Sorry for the length of this, y'all, but in the immortal words of Mark Twain ~ "I would have written you a shorter letter, but I didn't have time." *giggle~snort* There is a pride in farming..." There sure is, Bagardens, isn't there? "Never the less it still sounds like it will cause unnecessary trouble and hassle for small farms, and I do not like it at all." Oh, it may cause a little more trouble and hassle for small farms, but it'll more than pay for itself in the good things small farmers will get. If this bill passes, all imported food must meet the same standards as food made/grown in the US. Right now, imported food doesn't have to, so it can be sold cheaper. So think of the half hour writing out that food safety plan as a good trade for being able to charge higher prices for your produce while not having to answer this maddening question so often anymore: "Why is your zucchini so high? I saw some at XYZ store just the other day for less." I dont think shuffling existing responsibilities within two government agencies (that are apparently one in the same) is going to make us any safer. " The FDA and the FSA will be two distinct agencies with different focuses, SproutsHonor. And it just makes sense that having an agency whose sole job is food safety will make us safer than the current system where many people and many agencies can pass the buck to each other all day long. So I have to disagree with you on that point. "Its an expansion of government that can lead to abuse of power." Yeah, this can lead to abuse of power, but what change can't? And is it really likely? I don't think so. You say you're sick of all big companies getting bashed because of the actions of a few, but do you see that you're doing the same thing? You're bashing the entire government because of the actions of a few members of it who've royally screwed up. There are many parts of government that work and work well. If they didn't, our lives would be a lot more like those of people in a third world country who can't eat peanut butter without worry, if they even had it. "Liability and the need to produce quality product with a good reputation keeps many companies in line." Yes, it keeps many of them in line. I've not said or implied otherwise. But there are more than a few where that doesn't work. The modern business model so prevalent today is "get a company started and making a profit, then sell it". Reputations aren't as important anymore since you only need to keep it good long enough for the check to clear. And insurance takes care of any liability, that and an attorney on retainer who can tie up any lawsuits and/or criminal proceedings in court for years. No, not all companies do this, but again, there are plenty who do nowadays. Don't think I need to say anything other than "Wall Street" to prove that point. "Even if government regulations forced every small and large farm to follow regulations fully that wont completely eliminate food born illness." Of course it won't. But it'll sure cut down on melamine and rocket fuel in baby food. "You have far, far more faith in the ability and role of government than I do. Of course, Im the type of person who consumed an entire jar of peanut butter purchased before the recall and lived to tell about it." It's the government that makes it so 99.9999999999999999999% of us can eat jars of peanut butter and salad and bologna and corn meal and live to tell about it. Have you ever read about what people would adulterate food with before any regulations were put in place? It was rampant. Check out food safety of a hundred years ago and read some stories ~ it'll make your hair stand on end. And might even give you a bit of faith in today's government. "I wish government would stay out of my life. And Im sure tomato producers who had their product recalled, then were told it was cilantro or spinach that was the problem, feel the same way." And I'll bet if there had been a single agency whose job it was to oversee those imports, the true problem (jalapenos) would have been found a lot sooner, if not stopped at the border. If this bill passes, mistakes like the tomato recall will be less likely to happen. "But some of these recalls weren't necessary (like tomatoes) and it caused the producer who was following the rules a lot of money." Yep. Completely agree with you there. And what caused that was an inept food safety system. There's honestly no snarkiness intended with this question ~ what would you propose we do instead of this bill, Sproutshonor? Leave things as they are so things like that keep happening? Or fix it? And if so, how? Our outdated and bumbling food safety system and rules cost producers a lot more money than the tomato fiasco did. As Nc-crn put it, and with which I wholeheartedly agree: "Apples, peaches, and greens from South America being sprayed and cultivated with cheap labor and US banned chemicals isn't exactly a fair, level, or safe playing ground for any US farmer...especially the small ones." As he went on to say, currently imports can be sold cheap because they don't have to follow the same rules US producers have to. With this bill, imports will have to follow the same rules, so will have to be priced higher. That'll actually make money for the US food producers, including all those small farmers. I'll happily take my share of that deal!

