11-16-2013, 07:29 AM
Sen Ruderman. You don't answer my questions then you say I repeat myself over and over. Then because you beat your head against the wall, you will stop communicating with me. I have been a full time farmer for more than 30 years, producing more than 100 million pounds of fruits and vegetables. I know first hand that farmers have a hard time making ends meet. In addition, I was the only person from Hawaii who attended five peak oil conferences on the mainland. It is clear to me that energy and Ag are tied together inextricably. It's all about costs of inputs. As long as more comes in than goes out you can keep on doing what you are doing.
You were in favor of the GMO bill at the last council hearing saying, that it was simply about corporations. But, farmers who produce more than 90% of the food grown on the Big Island disagree with you. Why is it ok to throw the farmers under the bus as you go about trying to save the world?
Why are you against geothermal at all cost? It is half the cost of oil and its cost will be stable for 500,000 years. The Puna district has the lowest median family income on the Big Island and its students have the highest participation in the free/reduced lunch program in the state.
Bill 113, the anti GMO bill, only applies to Big Island farmers. It threatens the competitiveness of Big Island farmers. Show us how this is good for us.
You say, Darwin would be pissed at me. Just the opposite. His ideas were formed when he was in his early twenties. He did not publish his book until nearly thirty years later. That is why this phrase was attributed to him; its not the strongest nor the smartest that survive, its the ones that can adapt to change. Bill 113 does not allow Big Island farmers to adapt to change. Organic agriculture rules are also very rigid. It discourages change too.
It's always about what degree of risk is acceptable. I think the risk of depending on oil a finite resource is much more dangerous than relying on GMO foods. Please show me where I'm wrong. I'm very willing to change my point of view.
You were in favor of the GMO bill at the last council hearing saying, that it was simply about corporations. But, farmers who produce more than 90% of the food grown on the Big Island disagree with you. Why is it ok to throw the farmers under the bus as you go about trying to save the world?
Why are you against geothermal at all cost? It is half the cost of oil and its cost will be stable for 500,000 years. The Puna district has the lowest median family income on the Big Island and its students have the highest participation in the free/reduced lunch program in the state.
Bill 113, the anti GMO bill, only applies to Big Island farmers. It threatens the competitiveness of Big Island farmers. Show us how this is good for us.
You say, Darwin would be pissed at me. Just the opposite. His ideas were formed when he was in his early twenties. He did not publish his book until nearly thirty years later. That is why this phrase was attributed to him; its not the strongest nor the smartest that survive, its the ones that can adapt to change. Bill 113 does not allow Big Island farmers to adapt to change. Organic agriculture rules are also very rigid. It discourages change too.
It's always about what degree of risk is acceptable. I think the risk of depending on oil a finite resource is much more dangerous than relying on GMO foods. Please show me where I'm wrong. I'm very willing to change my point of view.