You're Under Arrest For Growing a Garden!
By Maggiepie
@Maggiepie (7816)
United States
November 17, 2010 6:09pm CST
One not authorized by the government, that is. Or you might be busted because you hid seeds, which will not be legal to privately own any more.
That's what will take place if the U.N. & certain politicians get their way & pass Senate Bill 510, the Food Safety Modernization Act, which has been called "the most dangerous bill in the history of the United States of America."
It boils down to your not being allowed to own a back yard garden, on the pretext that unless you follow expensive, ridiculous & intrusive rules from the government, you'll be up the creek sans paddle. Worse, since Big Farming has been eliminating plants which use seeds, if you're caught "hoarding" seeds, so that you might be able to grow your own, organic (& cheaper) food, you'll be an enemy of the state.
Before you bleat, "Paranoid, much?" you should be aware that this has been in the planning stages for quite a while, & it's part of the one-world crap which is being shoved down our gullets. If you'd like all the grim details, check out these websites, & sign the petition on the second URL if you're as outraged by this latest strangulation of our freedoms.
I just want to spread the word. Our lives are at stake here. If those pushing this agenda succeed, they'll have more money than all the rest on the planet, & he who controls your food, controls YOU. Can you say "dictatorial power?"
Talk to your senators & tell them HELL no!
Maggiepie
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of freedom of the people by gradual & silent encroachments by those in power than by violent & sudden usurpations. ~ James Madison
6 people like this
15 responses
@maximumgravity1 (245)
• United States
18 Nov 10
This is a serious threat to our constitution and civil liberties here in the US. It always starts with one small bill and spreads like wildfire.
I encourage everyone to visit the two sites below as they have automated forms to contact your senator and pre-printed forms to send. Both have the option to amend the comments or add anything you want. I would also recommend advising your senators to vote in favor of "the Testor Amendment" to this bill which will exempt small farms and owner/operators who sell their food direct to farmers markets, roadside stands and restaurants.
Citizens for Health
http://www.citizens.org/?page_id=2312
Downsize DC
https://secure.downsizedc.org/etp/campaigns/111
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
18 Nov 10
MAX: THANK YOU! The more people hear of this, the better. If you or anyone else can locate more info on this nonsense, please post & share! I believe that given the current mood of the country, we could be in a very good position to fight this. I mean, how dare they?!? 
Let's SIC 'EM!
Maggiepie
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of freedom of the people by gradual & silent encroachments by those in power than by violent & sudden usurpations. ~ President James Madison
Let's SIC 'EM!
Maggiepie
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of freedom of the people by gradual & silent encroachments by those in power than by violent & sudden usurpations. ~ President James Madison1 person likes this
@maximumgravity1 (245)
• United States
18 Nov 10
Not being able to copy and paste sux...bare with me on this URL....
It looks like it moved forward today. 60 days for full Senate vote on this bill. In short, debate on this bill is now closed with a vote of 74 to 25.
Of particular note is the concept of "smuggling food" by definition. This is the sort of thing that can easily encapsulate "growing" or "producing" food through "fraudulent" means. This is a very wide open door to drive the bus of injustice through.
http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2010/11/17/breaking-senate-votes-cloture-on-s-510-m
2 people like this
@maximumgravity1 (245)
• United States
18 Nov 10
Two more really good links for details on this Bill. Most of these are indeed opinion, but there is good foundation behind the statements.
http://foodfreedom.wordpress.com/2009/06/13/seeds-how-to-criminalize-them/
http://foodfreedom.wordpress.com/2010/04/24/s-510-is-hissing-in-the-grass/
2 people like this
I just knew it!@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
19 Nov 10
Just as I suspected. You're one of the smart ones! 
Maggiepie
"It is not the function of our Government to keep the citizen from falling into error, it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government from falling into error." ~ -- Robert Houghwout Jackson, Chief Judge at the War-Crimes Tribunal in Nuremberg
Maggiepie
"It is not the function of our Government to keep the citizen from falling into error, it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government from falling into error." ~ -- Robert Houghwout Jackson, Chief Judge at the War-Crimes Tribunal in Nuremberg2 people like this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
19 Nov 10
Hiya Maggie,
Can that be so? We are not getting to that stage yet. At least I don´t think so. I have seen a lot of Farmers here all growing the same thing maybe that´s part of it.
We are not allowed to bring in Seeds from other Countries or Food or Plants either. Maybe that is part of it too.
Sounds really terrible all that is the grip they have on this kind of thing that strong then?
2 people like this
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
18 Nov 10
Really, why don't we just put a tax on breathing while we're at it? The government really is overstepping several lines with this one. Scratch that, they are not overstepping certain lines, they are rubbing those lines out. It just seems like more and more the government is trying to force themselves into the lives of the people and this, providing its true, is going to just be another line that the government has crossed. And given how much faith I have in the government, I really do believe this.
