Musings: Hashtag #Harumph

As the Hawaii anti-GMO movement loses ground, its leaders are becoming increasingly apoplectic and divisive, as evidenced first by Gary Hooser's hashtag bloat:

Uh, Rep. Lowen, just a small FYI — you may want to think twice about strategizing with a failed politician. Because I don't think he really knows too much about winning.

Maui's Autumn Rae Ness was also sputtering:

Gee, Autumn, we've all seen your tired playbook. I recall it being trotted out by Dubya, in the days following 9-11: You're either with us or against us. AKA: We're right, you're wrong, and there ain't no in-between.

Oh, yes. Intolerance and smug superiority are such effective ways to win converts, gain consensus and move forward.

Autumn is equally huhu about the sponsorship of tomorrow's Maui County Ag Festival, not that she and her pals contributed any money or manpower to change things:

It was so amusing to see Big Island Sen. Russell Ruderman weighing in with a big "like, "considering how much he and his organic grocery stores profit off imported food.

Yeah, that's real class, Napua. Talk shit about an event, then hijack it with own rhetoric. That's the spirit of hula, right?

Napua is an example of how the antis don't win elections on Maui, seeing as how she lost to Yuki Lei Sugimura. Autumn, on the other hand, has been working for Councilwoman Elle Cochran, who was outed by The Politic as ignorant, and easily frightened and misled:

While its claims are scientifically dubious, the SHAKA Movement’s rhetoric had plenty of shock-value. Its website links to articles that warn readers about dramatic new scientific studies and claim to provide evidence of epidemic-like health risks posed by GMOs. While these articles do not convey legitimate scientific findings, they were effective in creating opposition to Monsanto, even among Maui’s leaders. In an interview with the Politic, Maui County Councilwoman Elle Cochran said, “these companies like Monsanto are putting out poison.”

Ah, yes. Just the kind of thoughtful, well-informed, sane leaders you want.

It all brings to mind an article I read the other day about why Americans can't agree on anything:

This isn't just human nature, but the result of a narcissism that took root in American society after the 1960s and has been growing ever since. Surrounded by affluence, enabled by the internet, and empowered by an educational system that prizes self-esteem over achievement, Americans have become more opinionated even as they have become less informed, and are now utterly intolerant of ever being told they’re wrong about almost anything.

Speaking of which:

How's about draw the line at the low-water mark, and they can stand on the makai side. Or better yet, those who actually farm on one side, and those who just complain and rhapsodize about farming on the other. And see who feeds you first.

A farmer friend who weathered the anti-GMO battles on Kauai predicted the shit storm would blow over on Maui, too, even though Center for Food Safety is galvanizing its forces there. The scare tactics start to lose their shock value when they're reiterated too many times, with nothing substantial to actually support them, he said. And people get turned off by the extremist, no-holds-barred behavior that characterizes so many on the anti side. 

That's what happened on Kauai. Just ask Hooser.

So those who are drawing lines and demanding that folks pick sides may want to back up a mile or two. 'Cause bumbye, they may just end up as the odd man out.