Jim, Thanks. It just made me curious because I deal with environmental policy and the Endangered Species Act for a living and was struck by the far-reaching conclusion that “…all signs point toward Monsanto as the main culprit.” Some quick research confirmed that, in fact, the monarch butterfly is under stress world-wide which could be caused, in part, by the eradication of its nesting plant, the milkweed- and Monsanto is the manufacturer of Roundup which kills the milkweed. But that is about where the facts stop on that issue. You then managed to reach the conclusion that “a key link in our food chain is under threat.” Pretty far reaching! It didn’t seem like a logical jump and it sounded like the typical hysteria that environmental groups do for fundraising, so I thought I would ask what you meant. Thanks for the response --and I have no doubt you believe what you are saying.
I will admit that the Monarch is beautiful and we should be concerned if it is indeed in “grave danger” and “on the verge of being a relic of history.” Especially if we know what is causing its demise, right? In truth, the language you used, or copied from the site, was a pretty good tip-off. One could just substitute “polar bear” or “harp seal” and have the same heart-wrenching sense of dread about the loss of a beautiful species. I could be moved by that plea, if it is true-- and if I knew who circulated the petition. Your assertions seemed a little hyperbolic and the source was apparently solely from the link you supplied. I realized: I have heard that story before.
So, just out of curiosity, I did a little research on SumOfUs.org, only to find that this “Monsanto Petition” is just the latest in a series of hysterical campaigns they have undertaken. I had never heard of the organization before but just a little research quickly showed that they are a fairly new part of the liberal, anti-capitalist, professional left (read that socialist/Marxist/anti-capitalist left) that trades on crisis after crisis--with or without facts or truth to substantiate their claims. Their website describes the organization thusly: “SumOfUs is a movement of consumers, workers and shareholders speaking with one voice to counterbalance the growing power of large corporations.” In short, they are anti-corporate political activists. Monsanto is just the latest in their anti-corporate attacks. (By the way, I know nothing about Monsanto and don’t have anything to do with them.)
As of March, 2012, the SumOfUs’ list of corporate criminals included: Apple, Starbucks, Novartis, Walmart, Carlsberg, Verizon, Microsoft, Google, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Yoplait, Lowes, Trader Joes and Johnson & Johnson. Each of these groups committed various mortal sins (against “workers,” animals, the rain forest, the climate and God knows what else), for which SumOfUs started a campaign doing exactly what you are assisting them in doing with the monarch: Pulling on some heartstrings and getting people to “sign petitions” and send their names and email addresses to them –which they WILL use for fundraising purposes. What you don’t know (but you will soon) is that they are using you, and the other UHH members who gave them email addresses, to support their “green mail” (like black mail) of major corporations. And you will be hearing from them.
Who are they? One excellent (and obviously critical) description of the leadership of SumOfUs says: “It reads like a big tub of dirty laundry, the same names that are continually recycled from one group to another, churned over and over again under a multitude of NGO names that just keep expanding and growing like a cancer.” These people come from and return to the Soros Foundation, the Tides Foundation, Moveon.org, 350.org, OxFam, Blue State Digital, Organizing For Action, to another of George Soros’ organizations called New American Dream and on, and on. They are the non-profit merry-go-round collecting email addresses and donations from unwitting people like you and children who want to save (fill in anything warm, fuzzy and pretty).
Any of you UHH readers that signed the so called “petition” to Monsanto will soon be receiving fundraising requests from them and dozens of other leftie anti-corporate, socialist groups, some mentioned above.
And Jim, there are some poor victims out there--- but they’re not the beautiful monarch butterflies that we all love. They are you and the other UHH readers that believed what you read and signed the petition to be on the donor list for some poor butterfly that they don’t really give a damn about. As soon as they wear this one out, they will move on to the next crisis and forget about the monarch. Don’t send them any money. I suggest you put them on junk mail as well as be a bit more discerning about what you put your name and email address on. And in the future, do a little due diligence on the groups you give your email address to. Any questions?

_________
Hi Jerry M. I do not contribute monetarily to political campaigns or to other causes, just for some of the reasons that you mention, and you did an excellent job explaining your side of things. Whose is right? What is killing the bees and butterflies? Honestly, I don't know the full answer. I do know that weed killers are overused, and that they kill weeds that grow along the highways and elsewhere, and that the milkweed is eaten by the Monarch and it is a weed where it lays its eggs. And I hate the word "weed." It's just another flowering plant.

There is no right or wrong at this point, in my mind. The important thing is that we are discussing it, as should be. I don't take a stand for or against Monsanto and perhaps the statement at the URL was overdone for pointing out Monsanto, specifically.

I think most people are smart enough to make the right choices, collectively, when the truth is known for sure, but discussion is first, and that's where we are at this point. Fear not, neither Monsanto nor the other corporations that you mention will collapse, based on our discussions here. And for those who are out to get those corporations (as you suggest), they are just a passing fancy and will evaporate like all hate mongers given enough time. I have faith in the American people to do the right thing.
Thanks for your comments,
- Jim