Margaret Hamburg, commissioner of the FDAI was going to make an attempt at humor by suggesting that the new Raw Milk Institute being organized by Mark McAfee of Organic Pastures Dairy Co. designate Margaret Hamburg, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s commissioner, as RAWMI’s first chairperson. After all, no one is doing more to hype raw milk than the commissioner and her cronies.
Each time she leads her charges in the morning waker-upper at the agency, “Kill raw milk, kill raw milk…” she seems to attract ever more media coverage, which leads to many thousands more adherents.
As several people pointed out following my previous post, Fox News yesterday ran yet another major feature extolling raw milk. It even added a poll question at the end, asking readers if they’d drink raw milk and, whaddaya know, more than three-fourths said, “YES!”
And the situation in Kentucky after public health officials went after a Louisville buying group…well, that buying group’s 150 or so members are now essentially unanimous in defying the state public health “quarantine” on the milk, and the local “cease-and-desist” order I reported on in the previous post.
The case has already become serious news down south. “We have had TONS of responses from our reps/senators/council people,” says John Moody, co-administrator of the buying club. And then there’s the media attention–it’s already spilled over to Moody. Listen to this interview he just did with a local radio show. He does a superb job of explaining the private nature of the buying club’s organization under questioning by the show’s hosts as to why the club isn’t more involved with Kentucky agriculture officials.
But as much of a marketing education bonanza as the FDA’s campaign is turning out to be, the other side of the coin is that the FDA and its state cronies are wrecking lives and winning legal cases…and becoming ever more emboldened. They just scored a win in Wisconsin, where an appeals court judge rejected Max Kane’s appeal of his contempt-of-court conviction. (He says he plans to appeal, and in the meantime, is providing nutritional health consulting services to help pay his legal expenses.)
In Missouri, state Milk Board officials are seeking to hold Morningland Dairy’s owners in contempt of court after they refused efforts by state officials to search their farm; they refused in part because there was no warrant, and the case against them, which they lost earlier this year, is under appeal; a hearing is scheduled in two weeks on the contempt case.
As we know, the FDA has brought major resources to bear to bring down a Pennsylvania Amish farmer, Dan Allgyer, seeking a permanent injunction barring him from serving a food club in Maryland.
And the FDA is even re-stating its contention that there is no such thing as a right to eat the foods of our choice…except re-stating the argument in ever-more arrogant and dismissive terms than originally. In its first response last year to the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund’s suit against the agency and its prohibition of intersate raw milk sales, the FDA stated, ““There is no absolute right to consume or feed children any particular kind of food.”
Now, in a new response filed in early May, in which the FDA amends its request for dismissal of the suit, the agency states: “Even if there were some plausible argument that people have rights guaranteed under the Constitution to eat and drink anything they want (and there is not), such rights would not trump the government’s paramount interest in protecting the public health.” In other words, there isn’t even a “plausible” argument that we are the judges of what we put into our bodies. So the agency is essentially saying to the judge: You would be a complete legal fool to rule against us on this one.
The FDA repeats its supposedly conciliatory approach to consumers, “that, absent exceptional and unforeseen circumstances, it will not enforce the PHSA Regulation {prohibiting raw milk sales across state lines} against consumers who purchase raw milk solely for personal consumption.”
They clearly feel they’ve got legal momentum, Margaret Hamburg and company. (I refer to Hamburg because I’m told by someone in a position to know that she is personally supportive of this anti-raw-milk offensive.)
So the FDA is on a legal roll, winning battle after battle. But somehow, you get this feeling they are losing the war. What it will take to win the war, I’m afraid, is heavy-duty political activism of the sort being extolled by Violet Willis following my previous post. And no need to apologize, Violet, the effort required is way bigger than anything that can be brought to bear by this blog. It will take lots of people organizing. The good news is that the FDA and Margaret Hamburg are giving people new reasons every day to take on the challenge.
