What should be on Bernie's wish list? (1 Viewer)

[DrStrange]

It looks like Bernie isn't going to win the Democratic nomination in 2016. Even so, he has somethings that Clinton needs. Help converting Sanders supporters to Clinton supporters, fund raising assistance for down ballot races, active campaigning for her in the fall, etc.

What do we think Bernie should expect to get in return? And don't dwell on mostly useless party platform planks. Those are almost worthless "throw-away" trinkets. Bernie's help is worth far more than that.

Scratching my head -=- DrStrange

 

[Chicken Rob]

I know this hasn't been a big campaign issue, which honestly pisses me of, but I'd like to get the roundup (and other toxic fertilizers and pesticides) out of our food and water supply.

That is my personal biggest domestic issue that I think can actually see change.

 

[bentax1978]

That is my personal biggest domestic issue that I think can actually see change.

I assume you meant it's you biggest personal domestic issue after mandatory hammer registration (and an outright ban on the more deadly drywall hammer).

 

[Chicken Rob]

I assume you meant it's you biggest personal domestic issue after mandatory hammer registration (and an outright ban on the more deadly drywall hammer).

Look, I qualified it with "that can actually see change". There is no way we're getting past the hammer lobby, especially if the congress remains in control of the republicans. Stanley, Estwing, Craftsman, and the rest of the Big Hammer industry are just too powerful.

 

[abby99]

I know this hasn't been a big campaign issue, which honestly pisses me of, but I'd like to get the roundup (and other toxic fertilizers and pesticides) out of our food and water supply.

That is my personal biggest domestic issue that I think can actually see change.

I'm with you on this, and so is my sister. We've long suspected that a lot of today's cancers can be traced to our food and water supplies. Could the beer in my fridge be the safest food item in my kitchen?

 

[ACE'S FULL]

I'm with you on this, and so is my sister. We've long suspected that a lot of today's cancers can be traced to our food and water supplies. Could the beer in my fridge be the safest food item in my kitchen?

While I think most things from Monsanto are vile and evil but Roundup isn't the whole issue. Its all the refined carbs and sugar in our food.

If you think I am losing my mind take a listen here. Its worth your time, specifically when the doc talks about cancer patients and diet. It will blow your mind. If this doesn't do it for you look for the Dr. Peter Attia podcast speaks about the same stuff.

 

[Chicken Rob]

While I think most things from Monsanto are vile and evil but Roundup isn't the whole issue. Its all the refined carbs and sugar in our food.

If you think I am losing my mind take a listen here. Its worth your time, specifically when the doc talks about cancer patients and diet. It will blow your mind. If this doesn't do it for you look for the Dr. Peter Attia podcast speaks about the same stuff.

I agree this is also a huge problem.

I didn't play the videos but have been off refined sugar for the most part for about 8 years. Including simple carbs like starches and grains.

I love the whole low fat food movement. Take out fats, replace with sugar.

And don't even get me started on the horrible state of unhealthy fats. Industrial farmed grain fed meat isn't gonna be a great source of fat, but wild caught salmon, pastured grass fed cows, both the meat and the butter/ghee that come from them are delicious and healthy fats.

I think it's sad that most grocery stores are 90% things to not eat IMO.

 

[slisk250]

I'd like to see legislation that prohibits foreign countries from farming in areas with water supply issues (particularly CA and AZ) and exporting all that alfalfa to their feed lots. Let them outsource their droughts to other countries. I'm talking about Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Last I checked they were pumping groundwater and buying up farmland near Tucson and Saudi owns at least 14,000 acres in California sucking up 5% of the alfalfa water allotment. Bastards!


FYI - Saudi drained all of their fossil water to grow wheat and ended that program about 7 years ago. Then they moved the operation to some other poor African nations.

 

[DrStrange]

I trust you all realize that the wishes outlined so far are borderline impossible without congressional approval. Maybe Clinton could ask a future EPA to outlaw or restrict herbicides, but surely we can't see hope of a executive order banning sugar or beer or bread. Are we suggesting that Bernie ask for a position as the Director of the EPA?

I do not recall that Bernie made much of an effort on these issues in his campaign. It seems like he would made demands on behalf of issues that were the cornerstone of his public appeal. But maybe Bernie is more committed to environmental issues that I understand.

 

[Chicken Rob]

I trust you all realize that the wishes outlined so far are borderline impossible without congressional approval. Maybe Clinton could ask a future EPA to outlaw or restrict herbicides, but surely we can't see hope of a executive order banning sugar or beer or bread. Are we suggesting that Bernie ask for a position as the Director of the EPA?

I do not recall that Bernie made much of an effort on these issues in his campaign. It seems like he would made demands on behalf of issues that were the cornerstone of his public appeal. But maybe Bernie is more committed to environmental issues that I understand.

Don't go getting all realistic here, you're changing the rules of the game. I'm saying what he SHOULD ask for to endorse her.

