact that 1.6 billion pounds of glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup) has been applied to American soil since 2007 is hardly worth mentioning.

This is a point that the executives of Monsanto must be proud of: in 2011, Monsanto was chosen as the worst company of 2011. This prestigious award was given to Monsanto for “threatening both human health and the environment.”

Congratulations to Monsanto and of course, a hardy job well-done to those politicians who have eagerly supported Monsanto and accepted their campaign contributions. Bravo I say to you all!

But the praise does not stop there. Forbes Magazine found that “Monsanto is so despised by environmentalists that Google’s first suggested search term for Monsanto is “Monsanto evil.” Forbes went on to say that readers voted Monsanto the world’s most evil corporation in a January poll, giving the corporation a whopping 51% of the vote.

Again I say Bravo!

So, if you are really into poisoning the environment, soil, and yourself, here are some companies you should by from:

Aunt Jemima….Aurora Foods….Banquet….Best Foods….Betty Crocker….Bisquick….Cadbury….Campbells….Capri Sun….Carnation…Chef Boyarde….Coca-Cola….Duncan Hines….Famous Amos…Frito Lay….General Mills….Green Giant….Healthy Choice….Heinz….Hellmans….Hershey’s Nestle….Holsum….Hormel…Hungry Jack….Hunts….Jiffy….Keebler….Kelloggs….Kid Cuisine….Kool-Aid….Kraft…..Lean Cuisine….Lipton….Marie Callenders….Minute Made….Morningstar….Ms. Butterworths….Nabisco….Nature Valley….Ocean Spray….Ore-Ida….Orville Redenbacher….Pasta-Roni….Pepperidge Farms….Pepsi….Pillsbury…..Post Cereals….Prego Pasta Sauce….Pringles….Procter and Gamble….Quaker….Ragu Sauce…..Rice-A-Roni….Stouffer….Tombstone Pizza….Totinos….Uncle Ben’s…..V8

That gives you a lot of choices to work from, so get out there and keep supporting Monsanto.

I’m going to give you a quick lesson in Economics 101. Are you ready?

Corporations make money because the public buys their products.

Are you with me so far?

Corporations like Monsanto would be relegated to a footnote in history if the American public did not support them.

Are you still with me?

This is not an attack on Monsanto. Rather, it is an attack on the American public, for keeping Monsanto in business.

Yes, I’m speaking to all of you.

Take a look at the list of grocery products again. How many of you purchase some of those products? I am willing to bet over 90% of you reading this article are guilty.

How many of you use Roundup to kill weeks in your garden and lawn?

So here is the most important question you will answer today:

If you know that Monsanto products poison the environment and cause harm to humans, and scientific proof is available to anyone about that, then why do you continue to purchase those products?

Thus the title of this article…..Monsanto is not the problem….

we are the problem.

And the screaming begins, and the excuses rise in volume…..

I can’t afford to buy organic vegetables and fruits. If the prices were lower I would be glad to, but in this economy, our budget just won’t allow us to pay that high a price.

I need those damn weeds killed. I don’t have the time to seek out natural remedies for pest and weed control.

I can’t afford to buy organic!

This is the most common complaint I hear about organic foods…they cost too much.

But here’s the thing: is there such a thing as “cost too much” when we are talking about your health and the health of your family? And isn’t it just a tad hypocritical to complain about the high cost of organic foods when money is wasted on cigarettes, booze, entertainment, pot, cable television and other social activities? Is it more important to eat safe foods or have a big screen television? Is it more important to know that what you are eating won’t poison you, or to purchase the latest tech gadget?

Again, it is hypocritical to moan about high-costing healthy food, but then waste money on cigarettes and alcohol.

And what about you Roundup users? Is it too difficult to make home concoctions that will cut back on pests and weeds, knowing that by doing so you will help save the environment? What is more important, a green lawn or saving the environment? That’s what it really comes down to, and no sugarcoating can change that fact.

At the risk of alienating my Liberal friends, I do not believe corporations are evil. We all live in a Capitalistic system. To deny that is foolish. Corporations are in business to make money. Sure, we would love to think they have a social conscience, but that is not always the case.

And under a capitalistic system, we are free to purchase any product we choose, and we are also free to do the opposite. The consumer is, ultimately, the driving force behind any economic system. Companies sell and consumers choose to buy or not buy. If we do not buy, then the company goes under, or it makes adjustments to win back our loyalty.

I do not believe that Monsanto is evil. I do believe its corporate officers do not have your best interests at heart. Any sane human being can see the damage that Monsanto is doing, and any sane human being can make the only rational decision available to them….stop supporting Monsanto!

2014 William D. Holland (aka billybuc)