The mutual exclusion of business and politics has been decreasing for decades, however a new appointment once again renews my interest and distaste for such actions. The new FDA position of Deputy Commissioner of Foods is Michael Taylor, former Vice President of Public Relations at Monsanto Incorporated. Given Monsanto’s focus and expertise in the food industries of the world this seemed like a natural choice, he is well qualified for the position; however one must wonder about who’s interests he truly holds imperative.
Monsanto as a company has a long and storied record of abusing the public in the face of shareholder profits, safety be damned. DDT is a Monsanto invention, the banned pesticide which for decades was used liberally on the fields of America was the genesis of a major lawsuit citing negligence as the primary damage. Agent Orange used in Vietnam as a defoliant affected thousands of American troops while on the ground where it was being sprayed or deploying it themselves; not to mention the hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese who still see it’s debilitating effects in their children, many of whom suffer birth defects.
Should we trust a man who’s primary duty at the largest international agrichemical and engineering firm be trusted with such delicate and public work? Knowing the methods needed to maintain a corporations image, even in the face of tremendous public outcry at home and abroad can surely be slated as an opponent to a transparent and honest government. His involvement with Monsanto need also be questioned while Mr. Taylor is no longer working there, it is doubtful he stopped holding stock in the company when he left creating even another ethical dilemma.
rBGH or Bovine Growth Hormone, a Monsanto engineered product that increases milk production in dairy cattle has been shown to cause cancer and is now banned in the E.U. and Asia. It is however still present in the milk we drink here at home, despite it’s notoriety and incredible danger to the public owing to its continued usage. Will the new Deputy Commissioner of Food help expel this danger, present in our food at the most fundamental level, from the diets of American citizens? Doubtful as Monsanto paid off (and lobbied) the FDA, University researchers and the public at large to ensure it’s continued sale to farms around the country.
Civil Service and the ownership of a Corporation are things that should remain mutually exclusive, the temptation to use either position’s interest for the other is far too great for anyone, let alone a former Vice President of a Corporation to deny themselves. What will happen with the FDA and our nation’s failing health, insane rates of obesity, and general predation by the companies who feed us? My bet is certainly not on the side of the public and now more than ever given the FDA’s new appointee.
Monsanto as a company has a long and storied record of abusing the public in the face of shareholder profits, safety be damned. DDT is a Monsanto invention, the banned pesticide which for decades was used liberally on the fields of America was the genesis of a major lawsuit citing negligence as the primary damage. Agent Orange used in Vietnam as a defoliant affected thousands of American troops while on the ground where it was being sprayed or deploying it themselves; not to mention the hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese who still see it’s debilitating effects in their children, many of whom suffer birth defects.
Should we trust a man who’s primary duty at the largest international agrichemical and engineering firm be trusted with such delicate and public work? Knowing the methods needed to maintain a corporations image, even in the face of tremendous public outcry at home and abroad can surely be slated as an opponent to a transparent and honest government. His involvement with Monsanto need also be questioned while Mr. Taylor is no longer working there, it is doubtful he stopped holding stock in the company when he left creating even another ethical dilemma.
rBGH or Bovine Growth Hormone, a Monsanto engineered product that increases milk production in dairy cattle has been shown to cause cancer and is now banned in the E.U. and Asia. It is however still present in the milk we drink here at home, despite it’s notoriety and incredible danger to the public owing to its continued usage. Will the new Deputy Commissioner of Food help expel this danger, present in our food at the most fundamental level, from the diets of American citizens? Doubtful as Monsanto paid off (and lobbied) the FDA, University researchers and the public at large to ensure it’s continued sale to farms around the country.
Civil Service and the ownership of a Corporation are things that should remain mutually exclusive, the temptation to use either position’s interest for the other is far too great for anyone, let alone a former Vice President of a Corporation to deny themselves. What will happen with the FDA and our nation’s failing health, insane rates of obesity, and general predation by the companies who feed us? My bet is certainly not on the side of the public and now more than ever given the FDA’s new appointee.
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