Hi Storygardner,Princess Mimi and Xarolent and Steph98. I was just reading the posts on the thread from the swap and when I was reading them I had started from the very last posting and scrolling upwards.I had felt like I missed out on the best part of my gardening life missing the swap this year because of my knee surgery.I was so excited to read what everyone did and what great plants were exchanged and just wanting to get the full experience of the fun and excitement I always take away with me after attending the swap through everone else who posts their delight at being there.I sure missed you all.Then as I got closer to the top I started to get confused and was wondering what was going on,Then as I read on I got real sad and felt so awfully bad for the girls I addressed this post to.And their children.How awful and hurtful for all involved.Chemicalrxm5,You should be so ashamed in all your beefing.You came to a swap with expectations of Grandure.It's a swap for peets sake.I have brought at different times 250,300 plants sometimes less.I never have gone with the expection of bringing home that many in return.Who would want that many plants?Oh right! You would. The first time I came to the swap was 5 years ago,I brought 273 plants and went home with 21 or maybe 25 plants.I thought I hit the Jackpot.I loved everything I took home and I met wonderful people and had Great food and I even got lucky and won a door prize.The people welcomed me and my friend Sue with open arms and I've been hooked ever since.You could take a lesson from the kids.This is a fun and learning process for them.They need the guidence from their parents to know the difference from one plant to the next, So if the parent says to them, thats a good plant in my opinion thats teaching them one plant from the other.They won't be children forever and this is a good way to educate them in something so wonderful.It's teaching them the value of the earth,Where our foods are grown and most inportantly,How to share.Something you are short on. You may have scarred these children with your petty bickering over a plant or a door prize.I think you owe these children an apology and ask for their forgiveness.Any time children are involved in plants and planting and gardening we all should be grateful for the teachings at home who have taken them down this road and kept them from drugs and such.I'm proud to know kids like them!!!So I say to you,God Bless You,Be Healthy and Apologize. Granny57x

Vee, the way I've usually heard anti-American used is by non-Americans: "I hope this doesn't appear anti-American, but..." and then they proceed to bombard the listener (an American most likely) with all the failings and evils of Americans. It's similar to the way Great Britain used to be blamed for everything. Then there is a segment of the American population (think Left or liberal) who feel they must blame the U.S. for all the ills in the world, from the most recent back to before the U.S. even existed. It seems to be some sort of compensatory effort to assuage their guilt for being over-privileged. Hollywood-types are especially noisy about doing this. It's a bit rich that those who once screamed loudest in protest of Big Brother are now the ones who think Big Brother is not doing enough. Carolyn summed it up. Yes I did forget that group, Carolyn, and at least ten other really absurd ones such as the Fashion Police and the Standards-of-Beauty Police: all Americans must have perfect teeth and any hair that sprouts anywhere on the body below the chin (on men) or the nape of the neck (on women) must be gotten rid of. My conclusion is people aren't happy unless they can find fault with or blame somebody else. I'm a cynical old bag, I suppose. :-(

Homemade masks for healthcare workers on the frontline of the pandemic are a really BAD idea. Off the top of my head: homemade masks could easily be contaminated with cat/dog dander that throws a wearer into an asthmatic attack, or worse. For that matter, the corona virus is known to live on some surfaces for days & some unknowingly + Covid-19 mask maker might share that virus, or other viruses/germs. There are fabric dyes that could be problematic for some wearers. Loose or ill fitting masks actually cause wearer to touch their face to adjust which is a big NO-NO. There’s a reason makers of all medical equipment have very strict quality control standards...you don’t want to cause harm. And finally, viruses are infinitesimally tiny. A bazillion can fit on the head of a pin. So, no, a scrap of fabric from home isn’t going to slow down viruses nor protect. Even surgical masks are not appropriate. One nurse on tv said this is likened to handing a firefighter a squirt gun as he enters the burning building. Another said that the CDC’s loosening the standard (a bandanna if absolutely noting available) is not to keep the worker safe, but simply to keep them working. When the caregivers get infected, then help spread the virus to other patients, then are off sick & dying we are going to be in even more of a world of hurt. The situation is absolutely dire. The healthcare workers MUST have proper PPE.