A good argument from you would be to explain why GMO labeling is necessary information, thus explaining why introducing other hypothetical labeling information that a "consumer has the right to know" would be unnecessary.
And here's where we can tip the slippery slope right back in your direction. Because what is necessary information, on a product label? Is it the country of origin? Is it the precise ordering of ingredients? Is it the nutrient information? Is there any reason we "need" to know how a new garment of clothing should be laundered? And why is "necessary information" a relevant criterion, anyway?
It would seem to me that the standard to apply here is found by asking: what kinds of information do people want to know, when they are purchasing a product? What kinds of information are relevant to their estimation of value and the assessment and comparison of prices? All that "labeling" needs to accomplish, I think, is to draw out the information that there's a market demand for. When we do that, we accomplish two things: we reduce the transaction costs for making purchases, and we ensure a more efficient matching of supply to demand. If I value a tomato with only tomato genes in it more highly than I value a tomato with pig genes, then it makes sense for labeling to enable me to avoid over-paying for things I don't want, regardless of whether my reasons behind the preference make any sense.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2014-04-30 11:47 pm (UTC)And here's where we can tip the slippery slope right back in your direction. Because what is necessary information, on a product label? Is it the country of origin? Is it the precise ordering of ingredients? Is it the nutrient information? Is there any reason we "need" to know how a new garment of clothing should be laundered? And why is "necessary information" a relevant criterion, anyway?
It would seem to me that the standard to apply here is found by asking: what kinds of information do people want to know, when they are purchasing a product? What kinds of information are relevant to their estimation of value and the assessment and comparison of prices? All that "labeling" needs to accomplish, I think, is to draw out the information that there's a market demand for. When we do that, we accomplish two things: we reduce the transaction costs for making purchases, and we ensure a more efficient matching of supply to demand. If I value a tomato with only tomato genes in it more highly than I value a tomato with pig genes, then it makes sense for labeling to enable me to avoid over-paying for things I don't want, regardless of whether my reasons behind the preference make any sense.