This is just a way to make people spend out more money. They can control the prices. It is just one of the most absurd things in the world. This is one of those laws where you got to believe that someone is losing money, so there is pressure being put on to stop people from living life smartly, as they grow from their own garden. Because that just cannot compete. It is really disturbing and I hope someone shuts this down.
2 people like this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
19 Nov 10
MEGA: 
I'm laughing at your wording, but I agree, it's ridiculous & frustrating. And Max is correct; breathing will be taxed through cap & tax....
Keep in mind that there is a very strong movement to find ways to cut earth's population in half--by any means necessary--so the survivors (especially the elite) can survive in comfort...
I'm so glad I won't live on this planet forever, thank God! Whew!
Maggiepie
"It is not the function of our Government to keep the citizen from falling into error, it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government from falling into error." ~ -- Robert Houghwout Jackson, Chief Judge at the War-Crimes Tribunal in Nuremberg
I'm laughing at your wording, but I agree, it's ridiculous & frustrating. And Max is correct; breathing will be taxed through cap & tax....
Keep in mind that there is a very strong movement to find ways to cut earth's population in half--by any means necessary--so the survivors (especially the elite) can survive in comfort...
I'm so glad I won't live on this planet forever, thank God! Whew!
Maggiepie
"It is not the function of our Government to keep the citizen from falling into error, it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government from falling into error." ~ -- Robert Houghwout Jackson, Chief Judge at the War-Crimes Tribunal in Nuremberg1 person likes this
@maximumgravity1 (245)
• United States
18 Nov 10
"Really, why don't we just put a tax on breathing while we are at it?"
You do know that is the push behind the entire "Cap & Trade" issue right? Being alive and just breathing adds carbon. Every person that is alive starts out in a carbon "deficit". It only goes down hill from there....
1 person likes this
@2004cqui (2812)
• United States
18 Nov 10
I just received a response from my Senator about my concern. More Senators than just our senator sit on the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions(HELP) that is going after this bill to ensure provisions that it would not impact the small farms and organic farmers by making them exempt from additional or duplicative record keeping requirements.
Do I believe him? A huge amount of revenue in my state comes from the small grower/farmer. Oregon, the state of Washington, Wisconsin, Maine and Iowa are just a few states that can say the same. It's all whats going to hit the bottom line that wins! So, yes I believe him!
2 people like this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
18 Nov 10
I wonder if they are in league with our other good friends the scientists working so hard to cause all food vegetation to have only one variety of seed, which is so dangerous if there is an enemy of the plant/variety as it results in extinct plants there being no variety to survive..
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
18 Nov 10
I dont see the URLs ya talked about and when I went o the ones #1 had they are confusing as to which one it the ppertion we are to sign.
But ya I say Heck!!!!! NO grow what we want in our yards .
and really the only seeds I have is for flowerslolol and they didnt grow sighhhhhhhhh
2 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
20 Nov 10
I saw a tv show about soy seeds one night. These seeds have been genetically changed to be disease resistant. If a farmer saves the seeds from a previous year, the farmer will be fined. Why? Infringment on a patent. The genetically altered seeds are patented. Then they said that 90% of the soy that is grown in the USA is this patented seed. One farmer is going to loose everything he owns because he saved his seeds from a previous crop. How do they know to go after you? They have people who go from farm to farm. If you're growing soy, but didn't buy any seeds, you're in big trouble. So the next year, you'd better be growing corn or hay or something else.
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9291)
• United States
18 Nov 10
I just read a summary of the bill and there is not one single reference in it with regard to seeds, home gardens, or gardens period. It is enhanced regulation for COMMERCIAL food producers to ensure that food is shipped and processed safely so there are no major illness outbreaks such as those we've seen recently with e-Coli and Salmonella and to require food importers to meet the same health requirements that are required by producers in the US. I did search after search on the item and not once was there mentioned anything about personal gardens, purchase of seeds, hoarding, or anything at all pertaining to individuals.
Here is the link I read. Can you find anything that says what you're saying? I'd be interested in seeing your sources. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-510&tab=summary
1 person likes this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
19 Nov 10
Yes. VERY dangerous soil, indeed!
And to further underline this, here's a direct snippet from that site:
"When you know that Monsanto with the help of the U.S. government plundered ancient & rare seed banks in Iraq that held seeds with a genetic heritage (a bio-history belonging to all of us) going back 1000s of years & then made it a crime for farmers there to collect or use their own normal & non-patented seeds off their own land, you see how extreme the intent to control is.
Now, perhaps it is possible to see how the identical thing is being done here, only it comes in a heavily, heavily disguised way – through “food safety” that isn’t “food safety” at all – & quietly sitting in only one tiny little paragraph within a very large bill (& with no reference to seeds at all)."
Skeptics need to understand how law works.
I missed hearing how they cut out the worst part when they voted today! That IS great news! I'd only caught that they voted for cloture, but heard no details! So THANK YOU for the good news! Still, this isn't over, yet, & knowing this bunch, they'll still come up with more attempts to get it passed. Stay alert, people!