Obama named a former Monsanto exec as food czar of the FDA. The amount of glyphosate allowed on food crops has gone up. Bernie should ask for the right guy for that position at the FDA to fix the problem. That's my fantasy.

Clinton has known ties to Monsanto, it's the thing that is scarier to me then all of her other shortcomings combined. I stand by my wish.

 

[Potsie1]

I would love to see him address sugar in foods. I'd be for a tax on sugar. Heart disease is the number one killer of people in america and sugar is the biggest contributor to obesity. It's mixed into everything.

While I think most things from Monsanto are vile and evil but Roundup isn't the whole issue. Its all the refined carbs and sugar in our food.

If you think I am losing my mind take a listen here. Its worth your time, specifically when the doc talks about cancer patients and diet. It will blow your mind. If this doesn't do it for you look for the Dr. Peter Attia podcast speaks about the same stuff.

I agree this is also a huge problem.

I didn't play the videos but have been off refined sugar for the most part for about 8 years. Including simple carbs like starches and grains.

I love the whole low fat food movement. Take out fats, replace with sugar.

And don't even get me started on the horrible state of unhealthy fats. Industrial farmed grain fed meat isn't gonna be a great source of fat, but wild caught salmon, pastured grass fed cows, both the meat and the butter/ghee that come from them are delicious and healthy fats.

I think it's sad that most grocery stores are 90% things to not eat IMO.

Couldnt agree with you both more. Sugar is wreaking havoc on our bodies. Sugar>>Obesity/Diabetes>>Heart disease. I hate spending millions of tax payer money on the sugar lobby but I feel its one evil we have to put up with. As much as I'm for free market, if we eliminate the sugar lobby it would drive the cost of sugar down and make it even cheaper than it is. Way cheaper. Sort of a catch 22.

 

[Chicken Rob]

I would love to see him address sugar in foods. I'd be for a tax on sugar. Heart disease is the number one killer of people in america and sugar is the biggest contributor to obesity. It's mixed into everything.


Couldnt agree with you both more. Sugar is wreaking havoc on our bodies. Sugar>>Obesity/Diabetes>>Heart disease. I hate spending millions of tax payer money on the sugar lobby but I feel its one evil we have to put up with. As much as I'm for free market, if we eliminate the sugar lobby it would drive the cost of sugar down and make it even cheaper than it is. Way cheaper. Sort of a catch 22.

Part of the problem is that we're biologically programmed to love sweets, because they were originally scarce in nature, but energy dense. Now people won't eat food unless it tastes like candy. People can't even manage unsweetened food to the point that sugar free often means artificially sweetened. And most of those artificial sweeteners are neurotoxins, carcinogens, and/or trigger the insulin cycle anyway, so they're not even helping with weight loss as much as people like to think.

The sugar is what makes processed garbage food palatable.

Eating a high fat low carb diet of natural organic whole foods is not only delicious, but it will normalize your blood markers and improve metabolism. It doesn't take long to get to the point where the sweetened foods taste too sweet.

But people would rather take metformin rather than reverse their diabetes because lifestyle changes are hard. So their blood sugar is kept in check as their triglycerides and cholesterol rise, and they march straight towards heart disease.

 

[ACE'S FULL]

I agree this is also a huge problem.

I didn't play the videos but have been off refined sugar for the most part for about 8 years. Including simple carbs like starches and grains.

I love the whole low fat food movement. Take out fats, replace with sugar.

And don't even get me started on the horrible state of unhealthy fats. Industrial farmed grain fed meat isn't gonna be a great source of fat, but wild caught salmon, pastured grass fed cows, both the meat and the butter/ghee that come from them are delicious and healthy fats.

I think it's sad that most grocery stores are 90% things to not eat IMO.

Really wish I could like this more than once. But seriously give it a listen. Super impactful!!

EDIT - After seeing other posts you get it and have a good understanding. The whole metformin phenomenon blows my mind.

 

[ACE'S FULL]

Part of the problem is that we're biologically programmed to love sweets, because they were originally scarce in nature, but energy dense. Now people won't eat food unless it tastes like candy. People can't even manage unsweetened food to the point that sugar free often means artificially sweetened. And most of those artificial sweeteners are neurotoxins, carcinogens, and/or trigger the insulin cycle anyway, so they're not even helping with weight loss as much as people like to think.

The sugar is what makes processed garbage food palatable.

Eating a high fat low carb diet of natural organic whole foods is not only delicious, but it will normalize your blood markers and improve metabolism. It doesn't take long to get to the point where the sweetened foods taste too sweet.

But people would rather take metformin rather than reverse their diabetes because lifestyle changes are hard. So their blood sugar is kept in check as their triglycerides and cholesterol rise, and they march straight towards heart disease.

Not to mention you feel SO much better eating this way too.

 

[Chicken Rob]

Not to mention you feel SO much better eating this way too.

I had health problems my whole life, my doctors were killing me with pills. Then came the Internet and personal research, and I started undoing all the damage. The best thing in my journey remains the 75% lean ground beef and short ribs from US Wellness meats. That fatty beef from pastured grass fed cows is so healthy, delicious, and satisfying.