As this battle rages on, the FDA fails to recognize the achiles tendon of their FOOD INC PMO and CAFO arrogance and greed based culture and philosophies,… they will be their own undoing.
It is clearly obvious that the FDA does not get it….and we should be glad that they do not get it. The FDA lives in a very rarified special place. A "pill-popping" place that does not have a pulse on health or the people.
Because they are clueless, they continue to fuel the fires that they wish to extinguish.
There is an inverse relationship between FDA harrassment of Raw Milk Producers and Consumers and growth of the Raw Milk Market. The more that the FDA slams raw milk, the more people want raw milk. Good math in my book!! Tax supported marketing of raw milk in a kind of sick and twisted way.
I have also seen a change of the tone of media coverage. As this battle rages on… the media tone becomes more supportive of the peoples argument for raw milk. The FDA dogma becomes exposed and the data is clearly not supporting their arguments.
We should not forget, that ten years ago, raw milk was not mentioned ever in national media and it was a non issue.
It has now emerged as a serious threat and with this threat comes more energy and more of the leading and bleeding lines in the media. It has been recognized by brilliant political leaders that movements do not come about all by themselves. Movements are created by crisis and continued oppression.
Kentucky has experienced a little crisis and now a movement has grown from this oppression. Add some strategic leadership and you get change.
So lets embrace the heat…we need it. Lets also be prepared to optimize the heat and gather the video clips so that the heat will be converted to empathy and emotional strife in the heart of the common man. We are all suffering in America from malnutrition at the hands of the FDA and FOOD INC, and this message resonates true.
The Nutritional Civil Rights movement is the biggest movement to come along in 100 years. It gathers all races, creeds, religions and positions them against government protected greed and FOOD INC. It is literally an uprising against Fascist trends.
Expect more heat….when it comes create even more movement.
Lemons make great lemonade.
Ten years from now we will look back and see that RAWMI and the hundreds of dairies that carry the RAWMI Seal of Excelence will be locally feeding America. We will see congressional hearings demanding that the FDA answer for its nutritional lies and treason. We will see the FDA scrambling for a guilty party to blame, only to find the guilty have resigned to the the protecion of their FOOD INC golden parachutes in Industry.
This is all so clear…history repeats itself and this is no exception.
WAP was so visionary and right….teach teach teach…moms will dollar vote for change.
Break the Seals of the Quarantine and re-open the store….it is time to drink up enmasse and vote with your dollar. Keep the cameras rolling…we need the video for CNN.
Mark
Nah, lets fight.
I cheer all of your efforts, proponents of nutrient dense foods, that wherever the traveler may go, access may be had to your products, in the home and on the road.
Liverty!
Mr. J. Ingvar Odegaard
I would go so far as to suggest that we should boycott the political system, and instead focus our energies on tackling the real monster of corporate-state power. Organized boycotts of elections are a common form of social protest, already used successfully in other parts of the world to protest corruption in the government. Probably half or more of all Americans already don't vote anyway, out of apathy and/or cynicism about the system. Why not organize this abstentionism into a political force to be reckoned with, and in the process de-legitimize the government altogether?
Personally, I have no faith in the faux-choices presented to us by the elites. We need grassroots direct action — dismantle the power structure from the bottom-up. Real change cannot come from above.
I would suggest real engagement as the best form of participatory change.
Vote Twice!!!
Vote at the ballot and vote for your best leadership candidate, fully knowing that they rarely change the power of the food pyramid or clean house at the FDA or change the methods that are employed year-in-year-out as we elect our presidents and legislators. Those of you that were honored to attend the SB 201 hearings in Sacramento in 2008 know full well that there are exceptions to this. Senator Dean Flores gave me back hope. Hope that good people with clear minds can become a part of our government and do good things….
Vote the second time with your dollar. Bankrupt the Monsantos and the Tysons and Deans Foods of the world….Bankrupt the dead foods and buy local living foods and raw milk from farmers.