Maggiepie
"It is not the function of our Government to keep the citizen from falling into error, it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government from falling into error." ~ -- Robert Houghwout Jackson, Chief Judge at the War-Crimes Tribunal in Nuremberg
1 person likes this
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
18 Nov 10
As Maggie posted above,
Anyway, here are the promised URLs, plus a few new ones:
http://www.dailypaul.com/node/149518
http://visiontoamerica.or...
http://www.naturalnews.co...
http://www.hoosieragtoday...
http://www.care2.com/news...
1 person likes this
@maximumgravity1 (245)
• United States
18 Nov 10
It was in section 206, c iii. It was struck out with todays vote. This is good news. Here is a link that specifically talks about the wording as it was originally introduced with explanation to other terms and definitions showing how it covered seeds.
http://foodfreedom.wordpress.com/2009/06/13/seeds-how-to-criminalize-them/
I have no problems with summarizations, but they leave out the fine print. And the fine print is where the openings and interpretations of law are developed. Unfortunately, unless you are a lawyer with full understanding of current laws, these Bills are almost impossible to follow the implications due to their reference to other laws and bills.
I'll get back to you on the small gardens, but one other thing of note is Section 404:
"Nothing in this Act (or an amendment made by this Act) shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the agreement establishing the World Trade Organization or any other treaty or international agreement to which the United States is a party."
In other words, the WTO has final authority on what happens with the regulation of our agricultural products within our own border. If something changes within the WTO, that means it will change on down the line within our country (in accordance to this Bill) as well. That is treading on dangerous ground.
2 people like this
@rosdimy (3926)
• Malaysia
18 Nov 10
Wow. Years ago I heard that the world's grain business was controlled by only 5 persons. The was no corroboration or proof to this claim, though I half-believed in it.
What you posted is scary, especially if the UN is really involved. If the Bill goes through, the implication is huge. It will be one step further towards controlling the balance of power by a handful of people.
2 people like this
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
18 Nov 10
Wow, that is simply amazing! I will sign a petition or just go to jail for hording seeds I suppose! It's sad to see the state of things and the product of "big government." We've totally lost for the people by the people! I've seen a lot on a different level with my son. They just don't want to pay even for the things they say they will! It's really amazing!
2 people like this
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
18 Nov 10
And the insanity just continues to grow while the sheep continue to vote these idiots into office! 
What are they thinking????
I am a proud enemy of the state and I will continue to grow my garden, thank you very much, no matter what Uncle Sam tries to do about it.
What are they thinking????
I am a proud enemy of the state and I will continue to grow my garden, thank you very much, no matter what Uncle Sam tries to do about it.1 person likes this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
19 Nov 10
ALASKANRAY: Good on you, gal! Apparently those such as we are descendants from the sterner stock who populated this country & won the West, etc. Spoken like the patriot you are!
By the way (totally off topic), how are you doing? Everything going okay? I've been very preoccupied with RL, or I'd have asked sooner. I do see my prayers were answered & that you obviously survived! 
Details?
Maggiepie
"It is not the function of our Government to keep the citizen from falling into error, it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government from falling into error." ~ Robert Houghwout Jackson, Chief Judge at the War-Crimes Tribunal in Nuremberg
By the way (totally off topic), how are you doing? Everything going okay? I've been very preoccupied with RL, or I'd have asked sooner. I do see my prayers were answered & that you obviously survived! Details?
Maggiepie
"It is not the function of our Government to keep the citizen from falling into error, it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government from falling into error." ~ Robert Houghwout Jackson, Chief Judge at the War-Crimes Tribunal in Nuremberg1 person likes this
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
20 Nov 10
I already have full range of motion back in my knee. I'm swimming every Friday, walking to & from the mailbox on my off days and have PT 2x a week. My incision is all healed up and the scarring is minimal. The dissolving sutures worked so much better than the staples they used on the other knee last year! I just have 4 more weeks of PT. 
@2004cqui (2812)
• United States
18 Nov 10
I went to: http://www.govtrackinsider.com/articles/2010-11-15/s510 to find out more on this subject. Once again, it's good ole "corporate think"! Make a law, you figure it out after the fact. I don't think so! The FDA can't find their own hat with their hand! This so called committee thinks the taxpayer will be less impacted with this new bill. I follow the news for anything relating to food borne illness. I hear only large farmers who've been to blame, as well as buying food from Mexico. I never hear anything about local joe blow farmer spreading food borne illness! I believe this bill is spured on by the corporate farmer not wanting the impact of the local farmers market. Other bills have been passed only because no one paid any attention to it. Thank you for bringing to our attention!
2 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
24 Nov 10
Wow what next this is getting stupid
I have not heard anything like that here and I hope they will never come up with such a pathetic Idea
I mean it is your Garden and you should be aloud to grow what ever you want
I just can't believe it, what will they come up with next
