Little Crop of Horrors

[LindaCl]

Obama's family garden is a "public health threat". I don't know whether to laugh or cry:

Daily Show:Little Crop of Horrors

Apparently, the American Council for Science and Health, (which is a public health activist organization reacting against what it considers "junk science" backing a lot of health related issues), are proud of staffer Jeff Stier's appearance on the program, happy to reach Jon Stewart's hip audience to get the message out about the "downside of the organic and locally grown food movements." The message he delivered was that the organic food push will lead to increased rates of obesity, cancer and starvation. (ACSH dispatch)

ACSH's only regret in this coverage was that their (ACSH) corporate chemical company underwriters were highlighted but not their thousands of "individual supporters around the country like you."

:

[Sustainer]

The guy promoting pesticides in that piece was clearly either severely unintelligent, insane, seriously deluded, or some combination thereof. (Am I even allowed to say that on MDC any more?) When he said they should be teaching those kids to use chemicals, it was so over the top that, like you, I didn't know whether to laugh or drop my jaw in shock.

[Carley]

OMFG!!! I want to know how they find these freaks!!!

HILLARIOUS!!!!!!

[shaywyn]

That was hilarious.

Yet extremely disturbing.

[dillonandmarasmom]

[tayndrewsmama]

:

[lmonter]

Oh good heavens. I wanted to reply to one of those stupid comments at the bottom, but didn't want to register for yet another thing. My gist was... Duh, how on earth did people manage to eat just 80-100 years ago before Roundup and these "so-awesome" chemicals? Gah. People annoy me.

[tayndrewsmama]

I guess I am not too smart. I thought the whole thing was a spoof.

[Sustainer]

The people who work for Jon Stewart are completely kidding, but the people they talk to are real and serious.

[tayndrewsmama]

Originally Posted by Sustainer

The people who work for Jon Stewart are completely kidding, but the people they talk to are real and serious.

Then I guess that almost makes it funnier!

[Talula Fairie]

Originally Posted by tayndrewsmama

I guess I am not too smart. I thought the whole thing was a spoof.

Me too.

It also occured to me to wonder why Michelle Obama is gardening in dressy couture clothing.

and....although I think the entire thing is a joke...I have to wonder...isn't it cheaper to farm organically? You don't have to buy pesticides and whatnot?

[LindaCl]

Originally Posted by tayndrewsmama

I guess I am not too smart. I thought the whole thing was a spoof.

I know! I know it's satire-but I think ACSH was trying to play along, and I can't figure why. Are they trying to show they're good sports and "can take a joke"? I don't get it.

ACSH does think "organic" is elitist bunk, that chemicals are necessary to grow enough food to feed the world, and that fear of chemicals makes people less inclined to eat enough fruits and veggies.

The ACSH promises that organic food hasn't been "scientifically" shown to be superior nutritionally - fair enough I guess. But there isn't any "scientific" proof either that the organic food movement has resulted in people eating fewer fruits and veggies. It's so galling to see high priests like this lecturing everyone else about the holy grail that is "science", while totally failing to practice what they preach.

[LindaCl]

Originally Posted by Talula Fairie

I have to wonder...isn't it cheaper to farm organically? You don't have to buy pesticides and whatnot?

It is for the backyard gardener, that's for sure. And which message encourages more people to start a vegetable garden with their young children? That "all you need" to get started is $50 Herbicides, $50 Fertilizers, $50 Pesticides, $50 Fungicides? Or "all you need" is a $2 bag of steer manure, and a corner to put your compost pile?

[Sustainer]

Actually, it HAS been scientifically proven that non-organic food is nutritionally inferior.

It's also toxic.

[apple_juice]

Originally Posted by Talula Fairie

Me too.

It also occured to me to wonder why Michelle Obama is gardening in dressy couture clothing.

and....although I think the entire thing is a joke...I have to wonder...isn't it cheaper to farm organically? You don't have to buy pesticides and whatnot?

I was all dressed up in my garden the other day. Was on my way out of the house and couldn't resist getting the weed I missed.

[Rhiannon Feimorgan]

If I had the camera men following me that the first lady has, I'd be dressing up a bit more too.

I think that sometimes large scale organic farming is more expensive because it's more labor intensive and people are more expensive than chemicals. However the up side is that organic crops provide more jobs than conventional crops.

[Talula Fairie]

Originally Posted by apple_juice

I was all dressed up in my garden the other day. Was on my way out of the house and couldn't resist getting the weed I missed.

yeah but you weren't planting your garden

[Talula Fairie]

Originally Posted by Rhiannon Feimorgan

If I had the camera men following me that the first lady has, I'd be dressing up a bit more too.

She could have gone with designer jeans and a nice shirt and some sandals...

I dunno. I just thought the silk/charmuse number she had going on was ridiculous for planting a garden