The answer is not retreat and disengagement….the answer is full engagement and voting twice….to disengage is to abandon the field of battle and get left with left over dead pieces. Just showing up and testifying matters…drinking raw milk and teaching matters. Voting with your dollars really really matters.
Mark
"Obama nominated Elena Kagin for the Supreme Court (unfotunately now sits there for life)who believes that the government has the right to tell people what they can eat . . . . what does that say about our President."
I don't like Violet putting words into Elena Kagin's mouth anymore than I liked it when Coburn tried to when he grilled her. The Constitution is sometimes ambiguous and the founding fathers were not all of one mind as some would have you believe. (You know, those who start sentences with, "The framers' intent was…") And Coburn was really trying to get at health care reform. For what it's worth, Justices Scalia, Kennedy, Alito, Thomas, and Roberts all think that corporations are people. What does that say about the presidents that nominated them (Reagan, Bush I, Bush II)?
As a local foodie, I have found that "our" issues don't divide neatly along left and right lines. In the interest of full disclosure, I am a Liberal. Not a progressive and, ever since May 31, 2008, not a Democrat. The farmers and co-foodies I've met along the way run the gamut from the far left to the far right and mostly in between. Much to my surprise, I have become friends with people I would not have in another time of my life.
Politicians on both sides of the aisle are in bed with their corporate masters. Presidents on both sides have had less power than the unelected people in various government agencies. No matter what political stripe is in office, Monsanto has people in the administration. No matter what each politician has said on the campaign trail, if they win, they are compelled "to dance with the one who brung 'em." There is no "our" side among our elected officials.
The battle is not left/right–it's top/bottom. Sadly, no one serious is running as a true advocate for the bottom. We will have to find another way. I'm for teach, teach, teach until we have a critical mass willing to take up pitchforks and torches!
Do you have a link for that David?
Exactly Sophie!! You said it better than I ever could have!!
I'm not suggesting retreat, I'm suggesting we take on the sources of political power at their root — corporate power. Boycotting elections is just a way to show to people that real democracy does not happen at the ballot box, it happens in our everyday lives.
Sophie…I could not agree with you more. The quickest way to allienate a group of passionate raw milk drinkers is to take a party political position. The room is filled with every possible political and religiuos connection….I guarantee it. Just this year, I saw Joel Salatin piss off a room filled with people that loved Raw Milk and Polyface but did not concur or agree with his political position which he freely expressed….whooops!!
A much higher broader based cause rests with health and the earth.
Vote…twice….once for the best political roll of the dice and then again… every time you shop for your earth and your health.
Afraid I don't have a link to FDA filing. It came off a private (paid) database, and in a format that seems not to allow conversion into PDF.
David
The truly powerful feed ideology to the masses like fast food while they dine on the most rarified delicacy of all: impunity.
Naomi Klein
This is a battle for freedom and Critical mass will be achieved when people realize and decide to follow through (at personal sacrifice to themselves) with their God given free will to make choices, in spite of self righteous and/or self serving individuals or special interest groups who use government regulation and fear as tools to placate and nurture their obsession with control.
There is a great deal of "teaching" going on in numerous camps yet each individual has to decide for themselves the credibility of such teaching then make a choice.
Ken Conrad
My point is that we live in a globalized world. Even the most primitive gatherer-hunter tribes in the remote corners of the Amazon basin have not gone untouched by modern industrial corporate civilization.
To suggest that if we merely change our buying decisions and voting decision, that will put an end to tyranny is niave. Its like suggesting that if everyone just bought organic we could put an end to GMOs… I just don't buy it (the argument that is)
I'm not suggesting that our consumption habits have no impact, only that relying on consumerism is not enough. Other forms of social protest and contesting the political power structure are needed. And I do not think that elections are a very realistic way to push for change — they are perhaps, if anything, an opportunity to point out how rigged the system is and suggest alternative avenues for change.
