Green Party candidate Jill Stein promises to label GMOs, end industry influence over regulatory agencies if elected president

Thursday, August 04, 2016 by: Julie Wilson staff writer
Tags: Jill Stein, GMOs, environmentalism

---

(NaturalNews) A growing number of Americans are feeling discomforted by the lack of choices for president, increasing the appeal of third party candidates. Bernie Sanders supporters, in particular, are feeling the burn after the purported anti-establishment nominee endorsed establishment queen Hillary Clinton. As a result, progressives are shifting their focus (and support) to alternatives such as Green Party Candidate Jill Stein.

Born in Chicago and raised in Highland Park, Illinois, Stein graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1973 before obtaining a degree from Harvard Medical School in 1979. As a practicing physician, Stein began noticing the effects persistent toxin exposure has on public health, leading her to become somewhat of a natural health advocate.

Among her many achievements, Stein directed a movement in Massachusetts that established more environmentally friendly standards for the state's "Filthy Five" coal plants. She also managed to help shut down a medical waste incinerator responsible for causing adverse health effects among the area's poorest communities.

A politician who understands the implications of everyday toxin exposure

Stein has published two books: In Harm's Way: Toxic Threats to Child Development and Environmental Threats to Healthy Aging – both of which discuss the way harmful toxins cause disease and conditions such as autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease and more.

The candidate's history as an environmentalist helped her establish a unique understanding of the influence powerful industries, including Big Pharma, have over regulatory agencies – which is arguably one of her greatest strengths as a politician.

However, the leftist media, looking to defend their donors, recently attacked Stein over the statements she made about the collusion that commonly occurs between industry and government.

Leftist media tries backing Stein into corner over her views on vaccines and autism

Trying to demonize her as an "anti-vaxxer," the Washington Post asked the candidate if she thought vaccines caused autism.

"Vaccines are an invaluable medication," she said, adding, "like any medication they also should be approved by a regulatory board that people can trust. And I think, right now, that is the problem — that people do not trust a Food and Drug Administration, or even the CDC for that matter, where corporate influence and the pharmaceutical industry has a lot of influence."

Though her response was thoughtful and fair, Stein was still attacked for not giving a hard "no." "Please just state it in the positive: Vaccines don't cause autism," wrote Fred Brodsky on Twitter.

While Stein was unwilling to admit the link between vaccines and autism, her position on GMOs is much more hard-hitting. According to OnTheIssues.org, the Green Party candidate says she full-heartedly supports a "moratorium on GMOs until they are proven safe" – and she feels the same about pesticides.

Stein: Farmers need to produce "real food" that's sustainable

When asked as president if she would eliminate federal farm subsidies, Stein said:

"Our food system should be treated for what it is and not as a tool for agribusiness and market share. Our current subsidies drive the food system towards a very unhealthy industrialized FrankenFood type system."

"Those subsidies need to be redirected to support small farmers and to support community farms and the institutions that can provide real food in a way that is sustainable for the long haul."

"That means localized food systems rather than this globalized industrial factory system which is extremely unhealthy for the economy, farmers and for people who eat the food. The planet is being poisoned by the pesticides and the greenhouse gases that are being produced by the current system."

Stein's position on GMOs is far stronger than most candidates, and is likely one of the reasons she continues to garner support. Recent polls show Stein at 5 percent and the Libertarian nominee, Gary Johnson, at 9 percent.

Third Party candidates need to hit 13 percent in the national polls to in order to make the presidential debates.

Sources:

OnTheIssues.org

Jill2016.com

TheHill.com

CNN.com

https://twitter.com/colinmeloy/status/759512360797163520

www.washingtonpost.com