Political+Threats



 XXXXX Genetically modified food impacts our lives in many ways; one negative aspect is through politics. Once every four years we have an election to decide who will become the next leader of our free country, outside of major elections not much is known about politics by the common working person. Every decision that is made by a single person or the masses has an equal or sometimes greater reaction, unfortunately some are negative.

 XXXXX The US government has allowed and even backed the expanded use of GMO products, where the rest of the world is beginning to restrict their use. For example, “Venezuela placed a ban on GM foods several years ago while Hungary more recently banned the importation and production of GM maize, despite authorization in the European Union” (Murnaghan, Sept). This does not lead one to have confidence in the decision making of the elected officials of the US government. Key political issues associated with GMOs include; Restriction of trade to foreign countries Overrunning small farms Dependency of GM crops (third world countries) Labeling

Restriction of trade to foreign countries, a countries economic strength is derived from the GDP (Gross Domestic Product). The GDP is a ratio consisting of the country's imports divided by the country's exports, presently the World Bank Website lists the US in second (14+ trillion), only behind the European Union (16+ trillion). The European Union has not banned the use of GMO's but they have greatly restricted the importation of products containing GMO's. These restrictions will lead to a decrease in trade with the largest GDP in the world, consequently the US GDP will decrease and that is not a desirable result during these hard economic times. Small family farms, the large bio-engineering companies control the patents for their seeds. Companies like Monsanto have sued farmers because their patented crops were found growing with in a farms area. The large companies control the prices of their seeds, the higher costs cause small family farmers to borrow more money. It does not stop there, to offset rising costs the farmers will increase the price for crops while continuing to pay the workers low wages. This cycle cannot continue, the rising debt and expenses have closed many farms. "In 1850, 60% of the working populationin the US was engaged in agriculture. By the year 1950 it was 4%" (Betalion, 2011).   Dependency on GM crops, "Some people fear that the self-sufficiency of developing nations are threatened by huge North American biotechnology companies who obtain sweeping profits from these countries" (Murnaghan, Sept). Third world farmers are impacted in the same way as small US farmers, increasing costs. Again, the increase in cost for resupplying is having a negative impact on the farmers and their surrounding communities. Unlike the US based farmers, third world farmers do not have the ability to find additional monetary loans to aid in purchasing supplies. The lack of money supply causes the farms to close, this increases the poverty and joblessness in the area, perpetuating the cycle. Labeling, as it was discussed in the social threats section, labeling products containing GM ingredients will provide people with the freedom of educated choice. The EU (European Union) restricts products being sold without inclusion of the GMO's on the label, aside from providing educated choices it will benefit the US through increases in trade.

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