WSJ: U.S. closes antitrust investigation into seed industry, Monsanto.

[proverbialwisdom]

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Response to #7 in this thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021850780 (but withheld since the thread started hopping while I was putting it together and this is a bad news tangent):

REPLY: The idea is to temporarily move the needle enough to register that their consumers are dissatisfied. Punishing the organic divisions of these conglomerates? Not sure either (risky if they concluded organics weren't profitable). Personally, I'd favor more selective protests, eg. highlighting unlabeled GMOs in baby formula and kid's snacks, plus friendly grassroots information-sharing with busy obstetricians, pediatricians, their staffs, and new parents, although I wonder if that type of specificity would trigger the food disparagement nuisance lawsuits against organizers.

Judging from recent events (below), entrenched interests appear to require a decentralized multipronged approach. This is infuriating, but consumers hold tremendous power and ultimately are unbeatable.

http://www.gmwatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14449:us-closes-antitrust-investigation-into-seed-industry-monsanto

U.S. closes antitrust investigation into seed industry, Monsanto
Sunday, 18 November 2012 22:44

NOTE: The antitrust investigation launched by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2010 marked a real moment of hope for farmers and consumers that the Obama administration really did care about the impact on them of industry concentration. See, for instance, the article: Farmers to DOJ -- "Break up Big Ag" in which a Wisconsin farmer comments:

"My parents' 29th wedding anniversary was a farm foreclosure. Their 30th anniversary was a sheriff's auction on the courthouse steps. My neighbor's farm was stolen from him that was owned since 1942 by his family. He came to ask how to get food stamps because he'd always lived off his farm... Washington has got to step up. DOJ is our only lifeboat. They have to fix this. They have to correct it. Monsanto does not have the right to dictate the value of my life, my work, and the food I produce..." See http://huff.to/dryur2

See also the video: Farmers Speak: Bust Up Big Ag http://www.gmwatch.org/gm-videosb/24-corporate-takeover/12057

Although nothing of substance has changed, the investigation has now been closed down.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324735104578123631878019070.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

EXTRACT: The highly-publicized (Justice Department/USDA) workshops did not result in any major regulatory changes, and Christine Varney, who was the head of the Justice Department's antitrust enforcement at the time, has since left for the private sector.

U.S. Closes Antitrust Investigation Into Seed Industry, Monsanto
Ian Berry and David Kesmodel
Wall Street Journal, November 16 2012

The U.S. Justice Department has closed a formal antitrust investigation into the U.S. seed industry, which is led by crop biotechnology giant Monsanto Co., without pursuing charges, the government said Friday.

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Massive disappointment and disgraceful, yet until proven otherwise, I'm in the camp 'they would if they could.' Remember the recent Michael Pollan NYT article with the paraphrased remark, 'Food movement? I don't see it, show me.' Sounds like a plan.