Poll: Sonoma County should ban GMOs

A majority of respondents in an online Argus-Courier poll said that Sonoma County should ban the growing of genetically modified organisms. Just over 55 percent said they would support a ban on GMO crops, while around 45 percent said the county should not ban the practice.

Here are some comments:

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“A lot of fuss about nothing. GMO products have been with us for over 20 years and no one has any adverse effects of eating GMO foods.”

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“Find a real issue to deal with, like managing the city budget and fixing the roads.”

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“If not ban it, then label it.”

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“Many of these seeds have been modified to resist plant disease so as to increase our food crops.”

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“Monsanto spreads lies that their GMO seed is safe and will increase food production. Neither is true.”

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“Most certainly yes. This should be a no-brainer. But then, Sonoma County voters have left their brains behind when voting for decades now.”

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“People can and should have the opportunity to buy genetically modified products if they want to. There is no need to continue banning and regulated everything. If someone has an issue with a certain product, they can choose not to purchase it.”

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“There is no proof that GMOs are harmful. Over the centuries, probably all the crops farmers raise have been modified by cross fertilization, grafting or other means. All this resulted in higher food production. Why should modern techniques be seen as a problem? Obviously we must be certain not to create plant life which is flawed.”

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“They have been using GMOs for decades, and nobody has grown a third ear, or extra fingers, or anything. These hippies need to get over themselves and let it go.”

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“We do not need inept politicians or people messing with nature.”

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“We need more facts before we ban GMOs. This state is bent on outlawing pretty much anything some snooty group doesn’t like.”

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“What’s wrong with natural seed? Stop planting grapes, and plant crops.”

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“Until humans have a better understanding of what all the potential consequences of modifications are on other life forms, we should refrain from this form of applied science. The rapid and confusing decline of many of our insect species, particularly the solitary and colonial bees our foods depend on, should be ample evidence that we have so much more to learn before opening another unnecessary Pandora’s Box.”

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“The same people who are scared of Smart meters are scared of scientifically proven safe GMO methods.”

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“Probably the grapes are already GMO. Probably too late. Money talks.”

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“It’s not so much the harmful effects of GMOs, which are still unproven, but not banning them allows the large agri-businesses to prey on small farmers.”