It has been two days since the 2014 mid-term elections were conducted and the results have kept my eyes keen on the computer screen. The activist within me is thrilled when I find out citizens in the town of Denton, Texas, the very birthplace of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and home to 270 oil wells voted to ban fracking in their hometown! Congratulations to Denton residents, hopefully their tap water still runs clear and hopefully their ban spans the country so that big oil will stop fracking with us (have you seen the documentary called Gasland? Holy crap…)
The state of Missouri also warmed my heart when they successfully passed an amendment conveying that farming in Missouri is a constitutional right. This is huge! With the crazy, crazy amount of genetically modified foods in America and the crazy amount of money funneled into fighting measures like this one, this amendment ensures that farmers and ranchers in Missouri are protected from out-of-state interests. The practice of agriculture is Missouri’s number one industry, and they intend to keep it that way. Farm on, Missouri!
Given successful measures like that in Missouri, it has been a head scratcher trying to unravel why the state of Colorado voted against the labeling of genetically modified foods. A whopping 69% of Coloradans voted no on Proposition 105. It has been stated that the food industry spent $11 million in Colorado campaigning against this measure. Further research conveys that the measure may have ultimately hurt Colorado’s economy, and that can be reason why so many voted against it. The measure would have mandated that a lot of Colorado’s food exports be labeled “genetically engineered,” even though they are not. For example, food from animals would be labeled, despite the fact that the animals themselves are not genetically modified. However, if the animals were fed or injected with genetically modified foods or drugs, the labeling would have to showcase this. I personally would not reach for a label that blatantly states something was genetically engineered, so it does make sense that the state feared decreases in food exports with the new law, thus voting against it! I am hopeful the movement to label GMO’s finds its way back to Colorado with a more tactful measure.
All this talk about good and bad food has me feeling like I have the onset of the munchies. Speaking of which cannabis, anyone? On Tuesday, the state of Oregon joined 23 other states that accept the use of medical marijuana. The state of Alaska celebrated the passing of a measure that makes recreational use legal. Unfortunately, the state of Florida did not pass the medicinal use of marijuana, even though it received 57% of the vote. The measure apparently needed 60% to pass. The good news for Florida, however, is that 75% of people voted for a conservation effort that would dedicated billions of dollars over the next 20 years to start restoration projects in the Everglades. YAY! Overall, 19 states approved measures that dedicated more than $13 billion for land conservation. DOUBLE YAY!
A LOT happened on Tuesday night, you guys. A few other things to touch on are that the city of Berkeley, California passed the nation’s FIRST tax on soda! Starting in January, there will be as much as a 10% increase in price for sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, and a few other sugary liquids! This is a major win for public health and hopefully other places will catch on. In light of health, the state of Arizona overwhelmingly passed a measure that will allow terminally ill patients to receive ‘experimental drugs’ that have yet to be approved by the Food & Drug Administration.
This recap has only been the tip of the iceberg! It is important to know what is trending or receiving attention in other parts of the nation, because often times the outcome can be applied close to home anywhere! Did I forget to mention that West Virginia elected an 18-year-old to its House of Representatives? She ran the campaign from her freshman dorm room. Be the change, people!!
Populist Post-Grads 