"…at least four current board members of the OTA are in conflict of interest because the companies they represent overwhelmingly rely on genetically engineered ingredients, something that is anathema to the organic movement."
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/06/charges-of-corruption-taint-organic-trade-association.php
And:
"Thanks to the Organic Spies, we now know why the Organic Trade Association (the largest policy and lobbying organization of the entire organic industry) has been mute on the GMO Labeling issue – their board of directors is in the pocket of big Ag and big business."
http://www.youtube.com/organicconsumer#p/f/1/FCK0MTS4mvI
I post a lot of things on my Facebook page and quite a few of my daughter's friends, who are young parents tell me that the links are eye opening to them, they are paying attention. The bottom line is there is no point in producing what people do not want. I do not mean an organized boycott, no one had to organize a boycott to reduce horseshoe nail production, there was no longer a demand, and the supply reduced.
When a mega dairy tried to locate near here, many people told us we were wasting our time fighting it. But if you don't fight, how do you know? In our case we won.
Education, involvement in voting, careful consumption=will make a change. I know there is corruption everywhere, but we can't let it make us inert, or panic and make poor choices.
I do agree that education is very important.
America's creeping police state
http://www.alternet.org/story/151150/america's_creeping_police_state?akid=7039.293431.SMeWhZ&rd=1&t=12
The photo of the USDAs food plate is disgusting…there is nothing fresh on it, canned mandrin orange,canned green beans, slice of bread and unknown "meat"……This is suppose to encourage people to eat healthy? From one of the commenters:"Seems like the government's vision is canned, frozen and/or heavily processed." What a true statement. 2 years and how much $$$$ to come up with this? What a waste.
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/02/cases-of-e-coli-from-europe-now-in-u-s/
Coming to a town near you? Buy local, see how your food is grown AND processed, grow your own if able….
I was interviewed by Adam Kokesh on TR TV three weeks ago when I was in WA DC for the Raw Milk Rally.
Remember that Adam is a Marine Corps veteran of the wars in Iraq ( faught in Fallujah ) and Afganastan and risked his life so these cops could choke him and arrest him for no reason….the only reason I can see is that these cops are fascist pigs….high on some Patriot Act Hollier than God training that they got from some ass high up in the SWAT team elite that protects WA DC from its own people. If Jefferson was alive instead of in bronze at his memorial he would have taken his musket to these belligerent bastards and had them hung for treason. What a travesty of our founding American heritage.
In my opinion, Adam used extreme restraint…he could have used his marine corp training and quickly crippled these retarded cops.
http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/05/anti-war-veteran-arrested-for-dancing-in-jefferson-memorial/
I think I will go out and do some much needed target practice.
When protesting and voting twice does not work….then hitting the bulls eye may be the next and most appropriate way to accurately use my finger.
Makes me truly want to vomit. Reminds me of Manna House and how the cops violated a home and its family when the son was off fighting wars designed and intended for corporate profits. Please see Adam Kokesh as he interviews Liz Reitzig and myself. He is a real American hero and after coming home from WAR as a soldier, decided to fight against the war as a soldier.
Sorry say that I agree with Bill on this one. Our acts of submission has invited more and more brutal oppression. These cops misconduct reflects the summary acts of all the police brutality trials and all the juries that give them a break. It is shame on us time. Cops that are sent to prison for misconduct generally do not have departments that act this way. It is we that have failed us. Whimps all….shame on us. We allow cops to act this way….they are permitted to do these things because we do not object when it really matters. Glad there was video. I hope Adam gets a huge settlement and this jury changes the coarse of police conduct. It is the jury that is at fault…we the people have failed we the people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Kokesh
http://www.adamvstheman.com/
http://hartkeisonline.com/food-politics/adam-vs-the-man-show-on-raw-milk/
Mark
We need the ultimate engagement…..join the jury and vote the verdict. Set precedent and rewrite the law. If we abandon our country expect more of this oppressive BS. I guarantee that police would never ever act this way if we the people chose not to allow it. Police policies and standards of police conduct and use of force policy are created and are shaped as a direct result of police brutality liability lawsuits.