"They" say red meat is bad for your heart. I say it's the fats in factory farmed meat raised on corn.

We're having some beautiful chuck roast from them tonight, and the house smells amazing right now.

Eating for health does not have to mean deprivation.

 

[Mental Nomad]

I totally disagree with the Monsanto conspiracy theories and the idea that glyphosate is concentrated evil... But I'm not going to get into a debate on it, here.

I think Bernie would be smart to push for greater limits on banks and bailouts... Not an area Clinton is likely to move on without prodding, and a strong part of Bernie's appeal. It's likely to help move independent Bernie voters to Clinton over Trump.

 

[liftapint]

Tastes like chicken.

 

[Chicken Rob]

Tastes like chicken.

Ba-cawk!

 

[Steverino]

I had health problems my whole life, my doctors were killing me with pills. Then came the Internet and personal research, and I started undoing all the damage. The best thing in my journey remains the 75% lean ground beef and short ribs from US Wellness meats. That fatty beef from pastured grass fed cows is so healthy, delicious, and satisfying.

"They" say red meat is bad for your heart. I say it's the fats in factory farmed meat raised on corn.

We're having some beautiful chuck roast from them tonight, and the house smells amazing right now.

Eating for health does not have to mean deprivation.

Try Bison. It is leaner, has more iron and is more filling so you eat less. And the bonus is that it has more flavor than regular ground beef.

 

[Chicken Rob]

Try Bison. It is leaner, has more iron and is more filling so you eat less. And the bonus is that it has more flavor than regular ground beef.

I don't want leaner personally. I try to eat high quality sources of healthy fat in my diet.

I've had bison. In fact there is a bison farm near my house. It's not for me.

 

[bergs]

How would someone even practically tax sugar?

 

[jbutler]

How would someone even practically tax sugar?

Same way alcohol is taxed. Set a minimum content standard and have food products tested by the FDA.

 

[bergs]

Also, how would farmers grow crops free of weeds without some form of herbicide? Isn't this necessary at some level and aren't a lot of plants herbicide-resilient?

 

[jbutler]

Also, how would farmers grow crops free of weeds without some form of herbicide? Isn't this necessary at some level and aren't a lot of plants herbicide-resilient?

Dude no need for herbicide if we just legalize marijuana. Then we can just harvest the weed with the regular plants and sell it legally.

 

[Chicken Rob]

Also, how would farmers grow crops free of weeds without some form of herbicide? Isn't this necessary at some level and aren't a lot of plants herbicide-resilient?

GMO crops have been engineered to be roundup resistant, yet organic farmers manage to grow and harvest crops without chemical herbicides or pesticides.

Also, the big agro farmers are practicing farming practices that strip the soil of the nutrients. The sustainable farming practices actually nourish the soil and generate food less depleted of minerals that humans need. This nutrient problem predates GMO issues by 70 years. We've been depleting the soil for about 100 years now.

 

[bergs]

GMO crops have been engineered to be roundup resistant, yet organic farmers manage to grow and harvest crops without chemical herbicides or pesticides.

Also, the big agro farmers are practicing farming practices that strip the soil of the nutrients. The sustainable farming practices actually nourish the soil and generate food less depleted of minerals that humans need. This nutrient problem predates GMO issues by 70 years. We've been depleting the soil for about 100 years now.

Wouldn't the cost of fruits and vegetables skyrocket if they changed farming methods?

(I'm just idly curious - those of you that have seen me in person know that when it comes to fruits and vegetables for me, zero fucks are given).

 

[Chicken Rob]

Wouldn't the cost of fruits and vegetables skyrocket if they changed farming methods?

(I'm just idly curious - those of you that have seen me in person know that when it comes to fruits and vegetables for me, zero fucks are given).

The price of fruits and vegetables would go up slightly. It's how we used to grow food even on big factory farms.

Better yet, let the government subsidize organic farming instead of GMO corn and soybeans. The government farming subsidies currently benefit huge agro businesses, but not the people.

 

[acl1904]

There was a good segment on VICE regarding Monsanto and Round up that is worth a watch.

 

[ACE'S FULL]

Here are some documentaries to watch on our food. There are tons but here are a few. At the end of the day Roundup is all about YIELD and PROFITS. Just watch King Corn you will learn all about that. Not to mention what its done to the farming industry.

 

[Chicken Rob]

There was a good segment on VICE regarding Monsanto and Round up that is worth a watch.

I'm surprised that was ever aired. I would have thought Monsanto would have squashed that.

The concerns expressed by that episode are exactly what I think we should be worried about.

@bergs it appears that this path of GMO food is going to start costing more than organic grown diversified crops, and we're just gonna be fucked.

Fortunately there is a little bit of market pressure on this issue. Target no longer uses GMOs in their stores. Brand foods, and Monsanto has had some pretty big losses posted in the last 18months. Add some good public policy to this and we might just make it.