There has been a lot of chatter about Senate Bill 510 recently, and I do not see much reporting on it. What I do see is a lot of rumor and innuendo about it, and I have to be honest, that I must do more in depth research myself. However, in light of recent chatter online and direct questions from some of my friends, I have found several YouTube videos on it, and I am only going to list the ones that seem to make sense.
The rumor, if you have not heard it is that S510 is going to make it illegal to grow, trade, or sell fruits and vegetables from your garden. That the bill will put the control of all our food supply in the hands of Monsanto, and make it illegal to own seeds. Honestly, this sounds a little out there to me, but I as the farmer in the video below mentions, that “if” the bill is written as broadly as I suspect it might be, there may need to be some tightening up. On the flip side, is this some weird tin foil hat business conspiracy? Who knows. See below and judge for yourself:
- Senate Bill: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s111-510
- http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s510/show
- http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Testimony/ucm187566.htm
Here is a blog post about S510. There is a lot of chatter and information out there, so if you are looking for it, just Google it, and take your time sifting through it. More importantly, read the bill and judge for yourself. I am going to do so shortly.
It may not be as insidious as you think. Granted as wored it may do just what you say. But if it was *planned* that way is another point.
Too many laws are written so broadly and, as we have seen in recent months, most reps don’t bother reading them anyway so they don’t fully grasp the implications.
For example, about 2 years ago there was pending legislation about marine water run off from boats. The intent was to control contaminated water that could come off big commerical ships at sea. But, the way the legislation was written ANY craft on the water was subject to the same regulations, permit requirements, and fines. Plus, the definition of water run off would have included rain water, normal waves and spray etc. So for my 16 foot kayak I would have had to buy a every year a $1,000 permit or face a $10,000 fine and up to 5 years in prison!
The legislation was finally changed to be more narrow but that only happened after a massive letter writing campaign by boaters and fishermen.
Either way, by design or accident, it’s a serious possibility.
OK, I read (skimmed) through the bill and I don’t see what all the hub-bub is about.
Sure it speaks in generalizations like most pieces of legislation. And yes I totally see how it *might* be twisted to be applied to personal food production. But that can be said for just about any piece of legislation.
What did I miss?