The jury is us…we must join the jury not avoid our duty if we want a better America.
Mark
I hate to say it guys . . . . but you are political neophytes to believe in what you do. We need to cut out this cancer by the root . . . . . only then will the PTB listen to us.
Really all this hand waving and long drawn out posts really does absolutely nothing . . . .
We must get rid of of these entrenched elected parasites beholden to BIG AG through our local network and our votes.
My husband and I worked on Capital Hill in DC . . . . . Each of us has worked for a very, very powerful Congressman and Senator . . . . No farmer that has posted on this blog has had this experience so we know what is at stake here. And some of those political connections are still there . . . . sorry to say one is no longer a Senator (Mark prefers to not reveal that) but the one that I worked for voted for S510 ~ John D. Dingell and he should be voted out in 2012.
All of those that have voted for S510 must be taken out . . . . . I don't really care if they are Republicans or Democrats . . . . . they cannot tell us what we can eat.
We need to decide on how to do this.
Bill and Mark . . . .I know you mean well . . . . but if you want to take this politically further in a debate please phone me . . . . you can find this info on my blog. I don't really want to clog up David's blog with more hand waves . . . . it is really counter productive and I am too busy at the moment to respond to each of your posts as I am putting in my gardens at this time:)
I am taking a huge risk here by stating my name and my positions . . . . but I truly believe that if we are free . . . . we should do so.
Kind regards,
Violet
http://www.kilbyridgefarmmaine.blogspot.com
I worked in Beltway politics for 4 years and have more or less come to the same conclusion as Bill. My advice to activists would be to keep up their grassroots efforts, and participate in well-publicized, level-headed civil disobedience when necessary (e.g. the buyers in Kentucky, the Rally in Washington). I just don't see much point in federal political action unless it's to demonstrate how out of touch Washington D.C. is with the rest of the U.S.
Best regards.
Andrew
"I hate to say it guys . . . . but you are political neophytes to believe in what you do."
Violet, what exactly is it that you think I do? I sincerely don't understand this.
Since you're experienced in politics, name some Senators and Congressmen running in 2012 who are worth voting for and why.
"What matters most is not who is sitting in the White House, but "who is sitting in" — and who is marching outside the White House, pushing for change."
Howard Zinn
"Nations are not communities and never have been. The history of any country, presented as the history of a family, conceals the fierce conflicts of interest (sometimes exploding, often repressed) between conquerors and conquered, masters and slaves, capitalists and workers, dominators and dominated in race and sex. And in such as world of conflict, a world of victims and executioners, it is the job of thinking people, as Albert Camus suggested, not to be on the side of the executioners."
Howard Zinn
I would loved to have been able to go to DC….just not possible due to airfare etc. If there were statewide rallies across the country on a significant day like July 4 with many of us showing up it would attract more press.
For instance: Springfield IL, Indianapolis IN….etc.
thoughts???
nancy j
Still the FDA is getting arrogant, shows with statements like this one:
Now, in a new response filed in early May, in which the FDA amends its request for dismissal of the suit, the agency states: Even if there were some plausible argument that people have rights guaranteed under the Constitution to eat and drink anything they want (and there is not), such rights would not trump the governments paramount interest in protecting the public health. In other words, there isnt even a plausible argument that we are the judges of what we put into our bodies. So the agency is essentially saying to the judge: You would be a complete legal fool to rule against us on this one.
However, the applies to having the right to do something that isnt covered in the constitution, if its not given to the state or the government to do a thing, then this right is given to the people under the 10th amendment.
