Support for California GMO-labeling Proposition Plummets
Posted: October 17, 2012
As the election draws closer, more and more California voters oppose Proposition 37, commonly referred to as the GMO-labeling law. A sharp decline in support, 19 percent in two weeks, shows that Californians understand the regulation increases opportunities for frivolous lawsuits and redefines simple terms like “natural” in a confusing way without actually providing useful information that benefits consumers.
In a bi-monthly opinion poll released last week, 48 percent of the likely voters contacted indicated support for California’s Proposition 37, a 19 percent drop from only two weeks prior. Notably, this was the single largest shift in opinion on the 11 ballot initiatives covered in the report, which was released by the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy and the California Business Roundtable.
Why the change?
First, 33 daily newspapers have come out in opposition of the ballot initiative. Due to the nature of print journalism, these news sources have been able to detail the reasons to oppose the measure and dig deeper into the implications of the regulation. Armed with the facts, Californians have gained an appreciation for what the measure would actually do and grasped that the real world effect would not be what proponents promise.
Second, Californians are getting the message straight from the farmer’ mouth. Groups opposing the measure, including the National Corn Growers Association, have taken their message to the airwaves through a series of television commercials. With one spot highlighting what the conversation would be if they “Ask a Farmer,” voters have a chance to hear why this “GMO-labeling law” would increase the cost to farm and would hit consumer pocketbooks at the grocery store checkout.
Consumers and voters should be able to base their decisions on the facts. Increasingly, Californians are looking at Proposition 37 and seeing past the propaganda. In staggering numbers, they are deciding to oppose the costly, confusing measure that would help agenda-driven interest groups and hurt both the people who grow food and those who buy it.
Californians want the information necessary to make solid decisions. They want to analyze the facts for themselves. In doing so, they are standing up for themselves and family farmers across the country. They are standing against Proposition 37.
nogmoever Said,
October 18, 2012 @ 10:46 pm
You are lying to everyone. The facts are that in the over 50 countries where GMO’s are labeled, the cost of food hasn’t gone up. There are no family farmers against the Prop, only BigAg, Monsanto etal and Big Food. 33 newspapers that were bought off came out against Prop 37. You and those papers always take the conversation away from our right to know what we’re putting in our bodies. Any other points you make are just innuendo and outright lies. Yesterday Dr Oz had a show about labeling and over 90% of the studio audience said YES label. This is a reflection of the American public’s desire as well. Sooner or later GMO’s will be labeled and The Biotech Bullies will have to find another planet to destroy.
Ken Said,
October 19, 2012 @ 7:16 am
1. Well, of course Dr. Oz’s audience sycophants will vote that way after having his spin drummed into their heads. And they’re in his audience precisely because they are comfortable with his version of reality.
2. The countries with GMO labeling have not gone from an atmosphere where biotech was as widely used as it is here, and where ingredient changes, perhaps significant, will be made. Also, they already started out with food prices much higher than we have in the United States.
3. It’s ludicrous to claim that newspaper editorial boards like the Los Angeles Times were “bought off.” Perhaps they simply recognized, like more and more Californians do, that no matter how you feel about GMOs, Prop. 37 is a poorly crafted measure.
Cathryn Said,
October 19, 2012 @ 8:18 am
I support what Ken says, but I would also like to address another “point” in nogmoever’s comments.
As a grassroots organization, NCGA’s policy is constructed by the 38,000 farmer-members and 300,000 corn farmers we represent. 95 percent of all U.S. corn farms are family owned. Thus, it follows quite obviously that America’s family farmers do not support Prop. 37 to a large extent.
Nogmoever, I understand that conspiracy theorists who want to paint an industry they willfully refuse to understand with a wide brush would like to have family farmers on their side in this debate, but, in truth, they do not.