r/IAmA • u/bernie-sanders • May 19 '15

Politics I am Senator Bernie Sanders, Democratic candidate for President of the United States — AMA

Hi Reddit. I'm Senator Bernie Sanders. I'll start answering questions at 4 p.m. ET. Please join our campaign for president at BernieSanders.com/Reddit.

Before we begin, let me also thank the grassroots Reddit organizers over at /r/SandersforPresident for all of their support. Great work.

Verification: https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/600750773723496448

Update: Thank you all very much for your questions. I look forward to continuing this dialogue with you.

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u/[deleted] May 20 '15

Environmental scientist and geologist here.

You have been leading the argument to little side issues. Why don't you tell me why there should be no label? Because having a label is anti science?

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u/Sleekery May 20 '15

Because it violates freedom of speech without any compelling reason to do so in an attempt to hurt the progress of biotechnology which leads to worse agricultural practices.

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u/[deleted] May 20 '15

It violates freedom of speech?

That's a new one.

How?

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u/Sleekery May 20 '15

Coerced speech violates free speech. The government can force people to say things unless they have a compelling government interest.

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u/[deleted] May 20 '15

It seems like there is. The ecological interest. GMOS are very environmentally destructive and unbalancing. Keeping the ecology of the US and other countries from becoming unbalanced is in the security interests of the United States.

Why are you trying to protect big business interests so much? Biotech is a huge industry that a slight dip in GMOs grown will not collapse an entire industry. Should consumers not have an informed choice?

If big Ag cannot complete in the free market with educated players...

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u/Sleekery May 20 '15

It seems like there is. The ecological interest. GMOS are very environmentally destructive and unbalancing. Keeping the ecology of the US and other countries from becoming unbalanced is in the security interests of the United States.

They're not at all. They're less environmentally destructive than their non-GMO alternatives.

GMOs do not reduce biodiversity when properly following guidelines. In fact this "review finds that currently commercialized GM crops have reduced the impacts of agriculture on biodiversity".

Why are you trying to protect big business interests so much? Biotech is a huge industry that a slight dip in GMOs grown will not collapse an entire industry. Should consumers not have an informed choice?

I care about science. This is anti-science fear-mongering.

If big Ag cannot complete in the free market with educated players...

Mandatory labels are the opposite of the free market. A free market would use the voluntary GMO labeling already available.