The 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution is a guarantee of States rights. The Constitution designed the federal government to be a government of limited and enumerated, or listed, powers. This means that the federal government only has powers over the things that are specifically given to it in the Constitution. All other powers are reserved to the States. The 10th Amendment in the Bill of Rights reads like this:
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
This is the fight at hand, taking back our own rights and freedoms. The FDA is striving to con us into giving up our rights and going along with their program. The FDA knows its wrong and really doesnt have a leg to stand on except fear. And fear is what it has been using all these years to keep people in line. Fear coupled with ignorance re-enforced with endless propaganda and lies has been so effective that havent really needed anything else to control the people with. Now that they are being challenged on all levels they are running scared and getting desperate, so desperate that they are resorting to dictating rules with no legal backup.
That means we have to stand our ground and never give in to the FDAs bullying tactics or fear mongering.
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/06/hus-life-threatening-life-changing-complication/
Too bad you cant reach her and ask why she shares her victim story with others. You could ask her about her victim mentality and that maybe she should look in the mirror and thank her lucky stars that she is alive. Too bad you cant be flown to Germany and talk to the victims there. If they survive, you could warn them not to have a victim mentality and just be thankful they are alive. Im sure they would love to hear from you. You could set them straight from the very beginning of their ordeal. They could fit you in for a visit between kidney dialysis and blood transfusions and hopefully before the seizures and strokes begin.
Go Gordon, Go. You tell them!
Hey look I found another slimy lawyer who exploits victims for his own monetary gain and prestige:
http://www.marlerblog.com/
I would love to give you a list of who I endorse . . . . . But especially want to know what is going on in your own state politically and then I can give you some helpful feedback. This list will take some time but should start to be clear either later this year or early next before the primaries. It is OUR DUTY to make sure that we do have challengers who can take on the establishment candidates . . . . .who are supporting food choice and the repeal of the Food Safety and Modernization Act . . . . and we must make sure that they get press coverage.
If you have an ideal candidate in mind that has opposed S510 and all this food safety nonsense that targets the small farms and NOT Big Ag . . . . . I would love to know who it is (Congressional or Senate Seats) and please do not hesitate to let all of your friends and family know about this person. I really do not care if they are Democrat or Republican . . . . . they must go.
I think I may post this list on my own blog in the future . . . . .
Nancy . . . . this is what is needed . . . . in EVERY state.
I wish I could have been there too in DC as well but It was in the middle of lambing here on the farm when it happened. I have a very hard time getting off the farm as I am so busy producing and sourcing good food for my local community. I would have loved to meet everyone and give them our support
Bill . . . . like I said if you want to take this further politically please contact me offline. I do not wish to clog up David's blog with political arguments and handwaving.
Kind regards,
Violet
http://www.kilbyridgefarmmaine.blogspot.com
Here is some of my point: In a nutshell, very few politicians have a set of positions that align neatly with mine. Very few politicians even have a set of food positions that align neatly with mine. (Here comes the point of the point.) NO politician will stick to all of their positions once elected. ALL politicians must go with the positions of those who paid for their seats (and donations from people cannot match donations from corporations). Even politicians who stand by their convictions (Kucinich) buckle (all it takes is a ride on Air Force One). Even before Kucinich buckled, he lacked the power and influence to effect his principles.
Someone said it earlier, quoting Joshua (a computer): The only way to win is not to play. That doesn't mean to roll over. It means to find a game that's not a dumb game.
Although I do not believe in much of Kucinich's views . . . . I had great respect for his adherence to them.
When he buckled . . . . I lost all of my respect for him.
He is now in trouble politcally. That is the lesson. 95% of our politicians can be bought. It is up to us to change this and get people out there to run that will work for us and not listen to special interests.
I am all for term limits for congresspeople and Senators . . . . This will stop much of the inherent corruption.
Politics is not a dumb game . . . . but a smart one for us if played correctly.
Kind regards,
Violet
http://www.kilbyridgefarmmaine.blogspot.com